The Southern Lakes Events Investment Panel (SLEIP) is now seeking applications for the second round of its business events incentive scheme.

Facilitated through the Southern Lakes Regional Events Fund, which was formed to stimulate domestic visitation between regions, the business events investment scheme exists to help bring more people to the region for business events. 

Associations, conference organisers, corporate companies and incentive organisers can apply for the funding scheme, via the Southern Lakes Event Fund website.

Successful applicants will receive support of $150 per attendee to their event in Wanaka, Queenstown or Central Otago. 

SLEIP chair Murray Strong said successful applicants had recently been chosen from the first round of submissions. It was “encouraging to receive such a high calibre of conference and incentive propositions to the region,” he said. 

Eleven conferences and three incentive events will be held across the region as a result of the first round of the funding.

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“We are expecting these conferences and events to host over 3,100 delegates - generating 7,295 bed nights and investing $5.9M in the region to execute the events,” Murray said.

Applications for the second funding round are open until November 30 and events must be held within the region. 

“I am looking forward to reviewing the applications that come in for the second round and continuing to use the funding to support the local tourism and events sectors,” Murray said. 

Eight of the 19 events funded in the first round went to local events, including Ripe (Wanaka Food & Wine Festival), Wheels at Wanaka, Contact Epic, NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival, Winter Games, Snowboxx, Wanaka Wedding Fair and the WAO Summit.