KIA ORA
As Queenstown embraces the rich reds and golds of autumn, we enter a high season for business events across the region. The crisp air and stunning seasonal backdrop create an ideal setting for connection, collaboration, and fresh ideas. With a busy conferencing quarter from March to May and delegates arriving from around the world, we look forward to a thriving season ahead.
Autumn is the perfect time to explore what Queenstown has to offer for your next business event. As we approach the end of the financial year, it’s the perfect moment to plan ahead. Our newly refreshed website and enhanced resources provide an easy pathway to a destination that’s inspired by nature and in sync with nature—offering unique venues, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable experiences. Let us assist you in bringing your event to life, ensuring it leaves a lasting impression.
Kind regards,
Sarah, Jess, Yangzi and Luisa
QUEENSTOWN UPDATE
The Queenstown Convention Bureau (QCB) team is excited to share our revamped Queenstown website to help bring your next business event to life. This resource is designed to make it easy to plan a seamless and sustainable event in Queenstown, with a range of planning tools, a dynamic business events guide, updated airline connectivity information and accommodation maps. Whether you're planning an incentive programme, a conference or a meeting, the new website has everything you need to create the ultimate experience for your delegates. Read the Media Release here.
Watch our latest 'Your Ultimate Business Event Destination' video below, that sparks the question, if you could craft your ultimate business event, where would it begin?
The QCB team enjoyed connecting with event planners from across Asia and the Pacific at AIME 2025 last month in Melbourne. This year's show saw a strong contingent from team New Zealand and it was evident from everyone’s full appointment books that planners and their clients are excited about bringing their business events to New Zealand.
Following AIME 2025, QCB hosted five North American Incentive clients on a four-day famil in Queenstown and Wānaka. They experienced firsthand what makes this region a world-class business events destination while connecting with our people and place. With the North American market looking to 2026 and beyond, we look forward to welcoming these groups to our region.
The Queenstown and Wānaka Business Events community gathered for a morning of insights and forward planning. Tourism New Zealand Business Events' Global Manager, Penelope Ryan, shared global trends and strategy, leading discussions on strategic business planning, regenerative events, and how we can collaboratively continue to offer world-class business events in our region.
Planning a business event in Queenstown? The Forward Outlook resource provides insights into current accommodation occupancy levels in our region. This graph highlights that business events held in April, May and June, can benefit from greater accommodation availability, and more competitive rates, which in turn may lead to increased flexibility in venue selection.
Looking for a gift for your delegates? The Queenstown Chamber of Commerce's Monopoly Queenstown Edition Edition is the ultimate souvenir, featuring everything from ice cream at Patagonia Chocolates to the iconic Skyline Gondola. Plus, every purchase of this limited-edition game, helps support a thriving Queenstown business community.
TRAVEL & AVIATION UPDATE
- Here is our latest Airline Connectivity resource for October 2024.
- Air New Zealand has been recognised as the world's most disability friendly airline.
- Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have announced their official codeshare partnership.
- Air New Zealand to cancel Seoul service due to engine shortages. The final flight will be 29 March.
- Solomon Airlines has announced a new route, Auckland to Brisbane, operating once a week.
- Jetstar’s new service, Gold Coast to Dunedin will commence in June 2025.
REGENERATIVE QUEENSTOWN INITIATIVES
The Slope Hill Planting Project, led by the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust has completed the planting of 29,000 trees, creating a thriving island of biodiversity in the basin. Thanks to support from a 2024 Love Queenstown Impact Grant, new irrigation is now in place, giving these plants a better chance of surviving and ensuring long-term success for the restoration efforts.
Glenorchy Air is the first Queenstown aviation operator to become Toitū Carbon Reduce certified. This certification signifies Glenorchy Air's commitment to sustainability by measuring their emissions in accordance with ISO 14064-1:2018 and Toitū standards, as well as actively managing and reducing their carbon footprint to meet Toitū’s stringent requirements.
Peregrine Wines is launching the limited-edition Saddleback 2L Box—exceptional wine in a sustainable package! This eco-friendly format features a recyclable cardboard box with a sealed bag and tap. Perfect for business events or corporate celebrations, it offers both quality and convenience. Additionally, kegs of the Saddleback wine are available for larger gatherings.
While using disposable food cartons & cups is a step in the right direction toward a sustainable event, in Queenstown, we offer solutions to go a step further. DISHrupt, a simple concept reducing waste and environmental impact, spearheaded by Sustainable Queenstown, stock hundreds of plates, cutlery, and have a partnership with Chunky, to offer metal insulated coffee cups.
ACCOMMODATION UPDATE
Listed in The 50 Most Hotly Anticipated Luxury Hotel Openings of the Year by Robb Report, ROKI Collection Queenstown is on track to open its doors in mid-2025. This urban retreat will offer 15 ultra-luxury suites ranging in size from one to four bedroom, world class cuisine led by Paul Froggatt, and wellness and spa offerings which will meet guests at all levels of the wellness journey.
The Headwaters Eco Lodge has welcomed a new international representative to share the lodge in key international markets. Tourism and marketing specialist Louise Frend will represent the lodge domestically and internationally in the US, Canada, UK, Europe and Australian markets. If you are looking for a retreat style property in the heart of a national park, contact Louise.
Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa has reopened its inhouse spa, now known as Sofitel Spa with L'Occitane. Elevate your wellness incentive group experience with luxurious treatments in this award-winning spa. Featuring five treatment rooms and bespoke therapies like the Traditional Greenstone Massage, it will leave your delegates with a renowned sense of energy and wellbeing.
