Quake aftermath and conference industry transformation, Christchurch

The transformational impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes on February 22, 2011, radically changed the urban landscape of Christchurch and disrupted the ecosystems of the regional tourism sector. The far-reaching socio-economic consequences of the recovery governance and urban renewal strategies decisively altered the trajectory of the urban (re)development, redefined the destination identity and transformed the tourism sector within. Economic recovery policy and urban renewal anchor projects comprising the mega convention centre and other venues across the city evidentially reflect the strategic relevance of conference industry to revive the tourism economy of the quake-shattered Christchurch. This chapter adopts the theoretical lens of organisational ecology and portrays the trajectory of the post-quake conference industry in Christchurch; an evolutionary perspective offers the critical insights into the contemporary phenomenon of capitalising business events, specifically the conference portfolio as a catalyst for disaster recovery and urban regeneration.