Hotel Council Queenstown chairwoman Penny Clark, also general manager of Goldridge Resort, was asked to comment yesterday on the announcement of the proposal to integrate the two tourism organisations into a single "strong, high profile, well-resourced association" last week.
"Our long-term goal is to be more efficient, as times are tough, but it's not going to change how we operate," Ms Clark said yesterday.
"There will be a hotel division, so we'll always have a chairperson and still have our monthly meetings and board meetings, say, four times a year with the chief executive of the new organisation.
"It'll be business as usual, other than the fact somebody could be saving some money if you're only paying one subscription and you'll have the benefits of two organisations melding.
"Hopefully, everyone will see the sense of trying to make us more of a tourism industry one-stop shop instead of how many organisations we've got out there that probably make it difficult for the Government to deal to us."
Asked if she wanted to see other accommodation sectors come under the TIA umbrella, Ms Clark said she thought that was the hope in the long term.
Hotel Council independent chairwoman Jennie Langley said the aim was to create "unified, highly focused leadership" for the visitor industry, which would maximise its voice and influence over the Government and decision-makers.
"The need to ensure there is a well-connected industry association to deal with decision- makers and to shape the success of the industry has never been greater," Ms Langley said.
The proposal would see current members of the council integrated into the TIA, with the association providing a new dedicated hotel sector resource. Members of both groups would retain all the benefits and services they currently received.
Further enhancements were expected to be developed in coming months.
Ms Langley said the hotel council's 130 members employed 11,000 staff nationally and generated annual revenues of more than $866 million.
Association chairman Norm Thompson said he was confident the integration would be of significant benefit to all members as well as the wider visitor industry.
"The hotel sector is already represented on the TIA board, and as part of the change to an integrated organisation, the TIA board will consider a name change for the new association.
"It will be seeking members' support before any final decision is made."
Discussions with other tourism industry organisations were under way, with a view to finding further opportunities to integrate, they said.
The merger could take effect before the TIA returns to Queenstown and the Southern Lakes to host the international 2012 Trenz tourism expo on May 7 to 10.
