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| IN THIS ISSUE - 4 SEPTEMBER 2018 |
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| Welcome |
The days are getting longer and the temperatures are on the increase – this can only mean one thing, spring is here!
Spring is a perfect time to hold an event in Queenstown. The blossoms are starting to bud and soon Queenstown’s al fresco food and wine scene will be thriving. In the meantime, many other activities are available throughout the season ranging from golf, biking, cruising on Lake-Wakatipu and some fast paced adrenaline experiences. Skiing is also still available until early October for those looking for the ultimate spring ski experience.
The Queenstown Convention Bureau team are attending many industry events over the coming months and we look forward to connecting with you at all or some of these. For a full list of the events please see the end of this newsletter.
If you are looking to hold your next event in Queenstown, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. We can help pull together a full RFP, offer impartial recommendations and programme ideas or just supply great destinational information.
Warmest regards,
The QCB Team |
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| Queenstown Update |
AMWAY China visited Queenstown from 2 April to 16 May this year bringing 11 waves of up to 600 delegates each making it the largest incentive group Queenstown and New Zealand has ever seen. Amway China’s business owners rated this year’s leadership seminar programme in Queenstown one of the best ever, with an overall satisfaction rating of 96 %.
Click to see the highlights video here. |
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Destination Queenstown is promoting spring to Australians, to encourage shoulder season growth from this market, including republishing the successful ‘Sick Day Stow Away’ promotion on social media, targeting independent professionals via online channels. In addition, DQ is utilising the Audi quattro Winter Games as a hook for short sequels featuring Dan Ilic. The videos reinforce our spring messages by highlighting the high calibre of athletes enjoying our slopes during the season and showcasing the variety of experiences on offer in Queenstown through a comedic lens.
These three short clips creating a bit if fun and excitement around the season ahead.
The videos can be viewed below;
How to spot your favourite athlete at The Queenstown Winter Games
How to crash The Queenstown Winter Games
How to make a Queenstown Travel Vlog with Dan Ilic |
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| Awards and Accolades |
The Queenstown Stand at this year's 'Meetings' tradeshow, which was developed by the Queenstown Convention Bureau, Queenstown design agency Feast and PEEK Exhibition in 2017, won the gold medal at the New Zealand Sign & Display Association annual awards.
Queenstown has been named in Conde Nast Traveller’s 2018 Friendliest Cities in the World.
Read more
Over The Top, The Helicopter Company received the Aviation New Zealand Company Award for its performance and contribution to the growth of the aviation industry in New Zealand.
The Rees Hotel has been awarded a 2018 Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence”. |
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| Aviation Update |
Virgin Australia has unveiled a suite of enhancements to make the journey to New Zealand even more comfortable for Australian travellers. From 28 October, all Virgin Australia guests flying to Queenstown will receive a substantial meal and drink, at least 23kg of baggage included in all fares, WiFi on all flights including 15 minutes of complimentary access, increased Velocity Frequent Flyer Points and Status Credits earn potential.
Air New Zealand will launch new thrice-weekly non-stop services from Chicago to Auckland from 30 November 2018, using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The flight will be around 15 hour’s northbound, and 16 hours southbound. In addition, joint-venture partner United Airlines will recommence year-round services from San Francisco to Auckland from 31 March 2019.
Air New Zealand has announced it will start operating non-stop flights between Taipei and Auckland from November 2018 subject to regulatory approval. The airline will fly up to five times a week between Auckland and Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport from November. With a flight time of just over 11 hours, the service will be operated by Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. |
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| Accommodation Update |
| Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa has completed a redesign of its lobby and reception area. The redesign includes a colour palette that reflects Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown’s gold mining heritage with grand designs such as mirror mosaic walls surrounding the staircase. |
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| The Rees Hotel has recently undergone refurbishments in its True South Dining Room increasing capacity to 70-80people. The award winning restaurant epitomises sophisticated elegant dining with its pride in the region, expressed with a menu of dishes based mainly on local produce. The menu showcases Executive Chef Ben Batterbury’s signature style that is fresh, clean on the palate and exhibits creativity, innovation and above all, amazing flavour. |
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| The Rees Hotel are making conscious company decisions to support social protection and sustainability along with protecting the environment. A few of the sustainability initiatives include supplying 100% compostable, plant-based water bottles with the removal of all plastic bottles, replacing plastic bin liners with 100% compostable, plastic free and biodegradable bags and the introduction of glass bottled, pasteurised, full cream milk for guests gradually phasing out plastic milk bottles. |
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| Sherwood Queenstown can offer a New Zealand cultural experience through food with a Hangi Pitt onsite (on request). Menu styles can be flexible as Sherwood also offers plated options, buffet and BBQ’s. With a focus on sustainable, seasonal and natural fare the menu changes daily to best reflect what is coming out of the garden and from local suppliers and producers. The restaurant can seat groups up to 120 and the outdoor courtyard can seat 60 to 80 people. |
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| mi-pad Queenstown has opened in central Queenstown. The 57-room hotel utilises the latest in room technology, requiring guests to download an app to access their room, meaning there’s no need for a traditional check-in or out process. The app also acts as a personal concierge. |
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| Activities Update |
A-J Hackett Bungy unveiled its world first Nevis Catapult on 8 August. The Catapult sees thrill seekers experience up to 3G of force and speeds of almost 100km per hour in 1.5 seconds, as they are propelled 150m out across a ravine before dropping suddenly towards the valley floor and experiencing a series of bounces. Check out the Nevis Catapult here.
