But it is the chance to showcase the city and its attractions to the country's mayors and council chief executives that excites Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie.
''It's really exciting for the city beyond financials, but that's certainly an additional benefit to us,'' he said yesterday.
Mr Christie's comments came after the council this week confirmed the city had secured the Local Government New Zealand event for 2016, after a joint bid by Enterprise Dunedin and Dunedin Venues Management Ltd.
Success meant up to 600 delegates from around New Zealand would gather in the city, making use of the Dunedin Town Hall and other Dunedin Centre facilities from July 24-26.
The delegates would include mayors, chairmen, chief executives, councillors and senior council managers from around New Zealand, as well as local government stakeholders from the private sector, central government and non-government agencies.
Mayor Dave Cull said in a statement the event would be a ''great opportunity'' to showcase the city as a conference destination.
''We don't often get the chance to welcome people to Dunedin from every part of New Zealand at once.''
Mr Christie said when contacted yesterday delegates' were expected to pump more than $850,000 into the city's economy.
That was based on Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment figures, which showed domestic delegates travelling to another New Zealand centre each on average spent $483 per night.
''They're usually quite high yield in terms of their economic contribution. We know the conference market spins a very good economic benefit for the city.''
The event was secured after Dunedin's bid highlighted regenerated conference facilities available in the town hall and Dunedin Centre, as well as the city's heritage, wildlife and other attractions.
That played a big part in the city's successful bid.
The ''high calibre'' of delegates expected to travel to Dunedin for the event offered a unique chance to showcase the city.
''We're really excited ... about what Dunedin can offer their LGNZ colleagues. We want this to be the best they've ever been to. We really want to raise the bar in terms of making this a unique Dunedin experience for those people.''
The conference would be organised by a conference organiser coming in to Dunedin from outside the city, and most costs would be covered by delegates' fees, Mr Christie said.
