Destination Queenstown members have sent a clear message to the Queenstown Lakes District Council: we will not be moved.
At DQ's annual meeting at the Hilton on Wednesday night, board chairman Mark Quickfall briefed members on the council's economic development strategy consultation document.
The strategy aimed to create a higher-value economy, jobs and industries and higher-quality urban and natural environments through several key and supporting priorities.
Mr Quickfall told members a survey would be sent out and responses would help form the DQ submission on the document.
He said the board supported the strategy - but not at the expense of tourism and believed destination marketing should be managed separately to economic development.
Mr Quickfall said another concern was the way the strategy would be implemented and reviewed.
The consultation document recommended a council forum or committee be formed, supplemented by private sector representation.
He said that was the "big challenge''.
To date, the DQ members, who formed the board, have measured its performance, "not a third party''.
The board governed DQ and worked on annual business plans and budgets, which members were consulted on.
Amended plans and budgets, however, had to be approved by the Strategic Review Board, which included representatives from Arrowtown, the Motel and Hotel Associations, Tourism New Zealand, Air New Zealand and the council.
"Our argument is council should be at the table, but shouldn't be the table.
"That's what we're a little bit nervous [about].
"We believe the model in place now works pretty well.''
He also raised concerns about the lack of understanding the report writers had of the resort.
The report identified key priorities regarding tourism, increasing the proportion of high-value visitors, encouraging more spending and reducing seasonality.
It also identified establishing a convention centre at Lakeview and evaluating the return on investment from marketing activities as other actions.
They were all things DQ and the community at large had been focused on for 30 years, Mr Quickfall said.
"We are surprised the Economic Development Strategy consultation report authors are not aware of this fact.
"They either did not understand or did not take the time to understand what we're already achieving.
"It would have been nice if they did.''
Queenstown Airport chief executive Scott Paterson said the resort was held up nationally as a best-practice example of how to work together to achieve a common goal.
While DQ had a strong brand, he suggested maybe "we should be challenging ourselves as to how it might look ... rather than digging it a hole and saying it's not going to change''.
Developer Alastair Porter said it was never wrong to review operations, however, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it''.
"I think it would be worthwhile ... sending a strong message back about this issue'', suggesting the DQ members move to put a suggested amendment to the council - that DQ and the Strategic Review Board be retained and supported as part of the economic development strategy.
The motion was passed unanimously.
