Conference praise for Dunedin

The chief executive of an insurance company holding its first conference in Dunedin this week says he would happily have it in the city again.

Sovereign Life Insurance chief executive Nick Stanhope said yesterday about 200 insurance advisers and staff were in the city for a three-day biennial conference, which was finishing today.

The conference was held at the Town Hall and Dunedin Centre complex.

Mr Stanhope said he had studied at the University of Otago and was keen for his company to hold the conference in Dunedin.

He said it was easy to fall into the trap of holding conferences in major centres, but Sovereign was a nationwide company, and it was important to use regional facilities.

He said facilities were "outstanding'', parking was easy, hotels were within walking distance and the weather had been "beautiful''.