New Zealand Looks Forward to a Growth Phase with New National Strategy

Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) members met online for the 47th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 1 November.

BEIA Chief Executive Lisa Hopkins told members the New Zealand industry was embarking on an exciting phase in its growth, capitalising on its new and existing infrastructure.

“At this year's BEIA conference, international speaker Martin Sirk reminded us New Zealand is the last developed country to have a suite of purpose-built venues. This is our time to shine, and stand tall on a global stage,” she said.

“When we look around the country, we offer customers so much choice, from smaller venues at the heart of communities, through to regional spaces with capacity to accommodate some of the largest events.

“New venues, airport developments, roading, transportation, new hotels, new hospitality precincts – all these things are what makes a destination a desirable place to hold a business event,” Hopkins said.

BEIA is set to unveil a National Strategy in the first quarter of 2024, designed to steer the sector towards a more aligned, sustainable model. “Our National Strategy will be ambitious. It needs to be - as the world evolves, so does our sector,” Hopkins told AGM attendees.

Deputy Chair, Prue Daly acknowledged outgoing Chair Steve Armitage who was farewelled at the BEIA Conference in September. She said work was well underway to appoint a new independent Chair, who will be announced shortly.

No elections were required for this year, with Prue Daly the General Manager of NZICC returning as Platinum level representative, and Sam Holdich returning as the Silver level representative, both for two years.
 

The BEIA Board of Management for 2023/2024 is:

Independent Chair - To be appointed shortly; BEIA Chief Executive - Lisa Hopkins; Tourism New Zealand - Bjoern Spreitzer (co-opted); Air New Zealand - Iain Walker (co-opted);

Platinum - NZICC/SkyCity Entertainment Group | Prue Daly | Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre | Ross Steele

Gold - Conference Innovators Ltd | Tracey Thomas

Silver - Weta Workshop  | Sam Holdich

Appointed - David Perks, Regional Tourism NZ | David Downs, The New Zealand Story