The under-construction events centre in Cromwell has locked in its first significant commercial booking, with the 2026 Economic Development New Zealand (EDNZ) conference confirmed for the venue.

Announced this month at the 2025 EDNZ conference in Auckland, the event is expected to bring approximately 180 delegates to the region next November.

The successful bid was a partnership between the Central Otago District Council’s (CODC) Economic Development and Business Events Bureau and the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC).

The booking marks a milestone for the $45.8M facility on Melmore Terrace, which is currently unnamed and scheduled to open in June.

Cromwell Community Board chair Anna Harrison said construction is progressing well towards the completion date.

“It’s fantastic to see the venue is beginning to deliver on its promise by already being selected as a location for a national conference,” Anna said in a media statement.

The two-day event will include an awards dinner and AGM at the new venue, alongside workshops and visits across both Central Otago and Queenstown.

EDNZ executive director Debi Roder said the board appreciated the collaboration in the combined bid from the two councils.

“Our board was attracted to the Central Lakes conference bid because of the excellent venue and facilities on offer, along with the range of economic development topics that both regions could showcase, such as regional deals, economic diversification, and the opportunities and challenges of fast-paced growth,” Debi said.

The confirmation of a national commercial event follows discussion at a meeting of the Cromwell Community Board last week regarding how much external businesses should be charged to use the facility.

At the November 25 meeting, newly elected board member Mike Casey argued proposed commercial hire rates were too low.

Mike warned against adopting a deficit mindset from the get-go and suggested benchmarking rates against private sector venues in Queenstown and Wānaka to ensure the district didn’t undersell the facility.

The board directed council staff to reconsider the commercial pricing structure, while allowing community booking rates to proceed as proposed.

The new facility replaces the old Cromwell Memorial Hall and will feature a 400-seat auditorium, a cinema, museum, and flexible meeting spaces.

While the physical build is on track for a mid-2026 opening, the building’s identity is still being resolved. 

At last week’s meeting, the community board also opted against providing a shortlist of names during a “short, sharp” public consultation planned for early next year on an English name to sit alongside a te reo Māori name gifted by mana whenua.

Read more: Commercial rates too low for new Cromwell hall?, Designers reveal new museum plans and Hunt begins for ‘venue director’ for $45.8M Cromwell hall