Destination Queenstown chief executive David Kennedy said March did tend to be peak season, although more tourist accommodation was expected to be available by mid-March next year, including The Rees on Frankton Rd.
"From the perspective of an event being held, March is not ideal, but there are different dynamics in that the large percentage are domestic visitors so they will be staying with friends or family, or in holiday homes.
"There will be a percentage that stay in commercial operators but we have 13,000 commercial beds in Queenstown at the moment, so it takes a lot of visitors to fill it up."
The Michael Hill New Zealand Open would return to The Hills Golf Club near Arrowtown for the next two years after a successful debut at the links last November.
The event attracted more than 35,000 visitors to the Lakes District and promoted the area to an estimated 100 million television viewers around the world.
However, sponsor Michael Hill said November was not convenient for international players and the weather was inconsistent.
"March is better, because it has to be at a time when the golfers have done Asia and Australia and we can hook them in.
"March would be better for consistency on the greens, and the heat wouldn't be a problem."
New Zealand Golf said the next Open was to be played "most likely in March 2009" and it was negotiating with key parties, such as the Professional Golfers Association (PGA), on the final dates and sanctioning championship agreements.
A March date could allow the Open to be run back-to-back with the New Zealand PGA championship in Christchurch.
Mr Kennedy said New Zealand was going through a slow-down in the international market and it was hard to predict what the level of demand would be next summer.
"It could be that the New Zealand Golf Open is just the fillip we need to ensure we have a strong summer."
The four-day golf tournament in mid-March could mean it clashed with other major events in the Lakes District, including the fifth annual Motatapu Icebreaker, set for March 14.
The 42.2km off-road marathon or 50km mountain bike race averages around 3000 participants, most of who stay in the district for at least two nights.
Icebreaker general manager and race director Tracey Neil, of Queenstown, said she saw the coincidence as an advantage that would mean more promotion for her event.
"The A and P Show in Wanaka is on at the same time and there's Golden Oldies Cricket on in Arrowtown.
"We let our competitors know they must book accommodation well in advance and we're not looking to change the date.
"It's been really successful for us."
Mr Hill said if the events did coincide, it would mean even more attractions to the area and described it as a "positive win-win situation".
The Hills Golf Club has changed its fairway shapes, altered some of the distances and organised major construction on several tees since it staged the New Zealand Open last year.
Mr Hill said the aim now was to stabilise the event and give it a permanent date to enhance its international reputation.
"If we do well, and get support from the Government and [Queenstown Lakes District] council, we hope to make it the home of the Open.
"It's easy to get to and there's no better place to showcase New Zealand."
