For the first time in the history of MEETINGS NZ, 2023 saw the event take place in Wellington at New Zealand’s newest convention centre, Tākina Wellington. Buyers and sellers were welcomed to New Zealand’s capital with a spectacular opening ceremony for MEETINGS 2023 at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand.
Business Events Industry Aotearoa’s (BEIA) MEETINGS 2023 also set the record as the largest in its 27-year history, with 224 exhibition stands representing 19 regions, including 26 first-time exhibitors, plus over 400 buyers, with 100 from Australia and 10 from international markets of North America and Singapore.
The new Takina Conference Centre was the location for MEETINGS NZ 2023. Image: Smoke Photography Ltd.
In the two days of the event, across two floors at Tākina, hosted buyers that consisted of event managers, professional conference organisers, and anyone looking to plan corporate events, conferences, product launches, incentive experiences, exhibitions, roadshows, and team-building events, met with pre-scheduled appointments of their choice from 224 stands across 19 regions of New Zealand, including 26 first-time exhibitors. The exhibitors included venues, production and event design companies, hotels, regional convention bureaux, caterers, attractions and activities.
Lisa Hopkins from BEIA. Image: Smoke Photography Ltd.
BEIA Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins said MEETINGS demonstrates the huge interest in New Zealand as a world-class conference destination.
“New Zealand has it all. New-generation infrastructure including brand new convention centres, excellent international connections, and superb support services including accommodation, hospitality, and visitor attractions make it a highly desirable meeting place,” Hopkins said.
Sustainability and regenerative travel was the talk of the tradeshow floor, with MEETINGS working towards Toitū net carbonzero certification as a Certified Event Operation.
MEETINGS is Aotearoa New Zealand’s only national tradeshow for the business events industry and is the leading platform for connecting influential domestic, Australian and international buyers with key regions, meeting facilities, accommodation, off-site venues and activities.
MEETINGS 2023 major partners in 2023 are Air New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand Business Events, WellingtonNZ, Tākina Events, EventsAir, Peek Exhibition, and Exhibition Hire Services.
Image: Smoke Photography Ltd.
