Meeting Newz January / February 2021

I NDUSTRY NEWS ] Japan Convention Bureau, a division within the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) recognises best practice in incentive travel to Japan through the “JAPAN Best Incentive Travel Awards” The fifth edition of the contest accepted applications from July 15 to September 16, 2020. There was a total of 83 applications from 16 countries and regions. Late last year (16 Dec) they announced the winners, and Fortis Events received a Special Recognition Award for their Hynds VIP Rugby World Cup 2019 Tour - as an outstanding example of an incentive tour held Hawke’s Bay will host the New Zealand Events Association (NZEA) ‘Eventing the future’ conference in late September/early October 2021. The Napier Conference Centre is the primary venue for the event with the NZEA awards gala evening taking place at the Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre on the evening of the 30th September. A real desire to re-connect with teams and focus on the values and ethos of companies and organisations will be a positive driver for the events industry this year, according to Team Up Events managing director Stu Robertson. “This year won’t be 2019 but it will be better than 2020. We’re seeing a fresh wave of optimism in regards to the events industry and we know people are looking to meet in-person again.” Robertson says that desire has led to a busy January, which included one event that held a digital conference for the whole team and then four face to face ‘sub events’ for Fortis Events Incentive recognised by Japan Convention Bureau Team Up notes air of optimism Fortis Events Incentive tour in Japan Stu Robertson, managing director of Team Up, at the BE Reconnected exhibition in Auckland late last year concurrently with a major sporting event. Joelle Talbot, managing director of Fortis Events was delighted with the win. “We were one of four winners out of the 83 applications, which was a great way to end 2020.” local teams in four locations. “I think we will see more of that this year, particularly with Australia-New Zealand conferences while international travel is still out of reach. Organisations will be mixing it up – having the virtual event but still enabling some face to face interaction.” He says 2020 was obviously a year of remote, online and virtual meetings, with product development heavily based around that. “I think if everyone could go back to in- person live conferences now they would.” He says people are obviously aware of the challenges and the need to focus on health and safety even more. ‘Of course, we all need to be conscious of this but we can’t stop the world from spinning. People are keen to adapt and get on with things.’ Hawke’s Bay to host Eventing the Future 2021 meeting newz [january february] 2021 [37]