One year to kick-off

More than 1,000 international and local business people have already signed up to become members of the New Zealand 2011 Business Club and this week NZTE is contacting local exporters to encourage them to join the business-to-business matching facility.

85,000 visitors are expected, international media will be at hand and estimates of the event’s global television audience are running at billions of viewers.

New Zealand and offshore firms can sign up to the Business Club, which will provide advice on activities, and where and how visitors can meet people with similar business interests, throughout the tournament.

NZTE RWC Project Director Bruce Gadd said initial Club membership was generated by Rugby Ambassadors John Kirwan, Andrew Mehrtens, David Kirk, Jonah Lomu and Sean Fitzpatrick, through their hosting of small groups of highly influential business people.

Larger gatherings of more than 100 will follow in London, Paris, Milan, New York, Hong Kong, South Africa and South America.

“The ambassadors were chosen for their own extensive networks, business acumen and high profiles,” Mr Gadd said. “The doors they have been opening for us have been extraordinary – the All Blacks are one of the world’s biggest sporting brands and these guys bring a lot of very important people to us.

“The Club is also being promoted through the NZTE overseas network of 37 offices, New Zealand Ambassadors and the Cup’s Official Travel Agents who are putting packages together and helping identify offshore business visitors, so we expect an influx of new members to sign on in the next couple of months.

“This is like a huge trade show for New Zealand with opportunities for everyone in business to participate, from small tourism operators to major export companies.

“The eyes of the world will be on us so we need to put on a really good show. This is a chance to build awareness of our business capability across different sectors and to demonstrate leading technologies.”

On 22 October EMA Northern are running Legacy 2011, an event for businesspeople keen to find out more about how to maximise the opportunity the tournament offers New Zealand. It will include briefings from the tournament and festival organisers; a series of regional and industry workshops; and a “step by step guide on how to build a legacy and capitalise on after-event business”.