| There was some exciting news last week with the announcement that New Zealand has won the bid to host the 78th World Science Fiction Convention, with legendary Game of Thrones author George RR Martin confirmed as toastmaster. Tourism New Zealand and the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) worked closely with event advocates to secure the convention. The event is expected to attract around 2000 visitors to the Wellington region and deliver an estimated $4 million to the economy. While the economic benefits of conferences like this one are fantastic, the real value lies in the opportunities for New Zealand to share and grow its specialty expertise. The event gives the country a fantastic opportunity to showcase manaakitanga and our creative thinking. It will also allow Kiwi creators to showcase their craft on the world stage and connect and collaborate with their international peers. Tourism New Zealand supports hundreds of New Zealand experts to secure conferences and conventions for the country. In the past year alone, the team has helped secure almost $100 million of conference and incentive business for New Zealand. Events like this also support our strategy to encourage off peak visitation, supporting sustainable growth in the sector, with many events held in autumn or spring. Seasonal and regional growth continues to be a focus for Tourism New Zealand. The new Australia campaign showcases Wellington and Marlborough in spring (see more below). The latest data shows the sector's seasonal dispersal efforts are paying off across markets, with significant growth in off-peak arrivals (+3.5%) and regional spend (+13.2%) continuing.  | | Here's to another successful season. Ngā mihi, | Stephen England-Hall Chief Executive, Tourism New Zealand | | | | | 
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