Events & Venues predict another busy year
17 January 2013
Rotorua District Council's team at Events & Venues expects 2013 to be another busy year for conference and corporate business.
Events & Venues general manager Peter McLeod said they did a lot of promotional work last year, in an effort to ensure we continue to attract these kinds of events which contribute hugely to the Rotorua economy.
"We have fantastic venues to cater for every sort of event. Rotorua Energy Events Centre alone incorporates 10 separate spaces which can be used for everything from expos and conferences to banquets, awards nights and exhibitions.
"Catering, carparking and excellent staff are all on hand to ensure the success of events and keep Rotorua top of mind when organisations are looking for somewhere to hold their conference, convention and or formal events.
Meanwhile, on 10 March Rotorua will host one series of XRACE 2013, which involves teams of two completing a series of challenges on foot. The inaugural Grand Final at the end of April is expected to attract more than 1,000 teams from around the country. Mr McLeod said it will provide a welcome boost for the city.
"The event is designed for families and tasks teams with completing a series of tasks in an attempt to become New Zealand’s XRACE champions.
"The final will be filmed and used to promote the event in future years and there’s an opportunity for Rotorua to become the permanent home of the grand final. We believe we can make that happen - we’re certainly up for the challenge.
"Prior to XRACE, we have two other major events coming to the city - the annual Raggamuffin reggae festival (1 and 2 February) and national kapa haka championships Te Matatini (20 to 24 February).
"Both events will see our city full to capacity and we look forward to creating a fantastic experience for the thousands of visitors who will be here during that time."
Mr McLeod said the Civic Centre hosted an exciting array of shows last year and hopes to be able to bring the community the same quality performers in 2013.
"Rotorua has enjoyed a wide variety of concerts and shows at the Civic Theatre in the past year. We’ve been privileged to have everything from the ballet and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to side-splitting comedy shows.
"First up in the stage venue this year is singing sensation Renee Geyer, with a line-up of fantastic Kiwi talent. Regarded as one of the finest exponents of jazz, soul and R&B in Australasia for more than four decades, Geyer is also a huge supporter of Maori performing arts and considers herself an 'honorary aunty'.
"Her concert is a one-off not-to-be-missed show, coinciding with the four-day Te Matatini festival. It’s bound to be a popular show so fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets from Ticketmaster quick."