Millions of dollars worth of travel deals were brokered during the annual international trade event Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (Trenz), when it was held in Queenstown for the first time, this week. James Beech wraps up Trenz 2011.
Eighteen of the world's finest young violinists arrive in New Zealand next week to compete in the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, in Queenstown.
Opera Otago is bound for Arrowtown with a double bill of comic operas on June 18.
Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism John Key and exhibitors say the real measure of success for Trenz in Queenstown will be in the coming months and years, when the business done on the shop floor of the trade expo boosts international visitor numbers to New Zealand.
New Zealand tourism is in for a boost, with almost half the buyers of 2011 Rugby World Cup tickets surveyed saying they intend arriving before the tournament begins on September 9.
A projected $39 million loss from staging the 2011 Rugby World Cup has to be seen as part of the marketing budget for New Zealand and is worth it, on balance, Prime Minister and Tourism Minister John Key says.
Wealthy Chinese tourists attracted to gambling, luxury shopping, discreet boutique hotels and exclusive activities in Queenstown want to be treated like royalty, media attending Trenz were told yesterday.
Queenstown is the focus of a $1 million campaign by Auckland International Airport to attract high-value tourists, especially from China and the United States.
A major global push is under way to spread the message New Zealand is open for business, and tourism leaders are confident inbound tourist numbers will rebound to levels before the Christchurch earthquake.
Queenstown, Southern Lakes and New Zealand tourism operators get down to business today to make the most of the opportunity to sell and promote their products to international buyers. But what is this travel trade expo actually all about?
Menus in Mandarin, staff learning phrases, adding congee (rice porridge) to breakfast buffets and maintaining "good old southern friendliness and smiles", were some of the tips offered to about 150 Queenstown tourism operators looking for a share of the booming Chinese market.
Almost 300 suppliers and contractors from around New Zealand are working behind the scenes to stage the first Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (Trenz) travel trade display in the Southern Lakes district. The expo is now on and runs until Wednesday.
Queenstown Primary School year 6 pupils explored the great outdoors at Sydney Cove, on Ulva Island, near Stewart Island, earlier this month.
Tough markets challenging New Zealand tourism operators make the Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (Trenz) especially important, the manager of the trade show says.
The Bishop of Dunedin will wait for the finalising of conditions before considering the programming and timing of the development of the second campus for St Joseph's School, the Catholic Education Office says.
C'mon everybody ... Emily Burns, as Natalie the motor mechanic gets All Shook Up when James Stephenson, as Chad, brings tight jeans and rock 'n' roll to town.
The rock 'n' roll musical featuring Elvis Presley classics is staged by Showbiz Queenstown in the Queenstown Memorial Hall, every night at 8pm, until Saturday, May 28.
Memebers of the public might learn by the end of this week what the Queenstown Lakes District Council has been discussing concerning the Queenstown Airport Corporation.
The Remarkables skifield was freshened with up to 10cm of snow on Sunday night, ski area manager Ross Lawrence said yesterday.
"Really excited, very nervous, but really excited," is how Emily Burns is feeling as she prepares to co-star in the musical All Shook Up, which opens tomorrow night.
Hotel occupancy in Queenstown continued to slide last month, according to figures from the New Zealand Hotel Council (NZHC).
