Business, fun, education – and opportunities to win

The scene is set for plenty of business to be done at the Canterbury Conferences and Events Expo 2010 next week – with more than 100 highly qualified buyers meeting 67 local exhibitors.

Visitors will include 29 hosted buyers from around New Zealand and Australia, with all of them on pre-scheduled appointments with exhibitors and many of them taking part in tours around the province.

Canterbury Expo 10 is being held at Hotel Grand Chancellor Christchurch from 9am to 4pm on August 17. The event is being organised by ProMag Publishing Ltd on behalf of owner the Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau.

ProMag director Stu Freeman says that while an expo such as this is about driving conference, incentive, function and other event business for Canterbury suppliers, there are also fun and educational elements to the event.

As well as this, buyers will have a myriad of opportunities to win prizes at the expo.

Exhibition manager Tess Mason says exhibitors have been enthusiastic about offering business card draws, show promotions and other competitions to encourage buyer participation during the event.

Prizes confirmed to date include:

-       A ‘double bubble package for two with The George;
-       A Rydges Christchurch accommodation package for two;
-       Two Mid  Canterbury get away packages;
-       A Holiday Inn bed and breakfast package for two;
-       A rugby ‘kit’ with HOT Events & House of Travel Rugby;
-       A night for two in a Select Braemar luxurious suite;
-       A Kiwi experience for two with Willowbank Wildlife Reserve / Ko Tane;
-       A Heritage Hanmer Springs over night package for two;
-       An Xbox 360 Elite with PC Rentals;
-       Two prizes with The Classic Villa;
-       A night’s accommodation for six guests with Terrace Downs Resort;
-       A deluxe night for two with The Marque;
-       Two nights’ accommodation with iStay on Cashel;
-       A $200 travel voucher with Orlova South;
-       A golf package with Peppers Clearwater Resort & Clearwater Golf Club;
-       A night’s accommodation for two with Hotel Ashburton & Function Centre;
-       Lunch for two at The Lake House Restaurant Bar and Café;
-       An accommodation prize for six at Double Hill Station;
-       Two rounds of golf with Pegasus Town;
-       Two bottles of Melton Estate sparkling wine;
-       Two tickets to the Jack Johnson concert with Vbase,
-       A fun gaming experience with Christchurch Casino.

There will also be spot prizes of Canterbury Melton Estate wine for pre-registered buyers attending the expo.

‘With such a huge range of prizes, and more quite likely to be announced over the next few days, the chances of winning something while at the Canterbury Conferences and events Expo 2010 are very high,’ says Tess Mason.

Intending buyers from the Christchurch and Canterbury region can still register for free at www.canterburyexpo.co.nz  The website also contains a full list of exhibitors and details on the various prize draws, show promotions, seminars and entertainment profiles.

Media enquiries to Stu Freeman ph 09 818 7807 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kaikoura adds to regional flavour of expo

Kaikoura will be making an appearance at the Canterbury Conferences & Events Expo 2010 after a three year break.  Annie Paterson, tourism and economic development manager for the Kaikoura District Council says Lobster Inn and Encounter Kaikoura will be two of the business partners promoted at the expo.  However, a full range of accommodation, venues and activities will be promoted.  ‘Kaikoura already does quite well with small conferences and corporate retreats. We’ll be pushing the different options with conference packs and highlighting the accessibility of our region. There is a good selection of activities for team building, and for the larger conferences in Christchurch we make an ideal day trip.’

The Canterbury Conferences & Events Expo is being held at Hotel Grand Chancellor Christchurch on Tuesday August 17. A total of 60 exhibitors will take part and there will be buyers from Australia, all around New Zealand and the local market.

While Christchurch will be well represented by exhibitors, the regions will also be there in force.

Mid-Canterbury, in particular, has a strong presence. Exhibitors from the region include Ashburton Trust Event Centre, Ashburton District Tourism, Double Hill Station, Hotel Ashburton and Function Centre, Methven Heritage Centre, and The Lake House Restaurant bar and Café. Glenfalloch Station and Terrace Downs are also exhibiting.

