Entrepreneurs to be entertained at elite club meeting

It is an elite club worth a total of $US138 billion ($NZ164 billion) worldwide, and next week 400 of its members will visit Queenstown to share the secret of becoming an entrepreneurial success.

From Wednesday, Queenstown will host the 2012 Entrepreneurs' Organisation conference, which will bring an impressive line-up of guest speakers as well as a wealth of knowledge to the region.

The all-New Zealand speakers' list will include actors, athletes and company executives to help inspire organisation members - successful business people from 18 different countries, including 35 from New Zealand.

Members must be either the founder or managing director of their respective businesses.

Names like New Zealand Olympic athlete Beatrice Faumuina, All Black Jonah Lomu, paralympian Mark Inglis and actor, television presenter and writer Oscar Kightley will be present during the four-day conference.

Queenstown conference chairman Mat Wylie, of Auckland, said three conferences were held each year and it would be 15 years before New Zealand next hosted one.

The conference would provide a "peer-to-peer learning network to connect like-minded people together" - "entrepreneurs learning from entrepreneurs".

The Queenstown conference sold out within eight hours.

The Kiwi-only guest speaker list would be a great way to reveal New Zealand talent to the world, he said.

"It's an honour to share the views of these special New Zealanders with some of the world's most influential business people."

Organisers were planning a day of "adventure" around Queenstown which would include golf, bungy jumping and climbing Bob's Peak with Mr Inglis.

"It's the adventure capital of the world. It's an amazing destination in its own right. These guests want an experience as well and Queenstown will give them that."

Facts about the Entrepreneurs Organisation:

• US-based organisation with 8000 members worldwide
• Turns 25 this year
• Members from 40 different countries
• Average annual member sales of $US17.3 million
• Average age of members 41
• Membership prerequisite of $US1 million annual income
• 50 members from New Zealand averaging $US7.7 million annual income