What is a convention bureau?

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 23

What is a convention bureau?

Each convention bureau is a non-profit organisa-< tion established to help convention planners. The idea is that a group of interested parties from accommodation, travel, commerce, and public relations form an advisory committee to oversee the bureau’s operations. Usually, an established enterprise such as the local public relations office provides the base for the development of the project. Once representatives of those parts of the community which are directly involved in the staging and servicing of conventions are together, the planner has access to a wealth of information and experience. In New Zealand, all official bureaux will have a common name — e.g.

(Wanganui) Convention Bureau — and can be identified by the symbol featured on this page? Along with the common name and symbol, the bureaux have adopted a basic formula for operation in order to ensure conference organisers a uniform standard of service from bureaux, anywhere in New Zealand.

The bureaux already established feel sure it is only a matter of time before the concept means time saved for planners and real benefits to the home communities of each bureau. Conventions are about people and the best way to learn about venues and convention potential is from people. Each convention bureau is staffed with people who know, because they live there and it is their job to help.