Column: Ex-lawyer to drive Cup business

Rotorua is a recognised host city for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
With the privileges comes  the responsibility to ensure our visitors are safe and well catered for and to have information or activities and events we collectively offer our guests.
I have promoted the NZ2011 Business Club as "the vehicle" through which local businesses can register their interest in being part of the hosting opportunity before, during and post Rugby World Cup. That vehicle now has a driver and she is of Formula One, race-ready standard.
Sandra Kai Fong is  well known not only for her legal prowess - she recently retired from the law - but also for her roles in both regional and sub-regional economic development.
Her membership of the Rotorua Energy Trust substantiates her ability to engage communities and drive value to organisations. These are key attributes that will promote the regional business opportunities the  Cup will deliver.
The next phase  is to seek  and encourage businesses to offer to host "like-minded" business owners visiting Rotorua and the Bay of Plenty - for the footy and for some business interaction.
While the obvious potentials are international engagement and export opportunity, I would suggest the opportunity to learn from, and form value-based relationships with, those coming here from around the world is something a business owner cannot afford to miss out on.
Take a couple of minutes online to register an event on the www.NZ2011.govt.nz site. The "tick box" registration form, with a paragraph on the event, will not go live until you are ready and then could potentially be distributed globally to the target individuals.
Typically, it could  read along the lines of:
"I'm a steel fabricator and I have developed some pretty sexy new equipment that has immense export potential. I wish to host an event for in-industry chief executives and directors or potential purchasers of my product on [insert date] during the Rugby World Cup 2011.
"I have interests in [insert relevant countries] and wish to hold an open day at my factory, followed by a few quiets at a local establishment, then head off together to enjoy the footy."
This is nothing too arduousor expensive and something every business owner can  engage in for what could be immense return.
As was highlighted to me last week, we are holding an industry awards night here in Rotorua. Perhaps each of the companies involved  might like to sponsor one or two seats for international guests in the same industry who may wish to attend with them and be part of the celebrations?
Fantastic!  I believe the Bay of Plenty can develop 100 or more such hosted  events for the  Rugby World Cup and beyond.
Either log on to the Business Club site or contact Sandra.bop2011@gmail.com to register your interest.
These are exciting times, in the most challenging of times for many in business. Together we can share the load and collectively reap the rewards.
- Grant Kilby is the general manager for Destination Rotorua Economic Development