It was important the rest of the world understood "New Zealand is functioning", New Zealand Hotel Council Queenstown chairwoman Penny Clark said yesterday.
Ms Clark spent yesterday morning working closely with agencies, including Destination Queenstown, to co-ordinate accommodation for domestic and international visitors in Christchurch and dealing with tour operators and conference organisers to "swing things around" and relocate groups already in Canterbury.
"We have got an earthquake in Christchurch and a disaster there ... but the rest of New Zealand is functioning.
"We want to look after our overseas visitors and our domestic visitors and see they get the southern hospitality they should get.
"If we can get them out of that critical situation, Queenstown is pretty geared up to be able to cope."
Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt said it was "all hands to the pump" yesterday, the organisation working closely with the New Zealand Hotel Council, Tourism New Zealand and other key industry contacts, aiming to provide rooms for visitors affected by the catastrophic earthquake in Christchurch on Tuesday.
