The first bookings have been secured for the New Zealand International Convention Centre, with Auckland winning the bids to host two large-scale international medical conferences in 2020.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO), and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) will hold back-to-back conferences over about five days at the NZICC, which is scheduled to open mid-2019.

The events will deliver some $11 million in economic benefit to the city, including an estimated 15,000 room nights.

Brett O’Riley, Chief Executive of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), says securing international conferences of this scale and prestige demonstrates that Auckland is a world-class business events destination.

“The development of NZICC has meant Auckland is now able to compete internationally for these larger scale conference and association meetings,” he says.

About the NZICC

• Five times larger than the current largest convention facilities in New Zealand.
  
• Can host conferences and one-off events for approximately 4000 people.
  
• Will have New Zealand’s largest theatre, with seating for 2850 people.
  
• Open for business mid-2019.
  

This article was originally sourced Auckland Council.