New Zealand has Exciting Future in Meetings Industry

Langham Hotel in Auckland

Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) CEO Allan Trotter has told delegates at the recent Professional Conference Organisers (PCO) Association conference, held at the Langham Hotel in Auckland last month, that it is “a very exciting time for the New Zealand meetings industry”.

Abandoning his notes, Trotter decided to address some of the questions he’d been asked prior to his scheduled session on “New Zealand’s future role in the Asia Pacific Meetings Industry”.

While acknowledging that Australian and New Zealand-based operators can’t control the global economy, Trotter said that “we can be nimble and adapt” to changing circumstances. Sticking together in these uncertain times is also in the interests of both nations’ business events industries, saying that “Australia and New Zealand are joined at the hip”. “When times are uncertain you have to rely on your friends,” he said.

Allan Trotter

Praising Christchurch for its resilience and spirit, Trotter went on to reassure the gathered PCOs that the city is still open for small meetings and urged them to show their support by bringing business to the city once it is fully up and running again by 2016.

Trotter also indicated that CINZ is expecting a further announcement about the National Convention Centre in the first quarter of 2012.