Inside Tourism editor, Nigel Coventry, attended the dinner where the prime Minister opened the complex and he filed this report:
 
[Inside Tourism 15 March 2007]
Tourism is already worth more than $400 million to Rotorua. But the vision is to increase that across all seasons. The $26 million Rotorua Energy Events Centre will be a big help in that strategy, PM Helen Clark said when she opened the facility last Friday.
"Rotorua is an iconic tourism destination as a centre of Maoritanga and with phenomenal thermal attractions," she reminded 600 invited guests. "It is appropriate that one of the early events will be TRENZ. What better place to have it than Rotorua! The venue will be able to host delegates in style."

Architects and designers have successfully produced a stunning contemporary facility in an historic precinct while capturing the essence of Maoritanga. "Everyone agrees the challenge has been well and truly met and the result is an exciting design which reflects Rotorua's bicultural foundations," the PM added. The project would not have succeeded without strong partnerships.

Slogan

Mayor Kevin Winters said the slogan from the start was: 'do it once and do it well.' Another has also been: 'build it and they will come!' Ratepayers have contributed $6.5 million. But in its first year the return to the community will be $22 million.

The centre was hosting its first event within four days of the contractors handing over the building to Rotorua District Council. And more than 24 events are already booked between now and November. They are expected to attract more than 31,000 participants. The first event was the Learning@Schools conference which had 1,200 delegates. The largest will be the Women's Lifestyle Expo, which will attract 6,000 between June 30 and July 1.

Mr Winters said the best thing about the project was that much of the work was carried out by local 'subbies' such as sound engineers, roofing contractors, sparkies, painters, decorators, chippies, landscape artists, concrete workers, sheet metal workers, air conditioning people and carvers.

Huge

"So funds from the community went back into the community." He said the number of events is already seven times more than predicted. "It is huge, huge, huge...It will be a huge economic driver for the local economy, it will be huge for the Bay and also for New Zealand..."

The largest partner for the project is the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, which has increased its support from $10 million to $13 million, making it the trust's single largest community contribution to date.

While the PM unveiled one plaque 100-year-old Witarina Harris, grand daughter of Rotohiko Haupapa, who gave the land to the city 126 years ago, also unveiled a plaque marking that event. And as local Maori gathered behind her for an action song she rose from her wheelchair - and joined in.

Being customer-focused and having a can-do spirit key to success, says McLeod

It's the tradition of being customer-focused and having a 'can-do' rather than a 'here are the regulations' attitude which enable Rotorua to build and successfully fund such an impressive complex, believes GM Event Venues Rotorua, Peter McLeod.

"At council level they are very customer focused and, traditionally, it is a tourist town. The entire history of Rotorua is such that it really has produced a culture of hospitality and welcome that is appreciated by our guests."

Mr McLeod says that being within three hours' drive of 47 percent of the New Zealand population also helps.

"It's a natural magnet. People want to come to Rotorua. For an event organiser it is the place to hold events to maximise attendance numbers..."

Spirit

The venue reflects the spirit of co-operation and commitment in the city and the industry. Why does the industry co-operate so easily? "It's just that the tradition of hospitality is ingrained. It is a genetic feature of Rotorua and it permeates right through industry and council and other forms of governance in Rotorua. It is also extremely important for industries outside traditional tourism and events because they also embrace the visitor and the customer service focus which this city has."

Mr McLeod says the Energy Events Centre has bookings to 2010. He believes the venue will host 100 major events in 2007 alone. "Each market area is already exceeding what was included in the first business plan and in some cases exceeded by a large amount. Now we have five times the number of conferences we projected for this venue and, in terms of attendees, it is eight times what was originally projected. So it is already a fantastic success...

"It is not a matter of moving (the same) business but of attracting new business," he adds.

[Extract from Inside Tourism 15 March 2007]