Above : Michael Fowler Centre , Wellington . Left : Lisa Gardiner , manager business events and premium , Tourism New Zealand . has already bid and won a diverse range of business events , with more in the pipeline . There ’ s also been a lot of interest in the New Zealand International Convention Centre ( NZICC ). The Auckland Convention Bureau and NZICC are working together on a number of promising leads with some major win announcements due to be made soon .”
The NZICC isn ’ t the only infrastructure on the horizon , with the Waterview Connection , a dual traffic tunnel to link up Auckland ’ s highway network and create a ring road , due to open in April providing improved access to the central city .
“ Some new and renovated accommodation options are also due to come on stream which will further bolster the growth of the business events sector , including Naumi Auckland , the Sofitel So boutique hotel and the completed renovation of the Copthorne Hotel ,” says Hayward .
Other regions in both the North and South Islands are also set to reap the rewards of investment in its events infrastructure with Christchurch Convention Centre opening in late 2019 and new facilities planned for Wellington and Queenstown .
Tourism infrastructure in general is also the focus of a proposal for a new NZ $ 130 million tourism infrastructure fund . Late last year , four of New Zealand ’ s key tourism leaders jointly released a report to the then Minister of Tourism John Key proposing the annual fund to address the tourism infrastructure needs .
The result of work commissioned by the chief executives of Air New Zealand , Auckland Airport , Christchurch Airport and Tourism Holdings Limited , the report is intended to start a conversation between the tourism industry , local and central government on investment in public tourism infrastructure such as car parks , sanitation and visitor facilities .
“ As the tourism industry grows it ’ s important that local public infrastructure keeps pace but we also need to be realistic about the ability of some local communities to fund the ongoing investment required ,” says Malcolm Johns , Christchurch International Airport CEO .
“ Rapid tourism growth over recent years , means there ’ s already a local tourism infrastructure deficit in parts of New Zealand , especially in regions with low numbers of rate paying residents and high visitor numbers .”
The report proposes that a National Tourism Infrastructure Levy be created comprising of a 2 per cent national bed levy across the accommodation sector and a NZ $ 5 increase to the border levy which would raise NZ $ 65 million per annum from the industry . Matching funds from the government would bring this to NZ $ 130 million per annum to fund local tourism infrastructure needs . It also recommends that the fund have a formal review every five years to ensure the funds are being appropriately applied .
“ By working together , industry and government could establish an independent entity that would bring greater discipline and commercial rigor to investment decisions than any of us could achieve on our own ,” says Grant Webster , Tourism Holdings Ltd CEO .
16 Convention & Incentive Marketing , Issue 1 , 2017 www . cimmagazine . com