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| IN THIS ISSUE - WINTER 2017 |
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| Welcome |
Winter arrived last week with Queenstown’s mountains being covered in snow. This is a fantastic time to visit Queenstown for conferences or incentives. With the beauty of the snow on the peaks and a great vibe around town, there is a lot to keep your delegates busy. From skiing, boarding or skating, to dining in some of our award winning restaurants, enjoying a mulled wine by an open fireplace or relaxing in a hot pool overlooking the snow-capped mountains, there is a wide range of choices to complement your conference, incentive or special group event.
It was lovely to catch up with many of you recently at MEETINGS 2017. We were very encouraged to see continued strong interest in Queenstown for business events for 2018/19 and beyond to 2020. We were also thrilled to host nine clients on a three day pre-famil as part of the Hosted Buyer programme.
On the topic of famils, later this year we will be partnering with Air New Zealand on an Australian Mega-Famil to Queenstown. If this is of interest to you, send an expression of interest to Jana
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact the Queenstown Convention Bureau for assistance with any conference and incentive group pitches or quotes. We are always delighted to assist and can offer not only the latest and greatest ideas, but invaluable impartial advice.
Warmest regards,
Jana Kingston – Business Development Manager
Rebekah Carter – Marketing Executive
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| Queenstown News |
Skyline Enterprises has appointed experienced international business leader Geoff McDonald as its chief executive. Geoff was most recently vice president and general manager of GlaxoSmithKline based in Melbourne, and has a 20-year commercial career spanning across Australia, China, Singapore and South East Asia. He started his role 1 June.
HQ New Zealand has appointed Rachael Simpson as their new operations manager. Rachael was most recently at Magic Memories for the past four years, however worked for HQ New Zealand prior to that for nine years as operations manager. Rachael started back at HQ on 29 May and is excited to get back into the industry.
Real Journeys has merged its Go Orange, Queenstown Rafting and Kiwi Discovery brands under the Go Orange brand name. The company offers rafting, kayaking, cruising, cycling, ski and track transport as well as a range of coach connections around the country.
The World Bar collaborators Steve Ward and Gary Livesey have taken over the historic McNeill’s Cottage on Church Street – previously occupied by Italian restaurant Sasso – and have started renovations for their newest creation.
The concept is still under wraps but the inventive duo say plans are to complement downtown Queenstown’s vibrant hub by offering barista coffee, breakfast, lunch and dinner and diverse live entertainment
The historic cottage was built in 1882 by Scottish stonemason James McNeill and has been a hospitality destination since the early 1990’s when it housed Queenstown’s first microbrewery. |
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| Awards and Accolades |
Queenstown has again been named the number one destination in New Zealand in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2017.
Queenstown Holiday Park & Motels Creeksyde has been awarded Luxury Eco Friendly Holiday Park of the Year 2017 in the recent Luxury Travel Guide Awards. The awards represent the pinnacle of travel and tourism achievement, championing the best in their respective fields. Creeksyde has been picked as the leading Eco Holiday Park for its commitment to Environmental and Social Sustainability.
AJ Hackett has been recognised for his services to adventure tourism in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, receiving a New Zealand Order of Merit.
Patagonia Chocolates has scooped three gold awards and four silver at the 21st annual New Zealand Ice Cream Awards.
Air New Zealand was also recognised at the World Travel Awards, picking up the title of Australasia’s Leading Airline for the ninth year in a row. |
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| Airlines |
Air New Zealand has the Best Premium Economy Class in the World, and is the Best Airline in the South Pacific, according to the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for airlines. The carrier has also unveiled the seat design for its order of Airbus A320/321neo aircraft which will eventually replace its current A320 fleet.
Air New Zealand's new look regional lounge has opened at Queenstown Airport. The lounge boasts five different spaces for guests to relax, refresh or work ahead of their flight, and is located on the first floor of the terminal. It features Air New Zealand’s app-enabled coffee service
Queenstown Airport has completed a runway grooving project to ensure the airport can operate in all weather conditions. Grooved runways are common around the world and increase surface friction—which is helpful for aircraft landing in wet weather. Read more here |
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| Accommodation Update |
| mi-pad hotel will open in 2018 at 4 Henry Street with 57 guest rooms, including four family rooms and four accessible rooms. Guests of the hotel will self-check in. Construction has started and completion of the hotel is scheduled for November with opening in early 2018. A fully operational website will launch in July. |
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| Holiday Inn Express has proposed to construct a property in Queenstown, lodging a resource consent application with Queenstown Lakes District Council. The 227-room property will be spread across two three- and four-level wings on the corner of Stanley, Sydney and Melbourne streets. |
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| Dinamics has exclusive access to a new stunning home – Lake Joela – which is a short stroll from the CBD. This five bedroom 5.5 bathroom lakefront home features an outdoor fireplace, spa pool, sauna, gym, media room, multiple outdoor areas and stunning views. There is ample space for a business meeting and facilities for private chef catering which may be enjoyed overlooking Queenstown’s beautiful surrounds. The perfect base for your next business retreat. |
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| Touch of Spice has been accepted into Virtuoso®’s exclusive portfolio of luxury travel partners, comprised of more than 1,700 preferred suppliers in 100 countries. |
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| Camp Glenorchy is New Zealand’s first Net Zero energy accommodation. Ideal for independent travellers and groups seeking natural beauty and a taste of “real” New Zealand hospitality. Phase 1 includes 14 new, well-appointed comfortable rooms, most with ensuite showers and toilets. |
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| Activities |
The Remarkables ski area has installed a fully enclosed double conveyor for the learner’s area for the 2017 winter season.
