[I NDUSTRY NEWS After a six-week marketing period, a new owner has been found for Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre. It has sold unconditionally for a confidential sum to Prime Property Group, who will continue to operate the venue as a hotel and conference centre. Settlement is 31 January 2025. Troy Elliott, president of Mount Wellington Licensing Trust, says the trustees are delighted that the sale means the property will continue to operate as a hotel and conference centre, providing ongoing employment for the staff. “We are thrilled to have found a buyer at a market competitive price. It means we can invest the net sales proceeds and ensure future community giving, something Mount Wellington Licensing Trust has been unable to do for many years. “Having a hotel operator purchase Waipuna means that our wonderful hotel and conference centre teamwill be employed on terms no less favourable than at present by the new owner, which is a terrific result. Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre More exhibitors, more variety at Business Events Expo 2024 New owners for Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre A strong contingent from the Pacific Islands, Australia and beyond will join a wide variety of New Zealand business events suppliers at this year’s Business Events Expo. Nearly 150 exhibitors – 10% more than last year’s inaugural event – range from bespoke venues, hotels and resorts, video and technical suppliers, team building companies and purveyors of sweet treats to convention bureaux and global destination management companies. New exhibitors include AUT Events, Barclay Suites, Liquorice, The Kind Foundation, Christchurch Casino, Eco Zip Adventures, Eden Park, Helisika, Radlab, Rapids Jet, Intense Sound & Vision and an increased Fiji presence. A full list of Read more about the Business Events Expo on page 50. Register here au.entegy.events/bee24-buyer-registration exhibitors can be viewed on the website www.businesseventsexpo.co.nz A major new product this year is silent conferencing whereby multi-channel headsets allow delegates to hear from different suppliers without distraction. This can be a gamechanger for meeting planners who have limited space in which to conduct their event. Congress Rental will demonstrate the product on the Rangitoto level of Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre. Buyers will be able to enjoy catering and refreshments on this level as well. Pre-registered buyers will learn more about the day’s programme in mid October when notifications and updates will appear on the expo App. “Securing a sale and preserving jobs is a win-win outcome for the community. Between now and the end of January next year, the focus will be on delivering great business-as-usual service until the new owner takes over, doing everything to prepare for a smooth handover, as well as working on completing our investment strategy for the funds generated by the sale,” says Elliott. Prime Property Group head, Antonietta Muollo-Aharoni, is excited to add Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre to the portfolio, and be part of the Waipuna Centre community. “We were impressed by the quality of the asset and its professional operation and are looking forward to enhancing and expanding it," she says. “Our group owns and operates hotels in Wellington and Tauranga as well as motels in Turangi, Taupō and Whitianga.” The Business Events Expo, Viaduct Events Centre, 2023 The Business Events Expo 2023 [4] meeting newz [september october] 2024
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