Caroline Blanchfield, ChristchurchNZ Convention Bureau and industry partnership manager says seeing work start on the Convention Centre was good news for the city and wider region.

‘Demand for top-quality conferencing venues continues to grow internationally. Having a modern, purpose-built Convention Centre in place again will bring millions of dollars of economic investment back into Christchurch and Canterbury and add to the high caliber venues and event services already available for conferencing locally,’ she says.

ChristchurchNZ calculates the lack of a suitable conference venue is costing the local economy more than $90million each year in direct economic investment.