Waikato Business News October/November 2022

WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 CONFRENCE AND EVENTS 27
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022
Q&A with H3’s Senior Conference and
Functions Manager
With business events booming, H3
Senior Conference and Functions
Manager Leanne Jack provides some
insight into her role, why she loves
what she does and what makes H3’s
venues the perfect event locations.
Tell us about yourself and
your role within H3’s Conference
& Function team.
I started with H3 eight years
ago as a Conference and Function
Coordinator based at FMG
Stadium Waikato, and shortly
after I moved to Claudelands
Conference & Exhibition Centre
and became a Conference and
Function Manager. Since then,
I’ve worked in the Business
Development team and now I
am the Senior Conference and
Functions Manager tasked with
looking after a team of six dedicated
coordinators who take
care of all business events at
GLOBOX Arena & Events Centre
Claudelands, FMG Stadium
Waikato and Seddon Park.
What do you enjoy most
about working in events?
I love the fast-paced environment
of events and the
ever-changing requirements.
No two events are the same, no
matter how big or small they
all have their different needs.
I enjoy getting to meet lots of
engaging individuals from different
walks of life, from corporates
to associations to everything
in between. I love the
collaboration we have with
other suppliers, from catering
to AV requirements and theming
to security. We all work
together as a cohesive team and
have the same end goal, keeping
the client and guests happy
and returning to our venues.
We have an exceptionally talented
and dedicated team of
professionals that work so well
together, we are very lucky to
have each other to learn from
and grow with.
What impact does conferences
and functions at
H3’s venues have on our
community?
Conferences and functions
have a huge ripple effect
on our community. Each person
visiting the region spends
money on food, accommodation
and transport services.
Some conferences we host can
range from two to three days
which encourages delegates to
shop and support local Hamilton
and Waikato businesses.
We are proud of the contribution
that conferences and functions
have on Hamilton and the
Waikato region, and we hope
we can continue to attract new
and returning client, visitors
and event attendees.
What customer experience
can clients expect when
bringing their event to one
of H3’s venues?
Tried and tested – here at
H3 we pride ourselves on doing
events well, collaborating effectively
with many different contractors
to provide world class
events. Our H3 team genuinely
want to make true connections
and provide valuable service
and event delivery to each
client. We understand there
are challenges with planning
any event, but with 470+ years
of combined event management
experience across the H3
team you can trust us to help
guide and support you every
step of the way. We are fortunate
to have close relationships
with our key partners and work
closely with them to provide
everything the client requires to
bring their event to life.
Were there any conferences
or functions that
stood out for you this year
and why?
A standout event is the
TUANZ Rural Symposium
which had to change their event
date 6 times in the last 2 years
due to the pandemic. Seeing
rescheduled events successfully
take place is a huge highlight for
me and my team.
Another standout event was
the Crane Association Conference
held in July. It’s incredibly
exciting to see so many cranes
set up in the Claudelands Exhibition
Plaza towering over our
venue. Due to the large scale
of this conference many other
venues would struggle to host
this type of event.
Other standout events
include the New Zealand Vets
Conference, Electricity Engineers
Association Conference,
New Zealand Wound Care Society
Conference, Water New
Zealand Conference, Master
Builders House of the Year
Awards and New Zealand Thoroughbred
Horse of the Year
Awards. We are very fortunate
to host a diverse range of events
and it’s our privilege to help the
client’s vision come to life.
What business event space
throughout H3’s venues is
your favourite and why?
The Heaphy Rooms at
Claudelands Conference &
Exhibition Centre is my favourite
space. These rooms can be
used as three separate spaces
or one large space seating up
to 900 people. The Heaphy
Rooms can be changed quickly
and easily from a conference
room into a large gala dinner
within one hour.
Lighting and theming can
totally transform this space and
with such a large and versatile
room, clients can really think
outside the box. I’ve been lucky
enough to see many different
events take place in this space
and it still ceases to amaze me
what events can be brough to
life in the Heaphy Rooms.
To find out more
about H3 and explore its
range of events spaces,
visit h3group.co.nz
Arena Lounge
Heaphy Room
Boardroom
MEET YOUR
SPACE
When you need a location for a meeting, a
workshop, a hui or a huddle, we have a variety
of spaces across our three premier venues to
perfectly suit all types of events.
Visit H3group.co.nz and explore
our spaces today.
CLAUDELANDS
FMG STADIUM WAIKATO
SEDDON PARK