Steve Armitage: Hospitality NZ CEO on the ASB Classic beginning today, drawing in millions for local economy

The ASB Classic begins today in Auckland and is expected to reach a global audience of 12 million. 

The other millions anticipated are in the form of a $2 million GDP boost. 

How are local businesses preparing for this star studded event? 

Hospitality NZ CEO Steve Armitage joins the show. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from newstalk ZEDB. Follow this
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yes, welcome back to Summer Breakfast. If you like a
bit of champagne and entertainment, you're in luck. Today's day
one of the ASB Classic, and the competition will be
held in Auckland's Manuka Doctor Arena and is expected to
reach a global broadcast reach of about twelve million people.
On top of that, Auckland businesses are happy because the
events expected to bring in a two million dollar GDP boost,

(00:37):
and Hospitality Z CEO Steve Armitage joins me now, Steve,
good morning.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
Good morning, term seasons. Greetings there, yeah you too.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
How are the hospitality businesses preparing for this?

Speaker 3 (00:49):
Well, it sort of sits in the sweet spot of
the summer period really where we've got an influx of
international visitors and we've got the cruise ships regularly passing
through obviously into the Auckland port as well, so and
preparations in place for hopefully what'll be a strong Year's
Eve celebration too. But yeah, the ASB Classic, it's probably
one of the glamor of een. It's on the Auckland calendar,

(01:09):
and I certainly know inner city establishments rub their hands
together with glee when this event rolls around.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah. I was going to ask how much specifically this
event brings, but how many of visitors are business?

Speaker 3 (01:23):
We measure these in visitor nights, so it's about sixteen
thousand visited nights, and roughly one in four people who
come in to enjoy the event itself come from out
of town, so it's one that actually holds Auckland as here,
which is also a pretty interesting point. At this time
of year contends to hollow out, but there are a
lot of tennis enthusiasts here, so holding Auckland is here

(01:44):
is one point. But of course those visitors that come
from out of town are really important too.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
How'd it go last year? And are you expecting more
from it this year?

Speaker 3 (01:52):
Yeah, look that the organizers are suggesting that there should
be an increase in tickets there this year, so I
think around eight percent is projected, So it's an event
let's growing year on year. I think they've done such
a smart job with the surrounding precinct. It's not just
about the entertainment on the court itself that they've utilized
the surrounding areas. It means that you can get more
people into the venue just to be a part of

(02:12):
the atmosphere.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
How important is it to have these sorts of events
at this time of year.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
It's vitally important, as I say, certainly to hold people
in the city center. Most key wes like to flock
to the beaches, so you know, our major centers really
do want to try to retain people as much as
possible and obviously attract visitors too. So that's running across
a two week period plus heading into sale GP in
mid January. You know, big, big, big milestones for us

(02:37):
to just ensure that we're holding people in and then
hopefully driving people through hospitality venues.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
Good stuff. Oh I hope you managed to get along
to Steve, have a great day. That's Steve Armitage, a
head of hospitality in z A note after seven thirty years,
we're talking to the tournament director of the event and
what Nicholas Lampren is going to be looking forward to
when it months all gets underway.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
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