The 2026 Economic Development New Zealand Conference would be hosted at the facility after a successful bid by the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes district councils.
Central Otago could expect to host 180 delegates from across New Zealand for two days in at the November event.
The booking was announced after the Cromwell Community Board, at its meeting last week, asked council staff to reconsider the proposed commercial booking rates. The board recommended the proposed community booking costs be recommended to the Central Otago District council.
Board member Mike Casey said he felt the commercial rates were too low and should be compared with similar venues in the region.
"I think we need a set ambition for this all."
Board chairwoman Anna Harrison agreed saying the commercial rates were too low, considering the excellent space the hall would offer.
Other hall fee recommendations included that the Returned Services Association had preferential booking rights on Anzac Day and Armistice Day with no fees to be charged on those days, as well as free of charge use of the RSA room for its meetings.
Mr Casey said to charge the RSA for the use of a memorial hall "doesn’t sound sensible".
The board also agreed to hold a workshop on February 4 to discuss the purpose, performance targets and usage projections of the hall, as well as to narrow down a list of proposed names for public consultation in March.
