In the Spotlight at MEETINGS 2023: Connections, Celebrations, and Looking Ahead to the Future

Pictured: Deb Wootton- Director and Demelza Smith- Business Development Manager

As our team at Higher Perspective Conferences and Events (HPCE) reflects on our time at MEETINGS 2023, one word stands out, "opportunity." Our team had amazing corporate networking experiences at this unique event, which is part of the Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Meetings and Events series.

The Ultimate Exhibition in Wellington

This year it was held in the heart of Wellington, New Zealand, in the brand new Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre. As the leading national trade show, MEETINGS is a pinnacle event for the country's business events industry. For us, it was awesome to see the venue in action as we will soon be using it for one of our client’s upcoming events. Organised by BEIA, the event provides a platform for the conference, meetings, events, exhibition, and travel incentive sectors to come together and explore new business opportunities across the country.

Now in its 28th year, MEETINGS annually brings together professionals to share knowledge, ideas, and insights through face-to-face interactions over two action-packed days. The curated schedule and pre-arranged appointments enable exhibitors like us to connect with qualified buyers who are likely to generate business.

A Wealth of Business Opportunities

Every moment presented a new opportunity to grow our business. It wasn't just about conducting business as usual – it was about establishing relationships to shape the future.

Our team was excited to be part of this opportunity, our third year exhibiting at the event. With our exhibition stand positioned to align with businesses working in our head office region, we were able to engage with potential clients and showcase our expertise in corporate conferences and events to interested buyers.

Our Business Development Manager, Demelza Smith, represented our three companies at the event - HPCE, Activities and Events Unlimited, and Right Turn Agency. By exhibiting together, we could showcase the full suite of our services spanning corporate conferences, event theming, incentives, and marketing.

Corporate Networking at its Best

One of the standout aspects of this year's event was the calibre of attendees. With a rigorous qualification process, the buyers present were genuinely interested in corporate conferences, incentive travel, and exploring new business collaborations.

The personalised appointment schedule enabled us to connect one-on-one with qualified buyers to address their varied interests, whether that was corporate conferences, gala dinners, or incentive travel.

An Industry-Wide Celebration

This tradeshow was a celebration of excellence within our industry. It served as acknowledgment of the outstanding work done by businesses in our sector, who have navigated some challenging years.

A highlight for us was connecting with close friends across the industry, from suppliers to providers. We were surprised by how many people we had worked with over the years and saw it as an amazing opportunity to reconnect.

Attending MEETINGS was always a dream for our director Deb Wootton, who saw the opportunity to represent her companies alongside New Zealand's best as a high honour and personal milestone. For Deb, exhibiting at this premier event symbolises how far we've come as young companies in the sector.

Embracing Change and Progress

As we look ahead to MEETINGS 2024, our team is excited about the positive changes on the horizon. With a rebrand in the works, we are evolving to meet new challenges and opportunities, and provide the very best service to our clients.

MEETINGS 2023 demonstrated our unwavering commitment to service excellence within the corporate events sector. With each passing year, we grow stronger and more connected within the industry.

With next year's event set to take place in our backyard Rotorua, we are excited to strengthen existing connections, spark new relationships, and look ahead to all the possibilities the future holds.

More info on next year's event visit the MEETINGS website: BEIA MEETINGS 2024