Interest in Dunedin as a conference destination is “on the up”, as the number of international conferences headed to the region shows there is an appetite for what the city has to offer.Enterprise Dunedin’s business events tourism advisor Bree Jones said Dunedin’s growing list of international conference wins has further cemented the city as a first-rate conference destination.“Business event delegates to Dunedin discover a remarkably educated, creative and innovative city still thriving on its founding values,” she says of the South Island city known for its Scottish heritage.Jones says on-going collaborations between the University of Otago, Enterprise Dunedin and Tourism New Zealand saw Dunedin successfully bid to host five international conferences, set to take place between 2018 and 2020, with an estimated value of $4.7 million and 14,000 delegate nights.The city’s attraction to convention delegates has been boosted by increased air connectivity and infrastructure. Additional direct flights have been added to the Auckland and Wellington routes, creating 88,000 further seats in Dunedin each year, and scheduled timings have been amended to create better connections for domestic and trans-Tasman visitors, and those travelling further.“International conferences offer the opportunity to showcase some of the world leaders and influencers we have within our academic community,” said Jones.Dunedin will host the 41st CINZ Annual Conference AGM in October 2017.
