Collaborate and share Cup benefits, says Business Club

Sign up and get involved if you want to make the most of the Rugby World Cup games in Rotorua.
This is the message from Destination Rotorua Economic Development general manager and NZ2011 Business Club representative Grant Kilby.
Speaking at the first Rotorua Chamber of Commerce BA5 at The Shed on Tuesday night, Kilby urged businesses to register with the NZ2011 Business Club and let co-ordinators know about their own events to get the most out of Rotorua's World Cup opportunities.
"Local, regional and national groups, business representatives, chambers of commerce, economic development agencies etc, have all been collaborating on this.
"This is a first for New Zealand and it's fantastic. Now it's your turn."
Kilby said everybody stood to benefit from collaboration around events, support for teams playing in Rotorua, accommodating visitors and providing rugby fans with opportunities to meet the locals and find out about the region and what it has to offer as a destination and a business centre.
"This is one of the world's largest sporting events, with talk of up to 100,000 people visiting the country, the vast majority of whom will be coming through Rotorua."
While he has been co-ordinating Rotorua's involvement with national activity on his own until now, Kilby said more people would be brought on board to help co-ordinate this in the next couple of months.
The NZ2011 Business Club aims to connect World Cup visitors with related businesses and business people in New Zealand.
Because trip expenses can be partly written off if the visitor also engages in business, Kilby said there would be demand for this among many rugby fans.
"They are coming here to watch some footy, but many of these people want to do some business as well.
"This is your chance to engage with them."
He suggested businesses find out what is happening locally and make sure their own events were listed at www.rotoruanz.com to be part of the overall celebrations.
Retailers in the central city will be encouraged to whip up a bit of support for the teams and some World Cup spirit through initiatives such as one side of a street supporting one team and the other supporting their rivals, with shop window banners and displays. Kilby also wants locals to encourage people to buy tickets for the Rotorua games
"If they are not filled to capacity, we have failed."
Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chief executive Roger Gordon said the entire community needed to look at how city features such as Eat Streat and Heart of Tutanekai St could be used to build a party atmosphere.
He and Kilby are keen to hear from anybody with ideas on how to achieve this so visitors and players go away as ambassadors for Rotorua.
KEY FACTORS
Five steps towards Rotorua's Rugby World
Cup success:
1. Manaakitanga - we have to be the consummate hosts.
2. Service - this must be world-class, consistent, friendly and prompt.
3. Business engagement - if you are not registered with the NZ2011 Business Club, it will be hard to connect you with visiting business people.
4. Information - there will be volunteers around the city centre and key spots giving out productive, quality information on where to stay and what to see and do.
5. Spirit - this is not a given, but it must happen through people engaging with the games, the visitors and the related events.
- Grant Kilby,
NZ2011 Business Club