After five years, New Zealand’s Christchurch and Canterbury region returned to AIME, unveiling the city’s transformation. Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau (CCCB) exhibited for the first time since 2011, and was joined by Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre to update buyers on the latest from New Zealand’s newest city.
“It’s great to be back at AIME and we look forward to reconnecting with the Australian marketplace,” says CCCB Manager Caroline Blanchfield.
“Christchurch is an exciting place to be right now and the next few years will see a huge transformation for business event visitors, as the new Convention Centre and more hotels open,” she says.
Central Christchurch is evolving into a hub of smart precincts with world-class facilities. A lively convention centre precinct is in the final planning stages, and the new health and innovation precincts, performing arts venues and a metro sports facility are already underway. The Christchurch Convention and Exhibition Centre (CCEC) will have a prime riverside setting and promises to be a boutique-style premium international-standard facility, surrounded by shops, restaurants and hotels.
“The city’s attractive design draws on our rich natural and cultural heritage, with a focus on pedestrian-friendly shopping, dining, arts and entertainment areas set alongside the beautiful Avon River, surrounded by wide green spaces framing the centre,” Blanchfield says.
Christchurch is already home to many of New Zealand’s newest and interesting event venues including the Transitional ‘cardboard’ Cathedral, Isaac Theatre Royal, Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Christchurch Art Gallery and Rydges Latimer Hotel.
With a major international airport just 15 minutes from the city centre, Christchurch is also the visitor gateway to the coastal and alpine playgrounds of New Zealand’s South Island.
“Our wider Canterbury region has many options on offer for pre- and post-touring, partner programmes and incentive travel – from thermal pools, spa treatments, wildlife viewing and night sky tours, to hot air ballooning, golf, scenic train journeys, 4WD tours and adrenaline-based activities,” Blanchfield says.
Comments are closed.