Business Events Industry Conference in Taranaki for First Time

Registrations are open for the Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) 2024 conference to be held in Taranaki for the first time from 25 to 27 November 2024.

This year's conference and annual general meeting will take place at The Devon Hotel in New Plymouth and will include a day and a half of education sessions, panel discussions and workshops, plus a relaxed social programme.

BEIA Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins says the conference draws inspiration from the Business Events National Strategic Direction 2025 - Pīata Mai - which sets out steps for measuring and growing the sector's positive cultural, social, environmental and economic impact over the next decade.

“The beautiful Taranaki region, with its beaches and the magnificent maunga (mountain), will provide exactly the energy and inspiration we need to put our vision for the future into practice.

“We will be covering the hard subjects, diving deep into pressing issues, and telling the stories of our industry. Everyone will be making the most of this time to connect with colleagues and friends in the industry, and meet new people,” she says.

On Monday 25 November, industry first-timers will be welcomed, and Regional Convention Bureaux will meet before the conference Welcome Function at Fitzroy Beach that evening.

Education sessions on 26 and 27 November will draw on the best of the business events industry, as well as experts in their field including Brad Olsen, Principal Economist at Infometrics, Maretha Smit, CEO of Diversity Works, and Professor Carmel Foley, from University of Technology Sydney, an internationally recognised business events' researcher. 

Their topics will include diversity, equity and inclusion, cultural integration, legacy and impact, and improving collaboration within the industry.

The BEIA Mentorship Programme 2024 winds up during the conference, with a chance for mentors and mentees to gather and celebrate their achievements.

“We will be closing with a healthy dose of inspiration and a story of redemption from community advocates David Latele and Manu Vatuvei,” Hopkins says,

The conference wraps up at lunchtime on Wednesday 27 November, after a gala evening at Bowl of Brooklands where BEIA's annual Outstanding Contributor Award will be announced.

Registrations for the BEIA 2024 Conference in Taranaki can be made online here.