Only two of 14 Queenstown hotels are firm fans of a controversial $70 million CBD convention centre plan.
Mountain Scene approached the hotels' owners and operators, finding four are staunchly opposed and six more want to support a convention centre but are unconvinced by current information.
Millbrook Resort and Heartland Hotels would not comment. The biggest critic of the council-backed project is Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (MCH), with three properties totalling 546 rooms in central Queenstown.
MCH criticised the council's accommodation rates rise in an enlarged CBD, and its hoped-for bed tax, to help fund the conference centre.
Managing director BK Chiu, who has filed a strong submission with the Queenstown Lakes District Council, said hiking rates was ''inequitable and short-sighted'' - and the centre would not be ''sustainably profitable''.
Also firmly opposed is The Rees. Manager Mark Rose said Mayor Vanessa van Uden campaigned on holding down rates rises but now wanted to hit CBD accommodation houses with increases of up to 30%.
Given that Frankton developer Remarkables Park wants to build its own convention centre, Mr Rose asked why this private venture was not getting council support.
Graham Wilkinson, Sofitel and St Moritz freehold owner, is in favour but with conditions.
''A convention centre has to be good for hoteliers but there's certainly risk attached. My vote would be yes'' - but only with strict cost guarantees, he said.
Other hoteliers would like to support the project but they are wary of current information.
Mercure's Dean Daniels: ''Our support continues but our doubts have deepened.''
Crowne Plaza's Reinier Eulink: ''In principle, we support the centre [but] I don't know the council has the right solution yet.''
Novotel Lakeside's Jim Moore: ''We haven't had enough detail for a decision.''
The Heritage's group conference boss Jaco Uys is a supporter - but not if the centre is rates-funded.
Two unequivocal supporters are Goldridge's Penny Clark and Rydges Lakeland's Justin Mitchell. Mr Mitchell said the centre plan should be enlarged to take 1200 delegates. Ms van Uden said 10 of the 14 hotels still had open minds.
''But like anyone asked to pay additional rates, they're reluctant to personally take on the funding burden.''
That was why the Government had been asked to put in money, she said. -Mountain Scene
by Frank Marvin