VENUES UPDATE
Nest Restaurant at Kamana Lakehouse offers Queenstown’s highest-altitude private dining. It provides 85m² of private dining space with adjoining access to their Sunrise Terrace, creating an effortless indoor-outdoor flow. Designed for groups of up to 60, their new four-course sharing style menu gives guests choice and a memorable dining journey in an intimate setting.
The Cargo Collective's venue, The Brew Hall is now offering Brewery Tours. Only 15 minutes from Queenstown town centre, this new offering allows groups to experience first-hand what it takes to get from grain to glass. Perfect teambuilding activity, for groups of up to 24, your group will experience the process, the story, and the magic of brewing.
Kinross has added another great addition to their Wine garden this year, with a sleek outdoor bar, beside their Garden Pergola. Perfect for private groups, it enhances the versatility of their smaller event spaces. The Garden Pergola has also been fully enclosed with large doors and covered walls, creating a year-round venue ideal for any gathering of up to 50 people, cocktail style.
ACTIVITIES UPDATE
Introducing The Ultimate Adventure Day: Earnslaw Burn + Oxbow. This full-day experience combines the high-energy thrills of Oxbow Adventure Co. with the tranquil beauty of Heliworks' Earnslaw Burn experience. Ideal option for incentive groups of up to 60 guests looking for both thrill and serenity in one seamless experience. Contact either team to find out more!
Gibbston Valley Winery has created two new winery experiences, for up to 8 guests. The 'Cave Library' premium tasting, hosted in the rustic wine cave alcove, and the 'Cheese & Wine' tasting, hosted in a private, French country-styled room adjoining the Cheesery & Deli. Delegates can sample delectable artisan cheese paired with their wines.
Designed for high-end clients, VIPs and exclusive groups, NZONE Private Charters offers a premium adventure with personalised service. This new experience features a dedicated host, a private room, an exclusive skydive plane and an unforgettable tandem skydiving experience over Queenstown. Perfect for corporate incentives seeking a private, thrilling adventure.
The Tourism Innovation Group (TIG), has leveraged the exclusive access BLACK and Altitude Tours hold to create bespoke, group packages, designed specifically for incentive and private groups. By reimagining and blending offerings from across their portfolio, they have curated experiences that cater to groups of up to 100 guests. Contact either team to find out more.
The Helicopter Line's new Airbus H130 T2 has arrived in Queenstown. This helicopter has a vibration control system, making for a smoother flight. Luxurious leather seats and wide windows to take in the beautiful landscapes of the South Island. With six individual seats plus the pilot, it provides a very spacious and luxurious ride for your incentive groups.
INDUSTRY UPDATE
Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) has increased its post-win conference support to give clients more confidence to bid. The funding can be used to offset agreed conference marketing and delivery costs. TNZ’s Business Events team offers flexible, competitive, and business-specific funding and support for international events. The Conference Assistance Programme is available to any organisation bidding to host a conference in New Zealand with a minimum of 200 international delegates. Support includes a financial feasibility study, bid document production, and travel costs to present the bid.
Business Events Industry (BEIA) will hold their BEIA Conference and AGM from 25 to 27 November 2025 in Auckland. This two-day conference will see industry professionals come together to learn, collaborate and network with the purpose of elevating business events in New Zealand.
BEIA's Hosted Buyer applications for Meetings 2025 close on Friday, 11 April. Apply now to attend New Zealand's largest business events tradeshow. In addition, as part of the Hosted Buyer Programme, there is an opportunity for Australian visitors to express their interest in attending a POST Meetings familiarisation in our region or others across New Zealand.
The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) has announced it's opening in February 2026 in Auckland. Set to transform New Zealand's conference and events industry with its world-class facilities, this has been a much anticipate announcement, that will position Aotearoa (New Zealand) on the global stage.
Tourism New Zealand will hold a presence, along with a collection of NZ delegates, at The Meetings Show in Singapore. This show offers an APAC business platform for industry professionals, featuring global destinations, venues, hotels, and other key business events suppliers.
The New Zealand Geotechnical Society has successfully bid for and won the rights to host an international conference on landslide risk and geo-education in 2026, with Queenstown as a host destination.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
- Two Queenstown helicopter operators Air Milford and Over the Top Helicopters have made the 2024 Deloitte Fast 50 Index.
- Debbi and Paul Brainerd, founders of The Headwaters Eco Lodge, have been awarded a commendation in the Transformational Leadership category of the 2024 Sustainable Business Awards.
- Queenstown House Lakeside Luxury Apartments has maintained their excellent guest reviews for 2024. Has achieved above 9/10 from booking.com customer base, a solid 100% guest satisfaction from Expedia and a Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Award from Tripadvisor.
- Booking.com has released its 2024 Traveller Review Awards, with Otago placed in the top 10 most welcoming regions worldwide.
KEY DATES & EVENTS
15 Mar: Queenstown Multicultural Festival
12 - 27 Apr: New Zealand school holidays
18 - 21 Apr: Whakatipu Music Festival and Easter
25 Apr: ANZAC Day
24 - 27 Apr: Arrowtown Autumn Festival
2 Jun: King's birthday
20 - 27 Jun: NZ Mountain Film & Book Festival
15 - 24 Aug: Winter Pride Festival
9 - 14 Sep: Snow Machine Festival
Discover more events in Queenstown with a complete guide to our best attractions.
YOUR QUEENSTOWN CONVENTION BUREAU TEAM
