January/FebruaRY 2017 Professional conference organisers on the Brilliant Business Events Marlborough Famil had the opportunity to sample much of the region’s produce including its fine PCOs and hotels look at wines. Nikki Roche, Marlborough Business Events; Sophie Nieuwenhuijsen, cievents; Nadia driving delegates back Oxby, Scenic Hotel Group; Michael Hartmann, Scenic Hotel Group at to event websites Wairau River Family Estate. See full story and more pictures, A steady decline in the number of delegates starting page 10. booking accommodation through the official conference website, and the resulting decrease in organisers are offering them the cheapest rates. There is evidence that they are staying commission for professional conference organisers, at the hotels, often the official conference has led to high level discussions on the topic. hotel, but booking through other methods.’ He says the association went out to Presenting at the PCO Association’s annual much a work in progress. More details are members to get an indication of how conference in Brisbane last month, Mike likely to emerge in the first quarter of 2017. many room nights are associated with PCO Pickford of ASN Events and Mary Sparksman Pickford says that up until a few years members’ events. Just under 20% responded, of YRD told delegates that progress was being ago some 50% of delegates attending and the number of room nights they made towards providing particularly sharp conferences in Australia and New Zealand accounted for was 403,534. early bird rates and then discounts on the would book through the official website. ‘Extrapolating those figures out, that best available rate (BAR) of the day (dynamic That has declined to between 20% to 25% would mean 2.1 million room nights per rates) closer to the conference taking place. on average. year from PCO Association members at Both are on a PCOA subcommittee that is ‘This is particularly true in the larger cities about $420 million revenue and $42 million in discussions with hotel business partners where there is a lot of choice and where commission. I am sure we are not sharing but they emphasise that any solution is very delegates don’t trust that the conference that much between us.’ ...continued on page 4 [ editorial / news Contents Note from the editor... FEATURES PCO Conference 8 Disruption – you’re not immune Marlborough famil 10 Low cost air carriers, Uber, Airbnb – these audience, why not invite that audience to an Industry update 17 are just a few of the ‘disruptive’ operators that event? Auckland 18 have shaken up different sectors in the past The trick for event organisers is to few years. highlight their points of difference - and the Queenstown 30 At the Professional Conference Organisers effectiveness of a well run face to face event Wanaka 40 (PCO) Association’s Conference in Brisbane – while also playing the social media game Coming Events 42 last year it was pointed out that qualified effectively and efficiently. Hamilton / Waikato famil 50 meeting and event planners in New Zealand One of the speakers at the conference, and Australia are increasingly facing Yvonne Adele, suggested that organisers Australian case study 52 disruptions of their own. should think about digital marketing Show Me Wellington 54 Barry Neame, the association’s president, differently. ‘The first thing to do is forget Northland 60 highlighted the entry into the industry of the term social media,’ she told the audience. Byron Bay – Gold Coast 64 people who may see organising a seminar, ‘What it really is, is the online way to amplify conference or meeting as a lucrative string to your existing marketing efforts. Identify Sell TNQ 68 their bow – without really having any idea of the challenge AIME 70 what it entails. and use social This isn’t new, conference organisers have media to address reGULAR FEATURES been talking about it for years. However, the that and to boost proliferation of social media and other digital everything you News 4 formats and platforms (also hot topics at the are doing.’ Social Scene 14 PCO conference) have undoubtedly lowered People on the Move 16 the bar when it comes to entering the events Stu Freeman sector. If you have a blog and can reach an Acting Editor meeting newz is registered as a magazine and is published by ProMag Publishing Ltd. Café opens at Blue Baths Level 1, 172 West Coast Road, Glen Eden, PO Box 60154, Titirangi, Auckland. Internet: www.meetingnewz.co.nz Phone: 09 818 7807. Fax: 09 818 7864. Editor: Aleisha Moore email: [email protected] Publisher: Stu Freeman email: [email protected] Circulation & Advertising Production: Ruth Scott email: [email protected] Administration Manager: Kate Wemyss email: [email protected] Advertising Manager: Heather Lowrie Phone: 09 818 7807 Fax: 09 818 7864 email: [email protected] Design & Production: Gary Covich email: [email protected] Printing: Image Centre Distribution: Western Mailing The new café at the Blue ISSN: 1172-5893 Baths, Rotorua Rotorua’s historic Blue Baths The upstairs room and adjoining roof deck have been refurbished. has added a café that is Structurally