Event numbers continue to climb at Claudelands

Hamilton’s premium venue destination, Claudelands, is set for another successful upcoming quarter and end to 2024, with more than 6000 people expected to attend a range of high-calibre business events before the end of the year.   

This follows on from a strong recent three months of business events, attended by more than 8500 people, which included international conferences, company awards, gala dinners, trade shows, expos, trainings and workshops at the reputable venue. 

H3 Business Development and Sales Manager – Business Events, Melissa Williams said while numbers tell one story, the true measure of success is the national significance and calibre of the events.

“We’re attracting events that were traditionally going to Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. They bring with them some of the most skills experts in New Zealand and from across the world, including the 120 top heart specialists from USA, Canada, India and Australia who came for the Structural Heart Disease - Asia Pacific Symposium.

“These events bring substantial economic and social benefits to our region, and their impact goes far beyond just the numbers.”

Williams went on to explain that a big part of her team’s role was to attract events, deliver exceptional results and experiences for clients, and then retain that business over consecutive years.

“We are exceptionally proud of what we offer and how we collaborate to deliver events to our highly valued customers, and I think our genuine passion, dedication and professionalism shines through strongly. Our priority is to consistently over-deliver and exceed expectations, which hopefully means we will remain on top of the list for any repeat and future events the client holds.

“Our clients are our best advocates, helping to encourage more valuable business events our way through their extensive networks and connections,” said Williams.

Another key factor in Claudelands continued success is the high volume of regular repeat bookings, including notable recent events Ako Ararau: Maaori Expo, Foodstuffs Checker of the Year, Harcourts Awards, Registered Master Builders Awards, and OfficeMax Supplier Expo, along with many others.

Claudelands is not the only Hamilton venue benefiting from increased business activity. FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Gardens, and Seddon Park, all managed by Hamilton City Council’s H3 Group, are scheduled to host more than 50 more business events before the end of November, many of which span multiple days and attract large numbers of people from across New Zealand, all adding significantly to the city’s economy.   

Williams said a four-day conference hosting more than 1000 delegates can result in a venue spend of upwards of $600,000 ,which would include working closely with external specialists on custom set-up/pack down, theming, entertainment, cleaning, production, catering and security.

Kate Fill-Wilson, the Registered Master Builders Midlands Regional Branch Manager, said the team yet again provided a seamless service at their recent highly successful Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards.

“I have hosted a variety of events at Claudelands over the last few years and everything always runs smoothly. I am kept in the loop for each step of event planning and delivery, and the team are always prepared no matter what surprises may pop up.”

While business events may not attract the same public attention as major sporting, entertainment or community events, they play a crucial role in stimulating the local and wider regional economy.

In an independent report evaluating the 995-attendee NZ Planning Institute Conference at Claudelands in March this year, the anticipated financial benefit to the region was approximately $400,000, including increased spend on accommodation, travel, dining, entertainment, transportation and retail in the city.  

Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said it’s fantastic to see more businesses choosing to invest in Hamilton and we absolutely want to see it continue.

“It’s not surprising, given all we have to offer - we’re a hub of innovation and opportunity, offering world-class hosting facilities and ease of business in a strategic location. Our diverse economy, with a strong agricultural backbone and booming logistics and tech sectors also sets us apart from others.”

In the year to June 2024, Waikato held 625 business events hosting 84,000 delegates and resulted in an 8.7% market share of total events across the country, the highest behind Auckland and Wellington.