Approached for comment yesterday, Ms Clark offered a guarded reaction, saying the deal was "great news for the long-term viability of Queenstown as an international resort".
But she warned "the immediate future is going to be challenging for the whole town", given the fragile global economy, loss of long-haul visitors and the evolution of new tourist markets in Asia.
Despite her caution, Ms Clark applauded the timing of the announcement, which comes in the same week Air New Zealand and Jetstar announced more flights into the resort.
Hilton Hotels and Resorts global head Dave Horton said in a statement yesterday the package comprised a 178-room five-star hotel to be named Hilton Queenstown and a four-star hotel, featuring 98 one-bedroomed apartment-style rooms, to be known as the Kawarau Hotel, Managed by Hilton.
A firm date for completing construction is expected early in the New Year, but earlier this month Grant Graham, of Kawarau Falls' receivers Kordamentha, said the site was on deadline to be operational by March.
Queenstown Lakes District Council mayor Vanessa van Uden said the Kelvin Heights lakefront hotels would "definitely" create more jobs and would likely reduce unemployment figures by "increasing the opportunity for employment in the town".
"It's great news. It's really good to see they'll be operating there and to finally see activity on that site. It presents opportunity for us and we welcome the announcement from Hilton," she said.
Latest Ministry of Social Development figures show Queenstown's Work and Income service area has 445 working-age people on benefits - 91 of those on the unemployment benefit.
The two hotels join the 5-star Hiltons in Auckland and Taupo, which opened a year ago. The Auckland Hilton's rate for a twin room for a night begins at $319, according to a website check last night, while at Taupo one night in a twin room for two adults starts from $200.
"Our presence in New Zealand continues to grow with the signing of these two properties in a new leisure market for our brand.
"We are looking forward to bringing our signature, style and authentic Hilton hospitality to this popular tourist destination," Hilton Worldwide Asia Pacific president Martin Rinck said.
"Queenstown has spectacular scenery and is an extremely popular year-round alpine and lake resort town.
"There has been an increase in demand in recent years for high-quality, internationally-branded hotels there."
Kawarau Falls' financier, Australia-based Bank of Scotland International, was "delighted" that Hilton - "a brand with a reputation for quality and high calibre management" - would operate the hotels, Mr Rinck said.
