Laughing all the way to the bank

Visitor numbers have been high this summer for budget accommodation in Queenstown, according to Southern Laughter Lodge manager Jim Bailey. Photo by Henrietta Kjaer.

At Southern Laughter Lodge in Isle St - one of Queenstown's many backpacker accommodation providers - the beds have been full most nights.

"We are currently sitting on a 92% occupancy rate.

"At the same time last year the rate was around 95%, so the lodge is only marginally quieter this year," Southern Laughter manager Jim Bailey said.

However, Mr Bailey said visitors this year tend to simply show up without bookings.

So while the lodge is not booked up in advance, its 112 beds still end up being full most nights.

"Our quiet season in spring was even more quiet than previous years, but visitor numbers started to pick up again in November, and by Christmas we were back to our usual busy summer season," he said.

"An important part of our business is the sale of activities, tours and adventures for local operators, and this past November and December have been cracking months.

"People might not book in advance, but they certainly seem willing to spend on activities once they get here."

Mr Bailey has worked in the local accommodation industry for years, and has been managing the Southern Laughter Lodge for a year.

He said the typical backpacker to Queenstown has changed.

"This lodge gets a lot of independent travellers, who arrive in their own vehicles rather than from bus tours.

"But where most of our guests used to be in the late teens or 20s, an increasing proportion of them are now in their 30s or 40s.

"There seems to be a change towards a more mature group of travellers choosing backpacker accommodation."