A challenging economic climate did not deter Lake Wanaka Tourism from attracting a record number of visitors to the resort during the past financial year.
Lake Wanaka Tourism's (LWT) annual report for the 12 months to July contains several "record" visitor-number results for the organisation.
Guest nights in commercial accommodation were up 7.3% to a total of 584,907 - a record result - which outstripped the New Zealand average rise of 1.9% and compares favourably with Queenstown's 9.3% rise.
Record visitor numbers were also set for its overall domestic and international guest night figures - boosted by respective record winter and spring quarterly rises of 14% and attributed to a surge in Australian visitor numbers.
Guest arrivals in commercial accommodation were up 1.6% - the second-best result on record for LWT.
A report from LWT general manager James Helmore said the tourism organisation had implemented several key initiatives during the past financial year.
The creation of a new organisational business plan, a major rebrand of LWT and the redevelopment and launch of a new website had all been implemented.
"These initiatives are the foundation blocks that we will build on in years to come to position the Lake Wanaka region as a highly recognisable and compelling place to visit, distinct, yet complementary to our neighbours over the hill in Queenstown," he said.
LWT is holding its annual meeting at Edgewater tonight, when elections for three board positions are intended to be run.
LWT executive members Leigh Stock (Edgewater general manager), Brent Pihama (Wanaka River Journeys jet-boating owner), and Stephanie Pursley (Tiritiri Lodge accommodation owner) have vacated their board positions, after a prescribed two-year stint.
The trio are all standing for re-election with Ruth Presland (Wanaka U Fly pilot and business owner), who is also putting herself forward for the seven-member board.
Lake Wanaka Tourism
Annual report highlights:
• Income rise of $586,000, up 25% from the previous financial year.
• Marketing expenditure of $360,000 to promote Wanaka, a 64% share of income.
• Financial surplus of $17,000.
• Membership growth reaches 410, up from 393.
