Conventions and Incentives New Zealand (CINZ) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) have announced a strategic agreement to work together to support and professionally develop the business events community.

Karen Bolinger, managing director for APAC in PCMA said: “Through our new alliance we recognise the unique qualities and services each of us offer to our respective membership bases, and how a collaborative approach can support not only each other but the business events community. We are looking forward to working more closely with the New Zealand business events community, who we see as a strong market with enormous potential on the world stage.”

Lisa Hopkins, chief executive of CINZ said: “PCMA is the world’s largest, most respected and most recognised network of business events strategists. With 7,000 members and an audience of 50,000, with 17 chapters and activities in 30 countries, it is positioned as the global leader in business events. Our members will now have access to PCMA’s exceptional education content, including the highly sought-after Digital Events Specialist (DES) certificate programme, and COVID recovery resources to foster their development.”

This alliance will also aid in researching the scale and value of business events for the region.