CIM NEWS MAGAZINE Issue 4 2017 | Page 23

Relax and unwind A picturesque alpine village about two hours’ drive north of Christchurch, Hanmer Springs might be small but it has a lot to offer conference and incentive groups. STAY The Heritage Hanmer Springs is a historic building, restored to offer both hotel rooms and self-contained villas. The property features a boardroom, ballroom and restaurant, with lots of natural light and views out to the immaculately landscaped gardens. VISIT While in town, you must visit Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa for the ultimate pampering experience. It features 15 open-air pools where temperatures range from 28-42 o C as well as a full-service spa facility. EAT Located at the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa, Tea Kiosk Café and Grill offers casual dining options both indoors and outdoors. They also serve up delicious pizzas from their woodfire oven and offer pizza- making classes for groups. 4 5 1 Punting on the Avon River in Christchurch. 2 Colourful catering at MEETINGS. 3 Christchurch comes to life with street art. 4 Technology on show at MEETINGS. 5 MEETINGS kicks off with circus-themed welcome event. three events to run concurrently, a 3600sqm exhibition hall and 1600sqm of meetings rooms. General manager Rob McIntyre says the blank canvas that the centre is being built on allowed the designers to “avoid the traps of so-called flexible venues”. “Instead we designed it around how our clients operate in reality, with seamless and non-overlapping transitions between sessions,” he says. The centre is ideally located within walking distance to many new and refurbished hotels, including the recently opened Crowne Plaza Christchurch, which offers 204 rooms, a café, bar and restaurant and four event spaces. Also on offer is the Commodore Hotel, which features modern guest rooms following its recent refurbishment, and seven conference rooms for up to 200 delegates, as well as The George, which boasts luxury accommodation and a two-hatted restaurant. While the city awaits the arrival of the Christchurch Centre, it’s finding other ways to accommodate business events by utilising existing venues, such as the Isaac Theatre Royal, that can host cocktail or seated events on the theatre stage or in its purpose-built event space. The Air Force Museum of New Zealand can also host events in its 1500sqm Conference and Events Hall or the Aircraft Hall pre-themed with vintage aircraft and theatrical lighting. Christchurch’s Cardboard Cathedral not only serves as the city’s temporary church, but can also be hired for events. With a roof made from cardboard tubes and shipping containers for walls, the Cardboard Cathedral is the definition of a unique event space. Christchurch and Canterbury Convention Bureau manager Caroline Blanchfield says the city is embracing its mix of old and new, highlighting that the Avon River precinct is now open – an exciting step forward for the city. “What we’ve done is turned the city to the river,” she says. “The linkage between the architecture and the river is coming alive now, and so that’s actually becoming the hub of the city.” The city has also introduced shared promenades and lowered the CBD speed limit to 30km/hr, making it safe and accessible for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Combining that with its compact layout and plethora of hotels and venues, Christchurch is rebuilding itself into a city that’s tailor-made for business events. A day to remember Auckland Convention Bureau shared a glimpse into the possibilities Auckland can offer for events, taking a group of buyers on a one-day famil through the city. Highlights included lunch at St Matthews in the City, a historic neo-Gothic church and event space in the heart of the city, as well as a team building activity at Pullman Auckland with Team Up Events. The day ended with a M āori performance at ANZ Viaduct Event Centre, which saw one delegate serenaded with a M āori love song and others invited to learn and perform the haka. www.cimmagazine.com   Convention & Incentive Marketing, Issue 4, 2017  23