Queenstown Wine Trail has launched a new Wine Hopper hop-on hop-off express transport service from Queenstown to Gibbston. Wine Hopper Bus departs Queenstown at 10am, 12pm and 2pm and will drive six circuits around the Gibbston wineries daily. Returns to Queenstown at 1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 6pm.
Cardrona Alpine Resort announced a new partnership allowing the development of New Zealand’s largest alpine resort, incorporating Cardrona and a new Soho Basin Ski Area. This partnership will see Cardrona more than double in size to over 900ha of skiable terrain. Access to the Soho Ski Area will be from the top of the recently installed McDougall’s Chondola, with facility development at the top of the mountain to support this. Cardrona Alpine Resort will also be installing a new lift that will access 55ha of new advanced terrain in the ‘Pringles’ area of the resort. The Pringles Quad chairlift will be installed in the basin directly below Captain’s Express and above Pringles Creek, with the top station just above Captain’s Pizzeria.
Millbrook Resort has commenced works on the $50 million development that will add nine new golf holes to the resort’s offering, allowing it to operate two separate 18-hole courses at once. The new golf course is anticipated to be playable by 2021.
The Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network will see 122 kilometres of new trail, connecting four existing Great Rides in the area and creating an additional link to Wanaka. A further 47 kilometres of existing trail will be upgraded to Great Ride standards. The Great Rides to be included in the network are the Clutha Gold Trail, Otago Central Rail Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail and Queenstown Trails.
Skydiving in the Southern Lakes Region is more accessible than ever with NZONE, Skydive Southern Alps and Skydive Wanaka all operating in conjunction with one another. If groups are unable to jump at one location due to weather they can easily be transferred to another drop zone to ensure the group can complete the experience.
Queenstown Winery Tours is a new company specialising in bespoke small group or private tours around the wineries in Gibbston Valley. Groups can taste and learn about what the Central Otago wine district has to offer. Add ons are also available with the options of a gourmet vineyard lunch, a vineyard platter and a wine cave tour. Tours can be in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Alpine Wine Tours offers group, private and custom wine and distillery tours from Queenstown to Central Otago’s wine region. Local guides who also doubles as a ‘dedicated driver’ shares the history of century-old wine barrels whilst groups taste the wines along with local cuisine. Alpine Wine Tours have a fleet of European vehicles, including a 2018 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Mercedes Ambiente and Land Rover Discovery. |
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| Venues Update |
| iFly Queenstown is New Zealand’s first indoor skydiving experience which allows clients to feel the rush of freefall while they float on a smooth column of air. iFly Queensotwn can cater for corporate and incentive groups and packages are customised according to client requirements and offer everything from catering to transportation. The venue can be privately hired for a function of up to 200 people or used as an activity option for those seeking soft adventure. iFly Queenstown also has a boardroom onsite looking out toward the Remarkables that can seat up to 20 people. |
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| White + Wong’s restaurant, a Good Group concept, has opened on Beach Street. The menu has been inspired by the vibrant street food of China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. The restaurant offers two bars and three private dining spaces, and next door Good Group has opened Sardine cocktail bar. |
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| Camp Glenorchy Eco Retreat, a 45 minute scenic drive from Queenstown, has been recognised for its Net Zero energy goals by gaining Qualmark’s ‘Gold Sustainable Tourism Business’ accreditation, as a 4-Star Plus Boutique and Lodge. The new eco-style lodge has also expanded its F&B offering with the addition of continental breakfast as an optional add-on for in house guests. |
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| Key Dates and Queenstown Events |
24 Aug-8 Sep – Audi quattro Winter Games, Queenstown
Winter Olympic and X Games stars are heading to New Zealand’s Southern Alps once again for the first major championships of the season. Watch them compete for glory in freestyle skiing, snowboarding, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and curling in what will be bigger and better than ever. The 2018 Sports and Ceremonies Schedules can be found here.
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1-9 Sep – Winter Pride, Queenstown
This year's festival is placing a renewed emphasis on growing the ON-MOUNTAIN SERIES, with a designated mountain resort hosting the festival each day so that we can keep the fun in one place. This year, our partner mountains are working with us to dedicate areas of their bars and restaurants to our pride festival, meaning music, plenty of socialising and a real pride vibe on the slopes. Read more about the festival here.
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17 Nov – Air New Zealand Queenstown International Marathon
This year is the 5th Anniversary of the event that is set between the backdrop of the world renowned Crown and Remarkable mountain range. Taking in the best highlights of the Queenstown Lakes region on 70% of the course on hard packed cycle trails and 30% on road surfaces, this is truly a flat out beautiful course.
Read more and register here. |
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| Industry Events |
10-11 September – AuSAE LINC Conference, Auckland – Read more
19-20 September – Office and PA Show, Auckland – Read more
25 September – Convene South, Christchurch - Read more
16-18 October – IMEX, Las Vegas, USA - Read more
30 October – 1 November - CINZ Conference 2018, Auckland – Read more |
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| Your Queenstown Convention Bureau Team |
Louise Clark
Sales & Marketing Manager
Destination Queenstown
PO Box 353 | 50 Stanley Street | Queenstown 9300|
New Zealand
DDI: +64 3 441 0709 | Mob: +64 27 600 6624
louisec@queenstownNZ.nz | queenstownNZ.nz
Follow us on Twitter @Purequeenstown
‘Like’ us on Facebook QueenstownNZ
Instagram @queenstownnz |
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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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