Christchurch to heighten Asia business focus

CHRISTCHURCH The Christchurch Convention Centre (CCC) is increasing its focus on securing regional business. The centre celebrated five years of operation last year by hosting 2,500 delegates from 70 countries at the 34th Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences, in August. It was the largest professional meeting hosted in New Zealand. Venue manager NCC (New Zealand) sales and marketing director Ms Cathy Hemsworth said the international business generated by the CCC was increasing substantially. "It would be fair to say that about 15% to 25% of our conference business is now international, predominantly Australian," she said. "There is tremendous effort and resource being thrown at not only the Australian market but also at the wider international network. "Our membership of the International Convention Congress Association provides specific industry research to enable us to identify and bid for international business that is rotational in the Asia Pacific area."