Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) has today announced a marketing agreement with The Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE), aimed at growing the number of Australian business events in New Zealand.
AuSAE represents over 10,000 individual leaders working in not-for-profit organisations throughout Australia and New Zealand.
The two year agreement formalizes a commitment from AuSAE to promote New Zealand as a business events destination to their members and improve the capability of New Zealand associations to host an international conference.
Announced at a press conference at MEETINGS today, TNZโs Director of Trade, PR and Major Events Justin Watson says the partnership is a great step toward growing the value of business events out of Australia.
โAustralia is an important market for the business events sector in New Zealand and we are excited to be working collaboratively with AuSAE to promote the benefits of holding events in New Zealand,โ says Justin.
AuSAE President, Mr Tony Steven says, โIt is fantastic to have Tourism New Zealand as a business partner of AuSAE. This commitment further enables AuSAE to assist its related associations in New Zealand to have the best possible resources, information and training to help them increase net worth to their respective membership base.โ
TNZ and AuSAE have committed to a program of activity which will include New Zealand workshops and events in Australia, and educational visits for Australian AuSAE members to showcase the range of venues and facilities on offer.
A conference bidding program will also be held in New Zealand to improve the quality of bids for international events.
Justin says, โThis is a unique opportunity to reach a large number of senior executives from a range of associations who may be considering holding a business event.โ
New research released today has further demonstrated the huge potential the Australian market holds.
โThe research showed New Zealand as rating highly in both awareness and appeal in the Australian market, while also highlighting that there is significant scope to increase the knowledge of New Zealandโs business events offerings,โ says Justin.
โThis presents an opportunity for New Zealand to educate key decision makers on the functional detail about holding business events in NZ, and this partnership is an important step in achieving this.โ
TNZ’s management of the Conference Assistance Program has seen New Zealand bid for 39 events over the last financial year, securing nine international events to date.