New Zealand is one of the world's top locations for incentives, meetings, and events, thanks to its ease of travel, exciting activities, safety, and friendly locals. The topography here is like no other, and it's a country where rainbows are spotted almost as often as sheep.
Frequently referred to by its Maori name, Aotearoa, meaning "Land of the Long White Cloud," New Zealand has two main islands -- the North and South -- and many small islands. Its compact geography makes it easy to explore many locations in a short amount of time.
Surrounded by snow-capped mountain ranges on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, on the South Island, offers activities that are sedate as well as extraordinary. There are skydiving, hang gliding, bungee jumping, jet boating, white-water rafting, and back-country 4WD tours. It's also a great place to relax and unwind. Wines are legendary and wineries accommodating.
First-class conference venues can be found throughout the country. One of the most exciting projects opens in 2019, the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in the heart of downtown Auckland. It will be approximately five times larger than any current facility, making it the largest conference venue in the country. Vertically stacked, the NZICC will include approximately 350,000 square feet of space in an open design. Also under construction as part of the project is a 300-room, five-star hotel.
Bridget Lindquist, solution strategist and business development director of BI Worldwide, says the fact that New Zealand is on many people's bucket lists makes it an aspirational trip and one that motivates people to achieve their goals for this once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. "New Zealand is an attractive destination for many reasons," says Lindquist. "First and foremost is the incomparable beauty of the country. The rugged, natural, yet pristine beauty of Queenstown is almost otherworldly. By now, most people have seen some of the landscapes from films like The Lord of the Rings, but that just touches on what you see and experience in person."
The range of activities offers the kind of variety that is important in putting together a program that can appeal to all the participants, Lindquist adds. It includes extreme activities like sky jumping off the Sky Tower in Auckland or bungee jumping off the Kawarau Bridge. "Visiting a sheep farm, hiking, or panning for gold are fun for everyone," says Lindquist. "And if you just want to enjoy the food and wine, you would be hard-pressed to find a more perfect destination. Farm-to-table restaurants and world-famous wineries and vineyards are plentiful from Saffron in Arrowtown and the Amisfield winery in Queenstown to Mudbrick Vineyard on Waiheke Island, to mention some of my favorites."
The unique activities New Zealand offers have a way of encouraging attendees to stretch outside their comfort zones, and try new experiences.
"You can get caught up in the adventure and spirit of New Zealand," says Lindquist. "How else can I explain why I found myself bungee jumping off the Kawarau Bridge?"
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This article appears in the August 2017 issue of Successful Meetings.