New Zealand odyssey for 10,000 Chinese visitors a huge event success
A thrilling once-in-a-lifetime experience in New Zealand for 10,000 visitors from China has set a new industry benchmark in event delivery.
The massive delegation was flown to New Zealand in 12 waves over two months from 9 October to 5 December for the 2023 Amway China Leadership Seminar, produced by Encore Event Technologies APAC.
Attendees were treated to an extensive program of events and excursions that rewarded exceptional performance and elevated brand allegiance whilst enjoying all the incredible sights and adventures New Zealand has to offer.
Encore won the competitive bidding process which resulted in visitors filling 20,000 hotel nights in Queenstown and Auckland and funneled an estimated NZ $40 million into the economy. Auckland Convention Bureau and Queenstown Convention Bureau managed the pre-event activities including tourist activities to showcase each local area.
Encore dedicated their heavyweight creative, production and technology expertise to deliver a brand-defining set of ‘moments that matter’. These included leadership sessions, cocktail receptions and 15 gala dinners with main show performances – embracing the organisation’s values and the best of New Zealand.
The event highlight was a stunning final gala night dinner which was staged 15 times throughout the period to visitor groups of approximately 600 per event. Held at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland and Queenstown Ice Arena the galas, which took a year to plan, treated guests to a spectacular night full of technological wizardry and heart pumping entertainment.
Scott Nodsle, Encore’s Managing Director of APAC said the company’s mission has always been to ‘follow our customer’s journey and create events that transform and experiences that go beyond the ordinary’.
“Encore’s successful involvement in Amway China’s Leadership Seminar demonstrates how far business events can go beyond mere logistics to leave a lasting impact on attendees,”
For the gala a wide range of innovative technologies were used with panoramic scenes of New Zealand’s natural wonders played across a 3D-mapped 180-degree projection screen via 80 table projectors. Snow machines, special effects and multi-sensory interactive displays of earth, water, fire and air dazzled guests. More than 600 hours of custom motion design content was created across the two locations.
During meal service the room underwent a dramatic transformation with lava projections oozing over the stage, creating an impressive backdrop for performers, Strings of Fire, who combined pyrotechnics and acrobatic stunts to music setting the stage literally ‘ablaze’.
Entertainment included trio JGEEKS who combined traditional Māori moves with modern dance techniques and humour, C-Pop singer Laurence Larson and multimedia performers Vosper Tron. Throughout the evening, care was taken to ensure the performances and scenography intertwined to reinforce Amway values of harmony, wonder and partnership.
Encore has a long history of delivering experiences for Amway the direct selling business, having devised similar trips for delegations from Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea and Russia over the past 18 years in addition to other events for international clients.
Mr Nodsle said incentive awards are also evolving within corporations from transactional to transformational. “Rewarding high performers beyond cash bonuses with an experience is invaluable,” he says. “What’s more, colleagues having the time of their life with like minds is a proven motivator that enriches brand allegiance.
“Events can be a catalyst for change, whether it’s inspiring new ideas, fostering meaningful connections, or driving positive transformation within an organization. So, it’s important to create an environment that encourages growth, innovation, and personal development.”
“Post-COVID, events have redoubled their power to connect and inspire. When people come together, ideas take flight and relationships strengthen. Even more so when the experiences fuse imagination, ingenuity, and innovation in culture-rich destinations that elevate a brand’s emotional resonance. What you see is teams buzzing with energy and enthusiasm – both for the company and the country they’ve visited.”
“Events can be a catalyst for change, whether it's inspiring new ideas, fostering meaningful connections, or driving positive transformation within an organization....”
Ken Pereira, Head of Auckland Convention Bureau at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said that the gala dinners were a highlight of the itinerary. “Delegates were wowed by the gala dinners. The evenings showcased Aotearoa New Zealand’s culture and spirit, brought to life through a dynamic set up of lighting, sound and visual elements. A key point of difference for hosting an incentive trip in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is the contemporary Māori culture at the heart of the region, and we were thrilled to see this celebrated at the dinners.”
Mr Nodsle said Encore had seen an immediate and sustained increase in interest in companies looking to scale up their incentives on the back of Amway China’s 2023 New Zealand trip. “The memories for participants are ever-lasting and the positive effects of these events for tourism and the visitor economy continue to flow.”