The Hills general manager Sam Gent said she was talking with New Zealand Golf, the promoters and the Queenstown Lakes District Council not only to return the Open to the Arrowtown course for a longer term, but to grow the event "with the flair of the Michael Hill way".
Mrs Gent said The Hills wanted both the club and the community to be more involved in the NZ Open.
Fixed dates on the calendar were sought, ideally in Wakatipu's shoulder season and depending on player availability.
The Hills was also pushing for more non-golfing events around the tournament, she said.
"We're working hard to get it and we're hoping to be able to make an announcement before the end of March."
The three-year agreement between the private course, owned by jewellery magnate Michael Hill, and New Zealand Golf, expired with the end of the 2010 tournament in late January.
The first tournament at The Hills in 2007 attracted 32,000 spectators, which dropped to 23,882 in 2009, partly due to poor weather.
Crowd numbers recovered slightly to 24,246 this year.
New Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt said the NZ Open generated "very significant" domestic and international media coverage for the Queenstown Lakes district.
"In addition, it profiles Queenstown as a golfing resort and as the only alpine golfing resort in the southern hemisphere.
The Open generates enthusiasm for repeat visits among spectators who want to return with their friends to try out the fairways for themselves."
Mr Everitt said it would be sad if the event moved on, "but we have other opportunities to develop, such as the Rugby World Cup, which can potentially provide similar kinds of benefits to the region".
