InterContinental Wellington became the first Australasian hotel to introduce the global brand's new conference and event programme, InterContinental Meetings. The launch on June 9 saw a morning tea presentation to corporate, government sector and association meeting planners and an afternoon session aimed at professional conference organisers. A key component of the new programme is the Insider Collection, which sees the hotel team up with local partners (initially 10) to provide authentic Wellington experiences. 'The Insider Collection is really what the programme is all about,' says Geoff Naumann, area director of sales and marketing New Zealand/South Pacific for InterContinental Hotels Group. 'We are connecting delegates with Wellington and the community.' For example, one of the partners in the Insider Collection is The Salvation Army. 'Groups can make a small donation and then they can actually experience some of the community projects the salvation Army is involved with. Delegates may do food packing, maybe they help build a house or tidy up a garden, or drive some kids to a camping ground. There are many different opportunities.' The Insider Collection is divided into five categories - Insider locations, speakers, community, interactions and breaks. Naumann says there are other key aspects of InterContinental Meetings, such as e-tours and e-proposals, a detailedpre-event and post event survey and brand new menus - including a taste of Kiwiana. (More photos and full story in Meeting Newz May - June edition.)

Geoff Naumann and Amy Hargreaves, conference and events sales manager at InterContinental Wellington talk through the new menus with Helen Wong, Ministry of Health