Yesterday, a number of key business leaders in Wellington pledged their ongoing support for Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 at the Wellington Local Business Forum.
The forum, organised by the Wellington Regional Coordination Group, was attended by over 200 local businesspeople representing a diverse range of industries including sport, accommodation, tourism, hospitality and transport.
The event provided a chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges that RWC 2011 will provide in the Wellington region.
Updates were given by a number of key stakeholders including the Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast, Wellington City Council Chief Executive Garry Poole, Robert Rendle, Senior Solicitor with the Ministry of Economic Development and Rugby New Zealand (RNZ) 2011 Ltd CEO Martin Snedden.
Mr Snedden was encouraged by the optimistic atmosphere of the forum: "There is a really positive outlook towards RWC 2011 here in Wellington. I got a good sense from this forum that the region will work really well collaboratively to make the Tournament a success in the capital city."
"I have every confidence in the regional team here in Wellington. Their planning and preparedness for the Tournament is some of the best I have seen in the country," he added.
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said she got a sense from the forum that local businesspeople are very aware that RWC 2011 is now not far away at all. "There was a real buzz at the end - and it was good to know that the Tournament organising team in our region already has widespread support from the business community," she said.
Wellington Regional Stadium will host five pool matches and two quarter-final matches as part of RWC 2011.
For more information about RWC 2011 planning and activities in the Wellington region, please visit
www.wellington.govt.nz/services/events/rwc.
