An independent report commissioned by the Art Deco Trust prepared by Event Economics (a division of Fresh Info) confirms the four-day February festival attracted 22,969 unique attendees, including 6,943 visitors from outside Hawke’s Bay and overseas.

The Festival generated a net economic benefit of $3.61 million to HB and $5.87 million to New Zealand. This translates into a benefit-cost ratio of 1.41, equating to a 41% return on investment for Hawke’s Bay.

Visitor attendance driven by the Festival resulted in 18,131 visitor-nights across the region and $3.62 million in visitor spending (including sales tax), providing a significant boost to accommodation providers, hospitality, retailers, and local services. With an estimated 60,000+ festival visits over the four days.

The Festival yielded Art Deco Trust Chair, Barbara Arnott commented: “These results are outstanding and affirm what we experience anecdotally every year – that Art Deco Festival Napier is a cornerstone event for Hawke’s Bay. A net benefit of $3.61 million to the region, alongside remarkable visitor satisfaction and pride outcomes, demonstrates the Festival’s value well beyond the four days it runs.”

In addition to its economic contribution, the Festival delivered exceptional social outcomes. The report shows:

• 92% of attendees were satisfied or very satisfied with their Festival experience
• 88% of Hawke’s Bay residents agreed or strongly agreed that hosting the Festival increased their pride in the region
• A Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 76, well into the “amazing” benchmark range            
  [The NPS is a widely recognised measure of customer loyalty and enthusiasm, where scores above 50 are considered exceptional.]

Art Deco Trust Heritage and General Manager, Jeremy Smith, said the social results were just as meaningful as the economic ones. “Art Deco Festival Napier is about celebration, connection, community and heritage, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that reflected so strongly in the data. When nearly nine out of ten local residents say the Festival increases their pride in Hawke’s Bay, that tells us we are creating something that truly belongs to this community.”