Wellington, New Zealand, intensifies MICE Marketing in Australia

Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, and the nation’s leading destination for wining, dining and the arts, is focusing on Australia as part of a new drive to increase its share of the meetings, incentives and conventions market.

With an increase in accommodation inventory, and major meeting facilities including the national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, the Wellington Convention Centre and the Westpac Stadium, the city is moving to increase its share of MICE business in the Australasian region as part of a broader target to build visitor numbers by 35% in the next two years.

“Wellington has everything the MICE market could need, with plentiful accommodation, extensive meeting space and unique local attractions,” said Martin Boland, Convention Bureau Sales Manager for Positively Wellington Tourism.

“For Australian conference organisers, we also offer the attraction of being an international destination, only a domestic distance away,” said Mr Boland.

“We have more than 50 direct flights offering in excess of 6000 seats per week from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

“And we have a range of special touring options to offer before, during and after conferences, ranging from the relaxing rail trip to the famous Martinborough wine country to special food and wine tours, arts experiences and major sports events.”

Wellington recently secured the International Diabetes Conference for 2008, with a massive 2000 delegates, 80% from outside New Zealand, while the Global Physical Education Conference will be held in the city in 2007, with 750 delegates, 400 of them from overseas.

“Major conferences such as these demonstrate not only our ability to accommodate large MICE groups but confidence among professional conference planners in the ability of Wellington to host such major events,” said Mr Boland.

“We have commenced a programme of sales calls in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and will continue this programme during 2006, as well as attending major conference events including AIME, which is scheduled for June.”

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