Office of the Mayor
News Release

12 June 2011

Convention Centre will boost Auckland economy

The Mayor says the New Zealand International Convention Centre will attract more than 180,000 delegates a year to Auckland, providing a significant boost to our tourism sector.

Len Brown says the government initiative to establish an internationally competitive convention centre is an important step on the path towards making Auckland an events capital and a visitor destination rather than a gateway.

“The centre is forecast to attract 183,000 delegates a year. It will mean an extra 101,000 visitor nights and 350,000 additional delegate attendee days in Auckland.

“Convention delegates are high spenders. On average, they spend more than $650 per night in Auckland, around double the amount spent by visitors on average.

“Auckland and New Zealand has lacked a major convention centre for too long. There are more than 8000 conferences around the world each year, but less than 30 come to New Zealand. The 3,500-person venue will put us in a position – at long last – to compete with Australian cities in the international convention market.”

”I understand the process to select the preferred developer, which has been won by SKYCITY Entertainment Group, was highly competitive. I congratulate SKYCITY, along with all the other contenders, on the quality proposals put forward to the Government.

“We will work with the developer to ensure the International Convention Centre meets Aucklanders’ aspirations in regard to urban design. It could be a great boost for the city’s Victoria Quarter, which the centre would border.”

The Mayor says the NZICC is a project that will deliver economic growth for Auckland.

“Given the financial pressures being faced by the new Auckland and the government, I welcome today’s announcement. The construction work alone will be a timely boost to the economy in the CBD.”

Ends

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