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Coronet Peak will run twilight and night skiing on Wednesday evenings in July. Night skiers will be able to enjoy two new additions to the floodlit trails in 2017. Running off the side of the M1 trail Duncan’s Dance, a rolling terraced run, and the Pro Am run alongside the lower Coronet Express will be lit up for 2017 night skiing adding to the many runs on offer.
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Cardrona Alpine Resort has opened its new ‘Chondola’ combined gondola and chair lift. The resort is also investing more than $1 million on extending its Ski Kindy, with the Kids’ Snow Sports School moving to the same building. Also new for winter 2017 is a slope-side café and bar in the base area—The Lounge. Cardrona is also investing in more car parking and snowmaking facilities.
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| Off Road Queenstown, New Zealand’s first and most experienced off road tour operator, are now exclusively offering both self-drive (2 seater) and guided (6 seater) buggy/UTV tour options on a stunning off road playground site just five minutes from the downtown Queenstown. Available year round, not weather dependant and popular with couples and families (minimum age 4yo). |
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| Milford Sound Select has launched a coach-cruise-heli option for its Milford Sound tours. The scenic heli flight back to Queenstown includes a glacier landing. |
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| Over The Top has launched an e-bike heli experience with exclusive use of back country trails. The fully-guided e-bike trips cover easy undulating terrain on trails accessed by helicopter, going as far as 20km on OTT’s fleet of e-bikes on the exclusive charter trips. The half-day trip can also be combined with any of OTT’s exclusive excursions. |
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| Nomad Safaris has introduced two new activities to its menu. The 360° Queenstown tours utilise purpose-built UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) to showcase the region’s spectacular scenery accessing an exclusive high country sheep station, high above the resort town. The second product is a fleet of electric bikes, with hire and guided tours available from 1 November. Routes are currently in planning, with options including Arrowtown, local wineries and vehicle transfers for bikes and guests to explore Glenorchy. |
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| Southern Discoveries will introduce new coaches for its day trip to from Queenstown to Milford Sound from October. The brand new coaches will offer extra-wide glass-roofed coaches, reclining seats, multi-lingual commentary, extra legroom, fitted with Wi-Fi and USB ports and are toilet equipped. The Coach & Scenic Cruise day trip begins 1 August 2017 (with a temporary coach service), with the Coach & Nature Cruise excursion launching 1 October 2017. |
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Queenstown Snow Mobiles will be operating again for Winter 2017. Queenstown Snowmobiles offers the only wilderness snowmobiling experience in New Zealand. All tours are fully guided and cater for all abilities.
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Thunder Jet Introduces the newest member of the Thunder Jet fleet, Thunder 4. The new first of its kind in NZ comes with a robust list of added extras including and increased capacity for large group transfers and the highest levels of safety exceeding NZ requirements.
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| Venues Update |
Multi- Million Dollar Investment in the future of TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak High Country Farm
An “unconventional” convention and events facility will be built at Walter Peak High Country Farm near Queenstown by Real Journeys. The recently unveiled plan is the second stage of a $20 million dollar development at Walter Peak and includes a new conference/events facility and restaurant in a restored heritage building that seats 150, a multi-purpose ‘unique architectural’ building with extraordinary views for special more intimate events for 80, and several smaller break-out rooms.
The event buildings are expected to be completed in 2020. |
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| Cardrona is now available year-round as a conference venue or for other venue hire. With Plenary conference space for up to 80 people, on-mountain apartment style accommodation for up to 70pax, range of soft to adrenalin activities (mountain biking and carting in summer, skiing and boarding in winter) Cardrona Alpine resort is a resort to get away from it all. |
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| Key Dates and Events |
Queenstown Winter Festival – 22-25 June
Queenstown Winter Festival is a four day celebration of the start of winter. It’s our festival full of live music, fireworks, comedy, sporting action, après ski indulgence, and mountain madness.
Audi quattro Winter Games NZ - 25-10 September
This is for the first time featuring events at all of Queenstown and Wanaka’s ski areas; Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Treble Cone and Snow Farm. For the first time the ten-day programme (25 August-10 September) includes The North Face Frontier freeride event at The Remarkables, the Para-Snowboard World Cup Banked Slalon at Treble Cone and a three-test ice hockey series between the Ice Blacks and Australia in Queenstown.
Gay Ski Week QT tickets and passes are now for sale. The programme is packed with events including cabaret nights, dance parties, night skiing, a Gibbston Valley Long Lunch and SKYCITY Queenstown Karaoke.
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| Other Key Events |
Throughout the year Queenstown offers a fantastic range of fun, serious, artistic, sporting and cultural events which can provide added value to your clients’ holidays.
For more details and a preview of upcoming autumn key events please click here.
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| Your Queenstown Convention Bureau Team |
Jana Kingston
Business Development Manager Australia
Destination Queenstown
PO Box 79 | Moorabbin | VIC 3189 | Australia
DDI: +61 3 9551 8968 | Mob: 0422 299 177
janak@queenstownn.nz |queenstownNZ.nz
Follow us on Twitter @Purequeenstown
‘Like’ us on Facebook QueenstownNZ
Instagram @queenstownnz |
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Rebekah Carter
Queenstown Convention Bureau Marketing Executive
Destination Queenstown
PO Box 353 | 50 Stanley Street | Queenstown 9300 | New Zealand
DDI: +64 3 441 0705 | Mob: +64 27 432 4330
rebekahc@queenstownNZ.nz | queenstownNZ.nz
Follow us on Twitter @Purequeenstown
‘Like’ us on Facebook QueenstownNZ
Instagram @queenstownnz |
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