Steve Armitage appointed new CEO of Hospitality New Zealand

Steve Armitage, Independent Chair of Business Events Industry Aotearoa, has been appointed CEO of Hospitality New Zealand.

Following his appointment Armitage will be stepping down as Independent Chair of Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) in August.

BEIA Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins says the board and members of BEIA want to thank Steve for his outstanding leadership and support during the past two years and congratulate him on his new appointment heading one of New Zealand’s largest industry associations.

“Under Steve’s guidance, BEIA is heading in a strong direction which will secure the future for the association and the industry. He will be an important part of our flagship event, MEETINGS in Wellington this month, and he will attend our conference in September in his new role representing the hospitality industry,” he said.

“We are thrilled to know we will continue to work closely with Steve in his new role. BEIA and HospitalityNZ developed a strong relationship during the COVID pandemic, and the two organizations are closely aligned within the wider visitor economy. I am looking forward to our continuing working relationship and the collaboration opportunities that will bring for both organizations.”

Outgoing CEO of Hospitality New Zealand, Julie White.

BEIA will begin the process of seeking a new Chair after MEETINGS, with a view to having the Chair in place by the annual conference in Marlborough in September.

Armitage’s career has spanned the public and private sectors, most recently specializing in tourism, major events, business attraction, communications and public affairs. He was GM, Destination, at ATEED for eight years, until 2021, and since then has Chaired the Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) and consulted to the events and tourism industry.

Steve Armitage said: “I feel very privileged to step into this role at such an important time and I am determined to build on the tireless work that Julie and the team have performed in recent years.

“Hospitality has always been close to my heart, providing a strong foundation for my career. I look forward to combining my experience and passion with that of the wider membership to advance the interests of the sector.”

Keene thanked Steve’s predecessor Julie White, for her significant contributions to Hospitality New Zealand over the past five years.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Julie for her dedication and achievements during her tenure.”

To ensure a smooth transition, Steve will gradually assume his new responsibilities over the next two months, before taking on the role full-time starting from 14th August. This transitional period will allow Steve to familiarize himself with the organization and its operations, ensuring a seamless continuation of Hospitality NZ’s strategic objectives.