StoneBridge in South Canterbury will be there also. A venue and accommodation provider, StoneBridge has a close relationship with activity providers in the area.

Media contact: Stu Freeman ph: 09 818 7807 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

As at July 16 there are just three stands left available in the Canterbury Conferences & Events Expo. Anyone interested in acquiring a stand should contact Tess Mason ph 09 818 7807 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Buyers quick to register for Canterbury Expo

Christchurch and Canterbury still hold huge appeal for conference and event organisers around New Zealand if the early response to an exhibition next month is anything to go by.

The Canterbury Conferences and Events Expo (Canterbury Expo’10) is being held at Hotel Grand Chancellor Christchurch on Tuesday August 17. Organisers hoped to attract 20 hosted buyers from Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and other parts of the country to attend the exhibition and take part in pre-scheduled appointments.

However, a month out the hosted buyer programme is already ‘over-subscribed’ and has now been extended.

Stu Freeman, director of ProMag Publishing, says the company now hopes to attract a few additional hosted buyers. ‘Our message to anyone from outside Christchurch who wants to attend this expo is to be in quick and register at www.canterburyexpo.co.nz.’

In addition to the New Zealanders, about 10 hosted buyers will attend the expo from Australia. They too will take part in appointments for the first time in the afternoon.

ProMag Publishing is organising Canterbury Expo ’10 on behalf of the Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau, which owns the event.

Freeman says attention has now switched to local function, meeting and event organisers. ‘Any personal assistants, executive secretaries or other people who organise their company’s Christmas parties, social club functions, conferences, road shows or seminars will find plenty of interest at the expo. Not only is there a great selection of exhibitors, but we will also be running informative seminars and profiling some local entertainment options.’

Exhibition manager Tess Mason says local suppliers have responded so well to the event that there are now only three stands left.

‘We will have a total of 60 exhibitors and we are now sure to sell out well before the exhibition takes place,’ she says.

Any company interested in purchasing one of the last three stands can contact Tess Mason at email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or ph: 09 818 7807

Media enquiries to Stu Freeman  email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ph: 09 818 7807

An opportunity to meet key conference organisers – Less than 10 stands remain

With just a few stands remaining available, the Canterbury Conferences and Events Expo 2010 is shaping up to be the most effective and affordable way for suppliers in the region to meet corporate event planners from Canterbury, New Zealand and Australia.

Organised by ProMag Publishing on behalf of the Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau, the expo showcases venues, caterers, accommodation providers, speakers and entertainers, team building companies, transport operators, activity providers and other event suppliers to the business tourism sector.

Visitors will include at least 20 hosted buyers from other parts of New Zealand, as well as about 10 hosted buyers from Australia.

The expo is being held on Tuesday August 17 at Hotel Grand Chancellor Christchurch.

For the first time all hosted buyers will be on pre-appointment schedules, ensuring they see and spend time with the exhibitors they are interested in doing business with.

Local organisers of functions, workshops, meetings, seminars, roadshows, conferences and other corporate events are also being invited to the expo. They will have the option of being on an appointment schedule for the first time or walking through at leisure.

Both locals and ‘out of town’ buyers will be enticed to the expo by a seminar programme, entertainer showcases and optional famil tours.

Canterbury Expo to target key decision makers

Highly qualified buyers, both from the local market and further afield, will be the key to the success of this year’s Canterbury Conferences and Events Expo 2010.

Being held at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Christchurch on August 17 the event will also have a pre-scheduled appointment programme for the first time. Buyers from Wellington, Auckland and other parts of New Zealand will be on appointments, as will a string contingent of Australian buyers.

The Canterbury Expo will also have a wider range of exhibitors than ever before, increasing the interest for buyers.

Exhibition manager Tess Mason says Continental, Event Impressions, Displayworks, and Johnston’s Group were among the exhibitors to sign up early.

‘Of course we also have a strong representation from some of the larger and well known venues and hotels in Christchurch and the Canterbury region,’ she says. ‘On top of that we have corporate retreats and smaller function venues.’