By Lisa Hopkins,
Cheif Executive
Business Events Industry Aotearoa
Column published on 
Since New Zealand ushered in a new government and welcomed new ministers, the tourism and hospitality sectors are seeing a fresh wave of engagement with the Government. Appointing Matt Doocey as the new Minister for Tourism and Hospitality is a bold and welcomed decision. It signals the value and importance of these two industries. Business events firmly finds its feet in both camps as a significant revenue contributor, partner and supplier.
The inclusion of hospitality in Minister Doocey's portfolio marks a strategic move that we support enthusiastically. I recall an operator of a café in Christchurch tell me that his business increased 100% back in 2021 after Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre opened its doors. There is a strong symbiotic relationship between the two industries. Hospitality is often a source of unique and different venues for business events. Many in our industry began their careers as contract or part-time staff in hospitality before making the switch. Hospitality’s necessity for ongoing training and various regulatory challenges are areas of mutual interest that impact both sectors.
Collaboration
It is always exciting to collaborate with other organisations to deliver a solution, and one which we are particularly excited about is the relationship between BEIA members and Immigration NZ. This partnership comes as a direct result of a working group from INZ and the BEIA Approved PCO group and relates to the issue of delegates from non-visa waivered countries attending a conference in New Zealand. In 2023, 100 attendees from one such country were unable to attend a conference. Imagine the loss in spend and contribution that equated to. The visas weren’t being issued quickly enough, and the immigration officers were unaware of the impact this was having on the sector. The opportunity to have a round table with Immigration NZ, with the right people in the room has led to a great outcome.
INZ is now aware of the size and scale of our sector, something they didn’t appreciate previously, and we are having direct conversations with INZ consultants on future events, so they are prepared for what is coming down the pipeline. It means they can be ready to accept an influx of delegates attending a ratified conference by sharing details around future conferences which feature delegates from non-visa waivered countries. In turn, each conference is appointed to a specific consultant, which allows the PCO and the consultant to engage directly. Information is kept within the strictest confidence via BEIA.
This collaboration also enables both parties to share any issues and seek the support of the other to help find solutions. Not only does this provide the industry with a high level of comfort, but it also enhances New Zealand’s appeal as a conference destination. The working group will continue to review and streamline the process, but it has had a very positive start.
Turning up the volume
In 2024, my fervent wish is for the BE industry to truly find its voice and do the very “non-kiwi” thing of talking openly about what we have achieved. I don’t think we do this enough. There are some exceptional stories which need to shared, outcomes that the general population should be aware of.
At BEIA, we could talk the skin off a rice pudding when it comes to the subject of business events, and we do, but we are always looking at ways to deliver something a little more. Now we are in the process of delivering a brand new website which we are going to use to shout to the tops of the Southern Alps and beyond about the cleverness of this sector, and to turn our often quiet achievements into big stories.
We are lucky to have a couple of loud voices on our board – none louder than David Downs, CEO of The New Zealand Story. We will be looking to find ways of partnering with his organisation, as well as great stories that Tourism NZ can share when it looks to market New Zealand as a premium business events destination overseas. If you have a story you would like to share, please email me direct on lisa. [email protected] and I am sure between us, Tourism New Zealand, Meeting Newz and The New Zealand Story, we can all stand loud and proud.
A strategic direction
By the time the next issue of Meeting Newz reaches your desk or inbox, the Business Events National Strategic Direction would have been released, a document which all of us in the industry can be proud of. This living document has been designed to capture the aspirations of the sector for the next 10 years, how we are going to work together with others, and how we will positively impact people and place. It’s an exciting step forward for an industry which has never developed such a cohesive document before. I hope you can join us on the journey.
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