strengthened after the 1931 available for private events Napier Earthquake before it officially opened as well as for casual dining. two years later, the Blue Baths weren’t affected by November’s Kaikoura earthquake which is The Social Room, situated upstairs in the art believed to have been the cause of damage to deco bathing and functions venue, overlooks the neighbouring Rotorua Museum, prompting the city’s Government Gardens and has that building’s indefinite closure. become the new home for a grand piano with At the Blue Baths, which remains perfectly a local history. intact, it’s business as usual with events. [2] meetingnewz [janfeb] 2017 THOUGHT CONFERENCING IN QUEENSTOWN WAS OUT OF REACH IN ����? LOOK AT OUR ���� DREAM DEALS CONFERENCE AND STAY AT MILLENNIUM HOTEL QUEENSTOWN. ACCOMMODATION FROM * * $ DAILY $ DELEGATE RATE INCL GST PER ROOM PER NIGHT INCL GST PER ROOM PER NIGHT INCL GST PER PERSON 175 $66INCLUDES: PLENARY VENUE HIRE, WELCOME TEA AND AVAILABILITY 180AVAILABILITY � APRIL – �� APRIL | �� APRIL – �� APRIL | �� MAY – �� MAY � JULY – �� JULY | � AUGUST – �� AUGUST COFFEE, MORNING TEA, BUFFET LUNCH, AFTERNOON � JUNE – �� JUNE | � OCTOBER – �� OCTOBER � SEPTEMBER – � SEPTEMBER TEA, IN-HOUSE AUDIO/ VISUAL EQUIPMENT HIRE, AND FREE WIFI FOR ACOMMODATION GUESTS. DAILY BREAKFAST ��� INCL GST PER DELEGATE www.meetingsnz.co.nz New Zealand 0800 4 633 846 T +64 3 367 3302 Australia +61 4 2117 3325 E [email protected] QUEENSTOWN *Terms and Conditions: Subject to availability, applies to new conference business quotes. [ news continued from page 1... PCos and hotels look at driving delegates back to event websites ‘That means we didn’t get the but there was a ‘swag’ of people booking commission and many of us got hassled though various online travel agents (OTAs) because we were not fulfilling our and a smaller number through other means, room block.’ such as the official company travel agent The delegate research shows that the or booking system (which the association vast majority of attendees booking through accepts comes down to travel policy and is alternative methods were doing so well in unlikely to change). advance. ‘So we are dealing with clients The PCO Association is continuing to who are making conscious decisions not to ‘talk around the table’ with hotel business book through the website.’ partners. These partners are Accor, Hyatt, The largest percentage of the ‘off-website’ Marriott, IHG, Millennium, Pan Pacific, bookings were made direct with the hotel, Rydges and Stamford. Mary Sparksman and Mike Pickford Wellington High achievers recognised to host big LGBTQI event Wellington will host one of the world's most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex, (LGBTQI) conferences in 2018. The event will bring around 600 delegates to the capital from around the world and is the first time in the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Allyssa Eastaugh, director of ProMag Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)’s Publishing; presents Isabella Cope with the overall excellence award in the 40 year history that the biannual Certificate in Hospitality & Tourism, with conference will be held in New Zealand. Linda Wong, programme leader (right) The conference win was the result of months of work by the Event management students Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand were among the high (ITANZ), Te Whanawhana Trust, and RainbowYOUTH; with funding and achievers honoured at the support from Tourism New Zealand AUT University’s Hospitality and WREDA. & Tourism School prize - ‘The group did a fantastic job giving late last year. promoting Wellington as the ideal Programme leader BA (event conference destination gaining a Sally Kim was the top event production management), Alison Booth; Sally Kim top event production graduate unanimous vote from the conference graduate BA (event management), an award organisers,’ says Lisa Gardiner, business sponsored by the New Zealand Association events manager, Tourism New Zealand. of Event Professionals, while Tiana Tuala Tourism New Zealand works with was presented the top cooperative education groups across the country to encourage award BA (event management), sponsored and support them to bid to bring by SKYCITY. conferences to New Zealand. ProMag Publishing sponsored two Major business events like this inject awards – the achievement award BA (event hundreds of thousands of dollars into management) was presented to Eilidh the New Zealand and event destination Cant, while the overall excellence in the economy. Certificate in Hospitality & Tourism was Allyssa Eastaugh, ProMag; Eilidh Cant, winner of given to Isabella Cope. the achievement award BA (event management) [4] meetingnewz [janfeb] 2017 HHM202 01/17 HHM202 This is Melanie. She was looking for a Heritage Collection Distinctive venues in beautiful inspiring destination destinations New Zealand wide. for her event. 0800 003 143 [email protected] Heritage Auckland Rutherford Hotel Nelson Heritage Queenstown A grand choice for an Six ultra flexible rooms to suit Breathtaking views from the award event to impress.