Major events and conferences were contributing factors to Queenstown hotels recording stellar results last year, the Tourism Industry Association says.
New TIA research shows resort hotels collectively recorded their highest annual occupancy and average daily rates in five years.
The association's 22 member hotels in the Wakatipu generated a total revenue of $168 million last year and were up seven points in occupancy, to 73.4%.
The average daily rate was $149, up $5 on the previous year and the third-highest in New Zealand after the Central Park region - Taupo, Tongariro, Napier and Gisborne - and Christchurch.
TIA chief executive Chris Roberts said Queenstown's performance resulted from improvements in the New Zealand economy and an increase in international visitors - up 5.1% on 2013 to 2.8 million.
The resort's results were further boosted by major events, including the Queenstown Winter Festival, the inaugural Queenstown International Marathon and several conferences.
The positive trends were continuing this year with reinvestment in a number of hotels undergoing refurbishments, Mr Roberts said.
The national annual occupancy rate for last year was 75.7% - Auckland achieved the highest annual occupancy (82.2%) followed by Wellington (74.6%) and Dunedin (73.6%).
