The COVID-19 crisis has affected absolutely every industry, but tourism and the event industry will feel the consequences of the pandemic for months to come. Most governments around the world realized financial aid plans to help companies stay afloat, but money is only one part of the equation. Conventions & Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) realizes the importance of business relationships and is taking a strategic approach to saving the meetings industry in New Zealand.
CINZ announced a post-COVID-19 recovery event BE Reconnected, due to be held on December 1, 2020. BE Reconnected will focus on re-engaging and reconnecting vital industry relationships to help kick start business recovery. CINZ Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins explains that New Zealand’s meetings industry, which was valued at about $500m per year has suffered monumental losses and must be given every opportunity to recover. BE Reconnected is designed with all industry stakeholders in mind, focusing on the consumers. Rather than developing an expansive programme and a grandiose exhibition floor for the event, the emphasis will be on conversations and building meaningful relationships.
“We have been looking at different ways to reconnect our members with customers, channels and each other, as part of the industry’s overall business recovery strategy.”
– Lisa Hopkins, CINZ Chief Executive
The meetings industry is the largest contributor in the visitor economy, and it is no different in New Zealand. At the start of 2020, the country was planning for immense business tourism growth with the opening of new four- and five-star hotels, conference venues, national infrastructure, expanded airline routes and new attractions. However, due to the pandemic which brought on travel restrictions and meeting bans, there has been little to no business or revenue.
CINZ wishes to speed up the sector’s recovery and they believe helping secure business leads is a vital step. Engaging buyers in multiple face-to-face opportunities over a short period of time will help build new business relationships and rekindle old ones. After the coronavirus outbreak has been contained CINZ plans to show domestic and international customers that the crisis has only made them stronger, more passionate and more committed to reconnect them with the extraordinary destinations, experiences and people of New Zealand.
“As a key economic driver for our country, it is our organisation’s responsibility to plan and prepare for the recovery, for the sake of our clients, employees, community, regions and the industry.”
