NZICC design announcement welcomed

NZICC design announcement welcomed

Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED) welcomes today’s news confirming the revised preliminary design for the planned national convention centre.

“This is a positive next step in creating an important piece of infrastructure for Auckland and its economy,” says ATEED Chief Executive Brett O’Riley.

“New Zealand needs an internationally competitive national convention centre of this scale to attract top level, large scale business events and support the growth of the business events industry in New Zealand.”

Brett O’Riley says a convention centre of this size underpins both Auckland’s Business Events Plan, released in August 2014, and Auckland’s Visitor Plan.

“Auckland is currently losing conventions to other destinations, particularly Australia, because we are not able to offer a venue suited to large scale conferences.

“Business events delegates are high value visitors that deliver strong economic returns. They have a long length of stay, often visit during tourism low season and have a higher spend per night than an international leisure visitor.”

In 2013, the business events sector contributed $236 million of direct spend to the Auckland economy.

“As well as compelling tangible benefits by way of direct spend in the Auckland economy and more jobs, business events also provide important intangible benefits for Auckland and New Zealand. They include the learning opportunities through the transfer of expert knowledge within a particular industry, building business relationships, increasing Auckland’s international profile and reputation, and in the longer term, enhancing investment and talent flows,” says Brett O’Riley.

ENDS

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