MEETINGS, presented by BEIA (Business Events Industry Aotearoa) and hosted by a different city each year, is the country’s most-anticipated business events trade show, routinely attracting several hundred buyers and professional conference organisers from around the globe. This year was the largest ever, attracting 1,100 delegates to Rotorua.
RotoruaNZ seized the opportunity to challenge the discerning crowds’ perception of our destination by showcasing not only the quality but also the incredible depth and breadth of the venues and products our unique destination offers.
Starting with a pōhiri performed by local iwi Ngāti Whakaue, the 700-strong crowd was culturally welcomed to Sir Howard Morrison Centre, signalling the official start of MEETINGS 2024. This was followed by an incredible, spine-tingling performance by local production company, Te Whare Tapere o Te Arawa, introducing the nine stars of Matariki.The trade show itself was held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre over two days, creating vital opportunities for business events professionals from across New Zealand to connect with lucrative buyers from Australia, North America and Southeast Asia, to name a few.
In a MEETINGS first, RotoruaNZ hosted 380 of these buyers in a specially erected marquee on the tarmac at Rotorua Airport for a Matariki-inspired gala dinner. Guests were treated to a star-studded night of entertainment topped off with a special pre-screening of the spectacular ARONUI Matariki drone show.
Feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive, cementing Rotorua in the business events space as a top destination. Potential revenue from this event is projected to run into the tens of millions, boosting the local economy and further stimulating the conferencing scene in Rotorua.
