Akaroa For Conferences

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28805, 28 January 1959, Page 14

Akaroa For Conferences

Akaroa hotelkeepers are seeking to have their district become recognised as “the nearest tourist centre to Christchurch.”

An important part of their drive is based on accommodation offered to national trade group conferences.

Since the popular conference centre, The Lodge, Hanmer, was-, burned, Akaroa has catered for two major conferences —of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association and the New Zealand Footwear Manufacturers’ Federation. The latter conference was said to be the first convention of its size and type in Akaroa. Eighty delegates and wives were accommodated in the town’s hotels. The Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association has prepared an information sheet about Akaroa for distribution to trade groups throughout the Dominion. The four licensed hotels, which can accommodate 81 persons, have their facilities listed in detail. All offer industrial conferences breakfast in bed and altered meal hours to suit delegates’ convenience. The fact sheet says that an additional 40 persons can be accommodated at private hotels. Also listed (with charges) are availability of conference meeting places, catering arrangements, entertainment, launch trips and transport.