Wellington Means Business

Positively Wellington Tourism’s Convention Bureau has launched a new tactical initiative that will make meeting in the capital even easier and aims to drive further growth in conference tourism.

In an exclusive partnership with Air New Zealand, Capital Meetings is offering a full service meetings package aimed at small to medium businesses.

The packages – launched in time for the national industry trade show, MEETINGS, in Auckland - include return flights, Wellington airport transfers, accommodation, meeting space, morning and afternoon teas and a daily working lunch. Lead in prices for an overnight package from Auckland start from as little as $313 per person.

Convention Bureau Sales Manager Martin Boland says the packages, booked through Air New Zealand Groups, are flexible, with additional nights and activities easily added. Delegates can be flown from all around the country and do not have to be coming from one centre.

“Capital Meetings is designed ideally for businesses holding events for around 20-80 people. It’s for people that don’t have time to arrange all the detail at the start, but need quality, cost effective solutions.”

Clients will be given a choice of a range of three to five star accommodation options as well as meeting spaces at iconic Wellington venues like Te Papa and the Wellington Convention Centre. An advantage will be that they have the freedom to adjust names on flight bookings at no extra charge.

“This is an off-the-shelf product that no other city in New Zealand has on offer right now,” Mr Boland said.

Positively Wellington Tourism Chief Executive David Perks says the initiative reflects the city’s commitment to making life easy for its visitors no matter what their reason for coming.

“Time is money for small businesses and this will free their staff up to focus on their projects while someone else researches the options for them.”

Following the launch of Capital Meetings domestically, Mr Perks said the natural progression would be to look at releasing trans-Tasman packages.

“Our respective Prime Ministers have identified a common border between New Zealand and Australia as a priority. We’ll be looking to launch Capital Meetings to the Australian market off the back of any such developments to maximise the market potential and make the experience the best it can possibly be. Business tourism is a vital component of Wellington’s visitor makeup and attracting more conference visitors across the ditch is a priority.”