This was despite what the industry considers to be a softer year, amid global uncertainty and a fluid domestic economy.

International conference and business event delegates visiting New Zealand also spent more on average per day than an international visitor on vacation, with an average daily spend of $645 while ‘in conference’ – higher than holiday/vacation visitors.[1]

The findings of the 12-month study were announced by sector association BEIA at ‘Te Panapana’, the first official business event held at the newly opened New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), which also featured leaders from Auckland’s and New Zealand’s business communities, alongside the business events industry.

Lisa Hopkins, Chief Executive of BEIA, says the research strengthens the case for continued support and increased investment to secure a sustainable events pipeline, while addressing a critical evidence gap for the sector.

“This research shows that business events, including conferences, incentives and B2B trade shows, are a highly investable contributor to New Zealand’s economic aspirations, delivering strong returns and reinforcing the case for continued or even greater investment by central and local government.”

Produced by Shane Vuletich of Fresh Info, the report provides the most comprehensive national picture to date of the value of multi-day conferences. 

It integrates existing industry data with primary research to assess delegate activity, visitor behaviour and expenditure, resulting in the first nationally consistent dataset of the economic value of multi-day conferences to New Zealand.

Collected over the course of 2025, the study looked at not only economic contribution of delegates per day, but the value of a delegate from around the world, domestically and locally. It also tracked the contribution of companions, who accompanied delegates to the conference. 

Together, multi-day conferences generated approximately 1.50 million visitor nights nationwide. Total expenditure attributable to these events is $925 million, made up of:

• $412 million in delegate expenditure (excluding registration fees)
• $433 million in event expenditure including delegate registration fees, sponsorship and exhibitor income, spent in New Zealand.
• $80 million in companion expenditure

Spend per delegate was $999 for host region delegates, $2,118 for domestic delegates, and $3,726 for international delegates.

Hopkins says: “This research is important because, until now, New Zealand’s business events sector has had to rely on fragmented and outdated data to quantify the value of multi-day conferences.”

While international visitors are important, the research also highlights the vital role of the domestic delegate, who travel regionally within New Zealand.

Hopkins notes: “This research demonstrates how important domestic and local delegates are to the resilience of our national business events sector. When the number of international visitors softens, it’s New Zealanders travelling to other regions who keep the activity going and help economic benefits continue to flow across the country.”

Multi-day conferences generate high-value visitation, support regional dispersal, and contribute to productivity through knowledge exchange, innovation and international connectivity, delivering lasting benefits for New Zealand’s economy.

“This research reinforces that business events are not just a tourism activity," Hopkins says. "They deliver long-term value through knowledge exchange, innovation, trade connections and international connectivity. These are benefits that support productivity, investment and economic growth in New Zealand well beyond the end of the event itself.”

With the NZICC now open and hosting events, New Zealand’s national network of purpose-built convention centres, alongside Takina in Wellington and Te Pae in Christchurch, is now complete.

Hopkins says the opening of the NZICC increased New Zealand’s capability to host more events, in more places, and at a greater scale: “We have a connected national network that allows us to compete internationally. 

“This research on the value of multi-day conferences gives New Zealand’s business events sector, government and regions a far more solid foundation for decision-making to maximise the strength of this network, supporting the sector’s long-term growth and resilience.”

[1] The latest International Visitor Survey shows the median daily spend for holiday/vacation visitors as $416.98 - https://teic.mbie.govt.nz/teiccategories/datareleases/ivs/