A dynamic new team has been appointed by Destination Queenstown to run the organisation’s Queenstown Convention Bureau. Well known Queenstown businessman and Chamber of Commerce board member Brendon Atkinson will lead the Bureau as manager supported by conference and incentive (C&I) industry specialist Kylie Britain as marketing coordinator.

Destination Queenstown CEO David Kennedy says the team reflects a new, highly proactive focus in the Bureau.

‰€?The Bureau enjoys a strong brand within the industry, has excellent systems and great support from Destination Queenstown members.  With all that in place, the focus now is on growing the sector and securing business from Australia and within New Zealand.

The Bureau team will work with Australian General Sales Agent Jana Kingston to deliver the Queenstown C&I message in Australia.  The team’s goal is to lift the C&I guest night numbers to 10% from 7%. 

Mr Kennedy says the information and sales channels for the C&I industry differs considerably from those used for leisure travel and therefore the Bureau needs a specialised and focused team with clear goals.

C&I works through networks of professional conference organisers (PCO’s) which can be employed in-house or outsourced, which in turn work through destination management companies (DMC’s) which will take care of all arrangements on the ground.

Brendon has the management skills and corporate background to secure new business while Kylie has the specific C&I knowledge that will ensure the channels are fired up and operating smoothly.

Brendon’s career background includes extensive domestic and international experience in tourism and hospitality.

Kylie joins the Bureau from a position as C&I coordinator for Heritage Queenstown. In that role she developed a network of contacts within the C&I industry and a sound knowledge of the sales channels. 

The Bureau was set up in 1996 to focus on the growing and lucrative convention and incentive (C&I) travel sector. 

Destination Queenstown CEO David Kennedy said he believes the new team has the skills and dedication required to help the Bureau leap forward as a significant contributor to the Queenstown tourism market.

We believe that for conferences of a certain size we offer a venue that simply can’t be beaten. The Bureau is geared to take this message around New Zealand and Australia to secure business for Queenstown.
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