MEETINGS 2024 is set to begin on 19 and 20 June, with a Hobbiton Movie Set tour for more than 30 Australian hosted buyers participating in the national trade show.
Participants will be picked up from Auckland Airport in Hobbiton coaches to stay at DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka. Followed by a one-day destination famil, courtesy of RotoruanNZ.
Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins, said they are thrilled buyers can see more of the country’s attractions and experience what they have to offer.
“Our visitors to MEETINGS 2024 can expect a full immersion into Aotearoa New Zealand’s rich culture, and an extremely warm welcome in the heart of the North Island,” she added.
General manager tourism at Hobbiton Movie Set, Shayne Forrest, said the team is looking forward to revealing the new set firsthand to a large number of hosted buyers.
“We really appreciate the opportunity to showcase our piece of Middle-earth and to host buyers in our brand-new Bagshot Row interior Hobbit Holes,” Forest said.
“These only opened to the public six months ago and the feedback has been incredible, with people blown away with the attention to detail that has brought these spaces to life, we think it’s going to be very popular in the business events and incentive space.”
BEIA’s annual showcase welcomes a record number of buyers and exhibitors for two days at Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre. They also have a pōhiri and welcome function at the Sir Howard Morrison Centre on Tuesday, 18 June.
MEETINGS 2024 coincides with Te Tau Hou Māori – the Māori New Year, when Matariki reappears in the dawn skies. RotoruaNZ is inviting hosted buyers to a special Matariki dinner on Wednesday 19 June to celebrate.
MEETINGS Education sessions for buyers will be held during lunch breaks both days. These will cover a wide range of relevant and trending topics.
The Tourism New Zealand Knowledge and Destination Hub will host 23 different 15-minute targeted presentations throughout the two days. Attendees can find out what’s new in New Zealand events with regional showcase updates from across the country.
