The Kaitaia-born Mr Robinson is no stranger to Otago, having "cut his teeth" as a 27-year-old general manager of the Dunedin Quality Hotel in the early 1990s.
He sat on the initial Carisbrook Development board, which pushed for the redevelopment of the terraces and construction of the first corporate boxes, and he helped create the Otago Polytechnic's tourism and hotel degrees.
"I picked up a lot of insights during my time in Dunedin about how to operate as a businessman and entrepreneur," he said.
The southern qualities of genuineness and comradeship were an "invaluable" education about hospitality and had remained an influence throughout his career, he said.
He was a frequent visitor to Central Otago. When an opportunity arose two years ago to buy into Wanaka, Mr Robinson "already knew" the resort was a desirable location.
"I've always believed a lot of people don't see the full potential that exists here in Wanaka - locals may say that's a good thing - but we saw it as a valuable acquisition to expand Wyndham's New Zealand operations," he said.
"It still blows me away how spectacular it is here - even after 20 years."
The opportunity to invest in Wanaka had presented itself before Queenstown, which he said would also make an attractive Wyndham Resort location.
Wyndham spent $22 million in the acquisition, refurbishment, and redevelopment of the former Mt Aspiring Hotel. The company built another 50 rooms, including executive suites, completed in September.
The overhaul of the hotel was completed by Wanaka Resorts Ltd - a company which was being led by both Christchurch businessman Graham Wilkinson and Queenstown property developer Gary McVicar.
The redevelopment costs were "significant" for the local market, Mr Robinson said.
Wyndham owns and operates 20 other resorts around the Asia Pacific with about 1200 staff. Wanaka is the second New Zealand resort to open, after Rotorua, as part of Wyndham's "aggressive expansion and development," policy.
The company is pursuing interests in Auckland and Wellington, he said.
Wyndham viewed itself as a "perpetual developer - we have to keep buying to keep selling," he said.
The company - with European and American arms - is behind the Worldmark South Pacific vacation ownership club with about 43,000 members, "giving us a good solid customer base" he said.
