Tick all the boxes — you would in Wellington
It’s a city that seamlessly blends learning, connecting, and memorable experiences. Hosting conferences is easy for organisers, and delegates will enjoy fresh perspectives.
The campaign comes just over a year after Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre opened, significantly boosting Wellington’s capacity to host international events. With 10,000 square metres of flexible space, Tākina complements the city’s already impressive array of venues and its appeal as a destination.
Business Events Wellington (BEW) says there’s been a surge in interest and bookings for Wellington conferences since Tākina opened. “We are excited to continue the momentum of Australian conferences choosing Wellington. We’ve seen a significant step change in the number and size of events from Australia, and the city is delivering,” says BEW manager, Irette Ferreira.
Last month, Tākina hosted the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC 58) and The Advantage Conference 2024 concurrently. In mid-October, the centre will welcome more than 800 delegates for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) Annual Scientific Meeting, the largest Australian conference held at Tākina to date.
But the campaign emphasises that Wellington’s appeal goes beyond its shiny new convention centre.
What often surprises planners is how easy it is to fly into Wellington. There are over 50 direct return flights between Australia and Wellington each week, with a short three-to-four-hour flight from cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. Upon arrival, the city’s venues and hotels are just a short trip from the airport.
There is lots of choice for accommodation, with more than 4,000 rooms all within a short walk from conference venues. Major international brands such as InterContinental, Mövenpick, and QT are well-represented, alongside a range of options to suit any budget.
As New Zealand’s capital, Wellington is home to the national government, central agencies, top-ranked universities, and research institutes, providing easy access to forward-thinking experts and ideas to enhance events. The city is compact and rich in culture, history, nature, and cuisine. All of it is walkable, allowing delegates to spend less time in transit and more time enjoying what the conference and city has to offer.
As one delegate at The Advantage Conference said, “We have had so much fun in Wellington. The bars are great, the wine is fantastic, and the food is outstanding.”
Irette added, “We are committed to supporting Australian clients in hosting successful conferences here. Wellington offers something unique and a fresh perspective for delegates, and just a short flight away from Australia.”
Date published: 9 October 2024
Watch the campaign video
1:17
Audio (Voiceover): Ready to host your conference in a city that ticks all the boxes? Wellington is closer than you think. With impressive venues, access to the right people, and a vibrant forward-thinking city, Wellington has everything you need. But don’t just take it from us.
Visual:
- A drone flies over Mount Victoria, looking towards Wellington city. The harbour sparkles in the sun.
- A group of four delegates walk through a hallway in a hotel wearing yellow lanyards.
- Looking toward the stage at a conference inside Tākina, with people sitting on couches and a person standing at a podium speaking. A projector is behind them showing the large audience the agenda.
- An exterior shot of Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, a large brown glass building near the waterfront.
- Three people sit at a table at a trade show at Tākina. They talk and drink coffee. Busy company stalls are in the background.
- Many people wearing lanyards walk into a venue with purple LED lighting.
- A drone shot of the harbour and Te Papa Tongarewa. Yachts are parked in the foreground at the marina.
- Inside Naumi Studio Hotel, delegates fill the vibrant foyer. A large decorative flower is in the centre of the shot.
Visual: Ashley sits in front of the camera. The background is out of focus.
Text on screen: Ashley, organiser of The Advantage Conference.
Audio (Ashley): Having access for our delegates whether they’re flying in from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, or elsewhere, direct into Wellington made it so easy to come here.
Visual:
- A group of delegates walk along Oriental Parade, with the beach and city skyline behind them.
- Four delegates with lanyards walk away from Tākina, toward Te Papa Tongarewa.
- Larissa sits in front of the camera. The background is out of focus.
Text on screen: Larissa, delegate, The Advantage Conference.
Audio (Larissa): Tākina as our conference venue has been great, the food has been fresh, and the staff have been amazing.
Visual:
- Four delegates drinking wine stand on a balcony at Tākina. A waiter offers them a plate of small bites. The surroundings reflect off the building’s large exterior windows.
- A close-up of salmon crackers on a plate.
- Siena sits in front of the camera. The background is out of focus.
Text on screen: Siena, organiser, APNIC 58.
Audio (Siena): The conference venue is incredibly central, just on the water, which makes it a beautiful view to look out on.
Visual:
- A drone shot of Wharewaka and Whairepo Lagoon, with the busy waterfront. Tākina, Te Papa Tongarewa, and Mount Victoria are in the background.
- A drone follows a yacht in the Wellington harbour with people talking and drinking on the deck. The city and hills are in the background.
- Four people wearing yellow lanyards clink wine glasses on the yacht. Oriental Parade and Mount Victoria are behind them.
Audio (Larissa): Our accommodation is in the middle of the city and it’s only 15 minutes from the airport. It’s fantastic.
Visual:
- A person rolling a suitcase enters a room at Naumi Hotel. The sun-drenched room has gold and black decor, a kitchenette, and a large bed.
Audio (Ashley): I think once you get here and feel the vibe of the city, I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
Visual:
- Delegates walk along the waterfront with the city’s high rises behind them.
- A barista brings coffee to a table of people talking in a café.
- A drone shot of Wellington at sunset with the sun peaking from behind the hills.
- Dr Pelle sits in front of the camera. The background is out of focus.
Text on screen: Dr Pelle, organiser, RANZCOG.
Audio (Dr Pelle): Many Healthcare leaders and decision-makers in healthcare will be located here in Wellington, having the conference here makes it really easy for them to be here.
Visual:
- A person wearing a suit stands at a podium ready to deliver a speech.
- Inside a busy trade show, where delegates wearing lanyards check out different stalls inside Tākina.
- A group of people take the escalator down to the ground level on Tākina.
- Four delegates with lanyards walk along the waterfront with Mount Victoria and Queens Wharf behind them.
- Carly sits in front of the camera. The background is out of focus.
Text on screen: Carly, organiser, RANZCOG.
Audio: We received great support from Business Events Wellington, they were there from the very beginning. They prepared our bid, and then in the 18 months of lead-up, they’ve been supporting us with planning, with discounts for hospitality, with delegate support.
Visual:
- Inside a networking event hosted by Business Events Wellington, where people sit at tables talking. A large yellow WELLINGTON sign is behind them.
- Four delegates wearing suit jackets are standing on an upper level at Tākina. They are standing next to large floor-to-ceiling windows while drinking wine and talking.
- A drone shot of Oriental Bay, the inner city beach, and the city and hills behind it.
- Inside a conference, people sit and listen to the speaker.
- People networking at a RANZCOG event.
Audio (Larissa): We have had so much fun in Wellington, the bars are great, the wine is fantastic, and the food is outstanding.
Visual:
- Five people sit on luxurious gold seating inside the QT Wellington boutique hotel. Three people are playing snooker in the background. A waiter walks in and presents a platter of food to the people sitting.
- A smiling waiter pours a glass of red wine and hands it to a delegate.
- Two people clink wine glasses inside Lola Rogue Restaurant and Bar.
- A waiter brings a plate of food to a table of six inside the red room at Lola Rogue. Dried flowers and candles decorate the table.
- A person standing on the deck at Tākina, looking out over the waterfront and harbour.
- A drone shot of the city and harbour from above.
Audio (Voiceover): Tick all the boxes. You would in Wellington
Visual:
- Tick all the boxes, You would in Wellington.
- WellingtonNZ.com/meet
- Business Events Wellington logo.
Looking for more?
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