Business View Oceania | Volume 3, Issue 8

43 44 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 BUSINESS VIEW OCEANIA VOLUME 3, ISSUE 7 Long term impacts of COVID-19 on Business Events Industry Aotearoa and the business events industry as a whole will include innovations in digital business and varied platforms, Hopkins predicts. “There is a lot of talk currently around digital and hybrid events, and there is no doubt that the industry is looking more than ever at different platforms to see how they work in practice. The fundamental notion of business events however, which is to bring people together to converse, network, collaborate, educate, and experience, hasn’t really changed. Especially in New Zealand, where we’ve been really lucky in terms of managing the impact of the pandemic.” Hopkins also shares that New Zealand’s management of the virus has allowed BEIA to focus more on their domestic market and foster positive relationships with domestic partners more effectively than ever. Business Events Aotearoa recently implemented a three-year strategy called BEIA 2020. Due to be reviewed last year, BEIA 2020 presents a specific vision listed on their website as, “To be the association that best assists its members to drive growth and sustainability of the high-yielding business events sector”. The website also lists the strategy goal as, “The BEIA goal for the New Zealand Business Event Industry in 2020 is to be worth 750 million dollars”. Due to the pandemic, BEIA 2020 is still currently in review to determine whether it remains relevant. Business Events Industry Aotearoa plans to remain a supportive voice for its members over the next five years by improving infrastructure, introducing new projects, opening host locations, and bringing further international and domestic sources into New Zealand to support the industry. Hopkins elaborates, “We will be opening up three international convention centres in New Zealand. We have one opening this year in Christchurch, another in 2023 in Wellington, and the third will be in Auckland in 2024. There are such great results when we bring large international conferences into New Zealand, for the entire country and the entire sector. It opens the door to smaller regional conferences and facilities and demonstrates that we are an international destination of note.” Hopkins remains very optimistic about the future of Business Events Industry Aotearoa and New Zealand’s business events industry. “We’re pretty unafraid and pretty bold, and we just can’t wait to get back out there and start welcoming people back into our country.” Business Events Aotearoa is certainly excited for the future. Watch this space! BUS INESS EVENTS INDUSTRY AOTEAROA