New Zealand’s
capital city, Wellington, is preparing to host international conference
delegates once again following the lifting of border restrictions.
Fully vaccinated travellers from about 60 countries, including
the UK and US, are now able to travel to the country, after Australians
were allowed in last month.
Business
Events Wellington has partnered with Tourism New Zealand, universities based in
the city, locally based government agencies, and a variety of national
associations to target events focussing on the city’s specialist sectors and
research areas.
These
include digital technologies, from software to
telecommunications; professional services; creative industries including
screen and gaming, and world-leading education and scientific research in
fields from biotech to advanced materials.
Upcoming
events include the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and
Artistic Works’ IIC Biennial Congress, which will now go ahead in a hybrid
format in September at the National Library.
Business
Events Wellington manager Irette Ferreira said: “We’re looking forward to
hosting an exciting calendar of conferences. These range from domestic events,
which have sustained the city’s conference market since borders closed in 2020,
to international conferences secured over the past several years which are now
able to welcome delegates and speakers from around the world with no event
restrictions.”
In
October the city’s health sector will welcome both the 4th Feeding the
Future conference of the Infant Nutrition Council of Australia and New Zealand,
and the Combined Scientific Congress of the New Zealand Society of
Anaesthetists and the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.
And
the city’s high-tech strengths will be evident when it hosts both the ACM
Interactive Surfaces and Spaces Conference, and the International
Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference in November.
Looking
ahead, Ferreira said 2023 was set to be a bumper year for Wellington. Major
conferences scheduled to take place include the 10th International
Crustacean Congress, the Island Biology Conference, and the International Zoo
Educators Conference.
Meanwhile,
Tākina, the new Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, is on track to open
mid-2023, with more than 60 conferences already pencilled in at the central
city venue.
Tākina
will be able to accommodate a plenary of up to 1,600 delegates, with two
divisible plenary halls on separate levels which can be easily combined. It
will also offer a 1,800sqm exhibition hall with adjacent space to boost
capacity, stand-alone meeting rooms, and fully integrated best-in-class AV and
ICT systems.
Ferreira
said: "Tākina will add
purpose-built conferencing capability and capacity to
our already excellent suite of venues, from the intimate and unique to our big,
blank canvas options. Wellington’s business events future is looking bigger and
brighter.”
Written By
James Lancaster
A journalist for more than 22 years, AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Page
proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
