The annual conference will combine chief executive and alliance management board meetings at Millbrook from December 12 to 14.
The meetings are expected to cover Star Alliance business decisions for the year ahead, including voting on membership development, expenditure, product development and marketing programmes.
About 80 delegates representing 29 airline members are expected, with more than 30 international media representatives covering the three-day event. Up to 200 guests are to attend the gala dinner on the Monday evening and other events and activities were being planned.
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe said it was the first time the country had hosted the "significant" conference.
"It is a reflection of the strength of Air New Zealand's influence in the alliance that members have agreed to come here."
The 29 airlines of the Star Alliance together employ more than 400,000 staff, operate 4000 aircraft and carry 623 million passengers a year. The Star Alliance network offers 21,050 daily flights to 1167 airports in 181 countries.
The member airlines' combined turnover of US$153 billion ($NZ199 billion) a year represents about 30% of the total aviation industry's turnover.
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 and includes members Adria Airways, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Blue1, Bmi, Brussels Airlines, Continental Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egypt Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, Swiss, TAM Airlines, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Thai Airways, United and US Airways. Aegean Airlines and Air India have been announced as future members.
