According to an independent survey commissioned by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), MEETINGS 2022, held in Christchurch mid-June, broke records for attendance for the value of business it generated.

The post-MEETINGS survey showed $107.5 million worth of business was provisionally secured during the two days of New Zealand’s largest business events industry tradeshow – a 45.3 percent increase on the previous year’s event.

After attending MEETINGS, 79 percent of all buyers said they were booking business as a result of the event, while 21 percent were still considering options, such as final destination choices.

BEIA chief executive, Lisa Hopkins said the numbers reflect the skyrocketing popularity of Aotearoa New Zealand as a business events destination and show the huge demand for face-to-face meetings in inspirational settings.

“This is an extraordinary result and speaks highly to the quality of the exhibitors and buyers who travelled from around New Zealand and Australia to Christchurch,” Hopkins said.

“Aotearoa New Zealand is wowing event organisers with cutting-edge new infrastructure across the country, air connectivity which continues to expand every month, incredibly diverse regional character, strong cultural values, and innovative sustainability practices.”

MEETINGS 2022 connected exhibitors from 18 New Zealand regions on 211 stands with over 100 Australian hosted buyers, and 110 New Zealand hosted buyers. Also in attendance were 160 domestic day buyers and 25 media.

Hosted buyers who were surveyed recorded a 233 percent increase in the number of delegates expected to attend a business event in the coming year, while day buyers from across New Zealand recorded a significant increase in the daily delegate spend – now $566.90 per day, up from $293 last year.

“In the post-event survey, every region came away with a hosted buyer eager to do business,” Hopkins said.

“While Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown were high on the list, regional hotspots Waikato, Dunedin, Rotorua, Marlborough, Bay of Plenty, Central Otago, and Hawkes Bay were also popular. It was great to see good interest in Southland, Taranaki, Kaikōura, Mackenzie, Northland, Nelson, Taupo, Wanaka, Manawatu, and Fiordland too.”

MEETINGS 2023 will be held on 21 and 22 June at Tākina Wellington Conference and Exhibition Centre.