“We have a new business events strategy, Out of the Boardroom and Into the Blue, which successfully positions Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty as a high-performing destination.
“Our main point of difference is that we extend beyond traditional conference venues by highlighting people, place, and purpose to create experiences that inspire, rebalance and deliver meaningful business outcomes.”
Tolley said the $10,000 funding allocation would enable the delivery of a targeted campaign that aligned with their core strategic pillars: Culture and Manaakitanga, Ocean and Wellness, and Food and Flavour.
“Together, these pillars showcase what makes our region distinctive, inviting event managers and conference organisers to rethink what their events could look like in the Bay of Plenty.”
A key priority was to encourage event organisers in New Zealand to host their upcoming business events in areas like Mount Maunganui to support businesses impacted by the January weather event and to assist their recovery through increased visitation and spend.
Tolley said, as the funding had only just been announced, Tourism Bay of Plenty was still in the planning stages.
She said it was tagged as “an autumn marketing activation, so we will move swiftly”.
“We’re working closely with Mount Mainstreet to identify opportunities to drive increased foot traffic to local businesses.
“One of the initiatives, tied to this funding, will be to ensure conference delegates have bespoke reasons to include Mount Maunganui retailers and eateries in their business event itineraries.”
Wider investment
Upston said that alongside infrastructure repairs, targeted marketing funding has also been approved to help affected regions rebuild visitor confidence and support tourism recovery.
The wider investment included funding to repair several of New Zealand’s Great Ride cycle trails damaged during recent weather events.
An initial $300,000 was being spent on safety work to reopen the Hauraki Rail Trail, while $110,000 would go toward repairing 50km of the Waikato River Trail.
Further south, Tasman’s Great Taste Trail would receive almost $427,000 to restore sections damaged by extreme weather, bringing total Government investment in that trail’s repairs to just over $2 million.
Upston said more than two million people used the 23 Great Rides of Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Cycle Trails each year, contributing about $1.28 billion to regional economies.
“These trails are a long‑standing partnership between central and local government and the communities that host them, and today’s investment reinforces that commitment,” she said.