Recently, our industry has come together at two significant moments: Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event, AIME and the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, IAPCO. While I wasn’t personally on the ground at AIME, two of our sales team members were, and the insights they brought back were both encouraging and insightful. Alongside this, we’re proud to be actively supporting the IAPCO EDGE program, including hosting a prestigious dinner at Auckland Art Gallery, giving us a front-row seat to the conversations shaping the future of business events.
From the team’s time at AIME, one message stood out clearly: there is strong interest from people new to Auckland who are actively seeking a clear, confident overview of the venue landscape. Many of the conversations were with clients who were pleased to have a single point of contact that could open the door to multiple venue options, making their planning process simpler and more efficient.
There was also a consistent and growing demand for unique venues outside of traditional hotels. Clients were specific about wanting spaces with character and a sense of place, and this was evident across a wide mix of meetings; from destination management companies and corporates, through to associations and event management companies, including professional conference organisers. That diversity of clients was encouraging and reinforced just how broad the appeal of non-hotel venues has become.
On a more personal note, the team loved being back in Melbourne. Its energy and vibrancy always make it a great place to do business, and being recognised and remembered by Australian clients throughout the show was a real highlight. It was a reminder that relationships built over time truly matter in this industry.
