Latest news with #MatWoods
Otago Daily Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Call for tourism infrastructure focus
A Queenstown tourism leader is calling for a greater focus on infrastructure funding over tourism promotion as the government looks to increase visitor demand. Destination Queenstown chief executive Mat Woods made the comments after the government announced the $13.5 million accrued in the past year from the international visitors' levy would be going into attracting an extra 72,000 visitors into the country over the next year. "I have nothing against Tourism New Zealand. They're doing a brilliant job at what they're mandated to do, which is to induce demand. "We acknowledge that the government is using the levy money for that, but we think of that as a short-term solution. "Long-term, that funding should come from the consolidated funds which is tax or GST take and that [the levy] should be used for 50% conservation and 50% mixed-use tourism infrastructure, which is what it was originally set up for." Mr Woods said he understood the announcement was part of a multi-pronged government approach to tourism. "I'm optimistic that there is room in the tourism growth road map to look at both supply and demand. "So if you think about at the moment we are generating demand which I understand as a country we need to be doing that because we're still at 86% of pre-Covid. "Unfortunately in Queenstown that's not the case." Mr Woods said Queenstown's visitor arrivals were 145% higher than 2019, largely due to an increased flight network. "First and foremost, domestic New Zealand has been visiting Queenstown and Wanaka, whether they're flying in or driving in. "Secondly, we have great air connectivity ... the Australian market being our most important international market and so Queenstown is the only airport that actually has all four airlines — that's Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin." Mr Woods said there was a need to look at infrastructure to sustain any more growth in the region. "Infrastructure is one of those clear pain points that we have in Queenstown. You can really feel that — particularly around roading, for example. "There's a lot of congestion at the moment so I think that's a really key issue." He also called for a National Tourism Development Authority, which would analyse the infrastructure need across all regions. "If you think about most other departments you always look at supply and demand. In New Zealand we don't do that. We just have Tourism New Zealand as the crown entity to create demand generation and they do a great job of that but how do we balance that at a nationwide level?" Minister for the South Island James Meager said the legislation surrounding the visitors' levy "outlines, I think, about four different criteria". "So, it is rough split 50-50 conservation and tourism. "And in the tourism space, it is both infrastructure but also marketing. "It allows ministers to invest the funding in a way which best suits the current economic conditions, which is growth." Asked whether the government should make a special exemption for Queenstown, Mr Meager said it was a "a good argument". "It's not just the tourism picture though, isn't it? You've got 3million visitors, but you've also got a town which is growing rapidly and so you've got to accommodate all the transport infrastructure issues that are actually coming in from around Franklin, Ladies Mile, all the way up there. "There's that big investment from NZTA going in at the moment. That will make a difference around the edges ... "The issue is where do we get the money from? You get the money from growing the environment."
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Electrify Queenstown To Return In 2026
Press Release – Destination Queenstown Now a cornerstone event in Queenstowns calendar, Electrify Queenstown will take place from 17 19 May 2026, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, politicians and policymakers to share practical, cost-effective ways for businesses and households … Queenstown, New Zealand (10 June 2025) – Electrify Queenstown will return for a third year, following the huge success of the 2025 event which built strong momentum across the region. Now a cornerstone event in Queenstown's calendar, Electrify Queenstown will take place from 17 – 19 May 2026, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, politicians and policymakers to share practical, cost-effective ways for businesses and households to electrify. Mat Woods, Chief Executive of Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism, says Electrify Queenstown is an event designed to turn ideas into action. 'The energy this year was incredible with hundreds of people turning up to explore new and emerging technologies and future-focused solutions that not only save you money, but are good for the environment too.' he said. Attendees this year included local residents, visitors from around New Zealand, business owners, and change makers all eager to share the opportunities and challenges involved in a low-emissions future. The event featured bold announcements including plans for a low-emissions urban cable car network in Queenstown, the debut of new electric marine propulsion technology on Lake Whakatipu, and the release of Rewiring Aotearoa's policy manifesto. Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, says there's an exciting opportunity for New Zealand to lead the global energy transition, and events like Electrify Queenstown are helping educate kiwis about what's possible. 'Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the few countries that has reached the electrification tipping point where it's cheaper to electrify than use the fossil fuel alternative. 'Whether you're in it for the cost savings, lowering emissions, or energy security, we all win by going electric.' Mike said. Electrify Queenstown is proving to be a valuable platform for businesses and innovators to showcase energy-efficient solutions for homes and enterprises. Sharon Fifield, CEO of Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce, says it's inspiring to see the momentum that's been built since the inaugural one-day event in 2024. 'Businesses are seeing the economic value of electrification alongside the environmental benefits, and there's genuine enthusiasm to get involved and make a difference.' Sharon said. With strong interest from locals eager to lower their bills, become more energy efficient and resilient, organisers say Electrify Queenstown 2026 will again cater to everyone with even more opportunities for collaboration and innovation. 'Each year, more people are seeing what's possible through electrification and it's exciting to think about what 2026 will bring.' Mat added. Electrify Queenstown 2026 will take place at the Queenstown Events Centre, Sunday 17 May – Tuesday 19 May 2026. The event supports Queenstown Lakes' destination management plan and the broader goal of regenerative tourism and a carbon-zero visitor economy by 2030.
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Electrify Queenstown To Return In 2026
Queenstown, New Zealand (10 June 2025) – Electrify Queenstown will return for a third year, following the huge success of the 2025 event which built strong momentum across the region. Now a cornerstone event in Queenstown's calendar, Electrify Queenstown will take place from 17 – 19 May 2026, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, politicians and policymakers to share practical, cost-effective ways for businesses and households to electrify. Mat Woods, Chief Executive of Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism, says Electrify Queenstown is an event designed to turn ideas into action. 'The energy this year was incredible with hundreds of people turning up to explore new and emerging technologies and future-focused solutions that not only save you money, but are good for the environment too.' he said. Attendees this year included local residents, visitors from around New Zealand, business owners, and change makers all eager to share the opportunities and challenges involved in a low-emissions future. The event featured bold announcements including plans for a low-emissions urban cable car network in Queenstown, the debut of new electric marine propulsion technology on Lake Whakatipu, and the release of Rewiring Aotearoa's policy manifesto. Mike Casey, CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, says there's an exciting opportunity for New Zealand to lead the global energy transition, and events like Electrify Queenstown are helping educate kiwis about what's possible. 'Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the few countries that has reached the electrification tipping point where it's cheaper to electrify than use the fossil fuel alternative. 'Whether you're in it for the cost savings, lowering emissions, or energy security, we all win by going electric.' Mike said. Electrify Queenstown is proving to be a valuable platform for businesses and innovators to showcase energy-efficient solutions for homes and enterprises. Sharon Fifield, CEO of Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce, says it's inspiring to see the momentum that's been built since the inaugural one-day event in 2024. 'Businesses are seeing the economic value of electrification alongside the environmental benefits, and there's genuine enthusiasm to get involved and make a difference.' Sharon said. With strong interest from locals eager to lower their bills, become more energy efficient and resilient, organisers say Electrify Queenstown 2026 will again cater to everyone with even more opportunities for collaboration and innovation. 'Each year, more people are seeing what's possible through electrification and it's exciting to think about what 2026 will bring." Mat added. Electrify Queenstown 2026 will take place at the Queenstown Events Centre, Sunday 17 May - Tuesday 19 May 2026. The event supports Queenstown Lakes' destination management plan and the broader goal of regenerative tourism and a carbon-zero visitor economy by 2030.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Qantas ups summer flights to Queenstown
A Qantas flight takes off from Queenstown Airport. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Is this good news or bad? More Australians are heading our way — crossing the magic million mark, as tourists from across the Ditch head to Queenstown. Qantas yesterday announced five additional flights from Australia into Queenstown over summer. That should push the number of Australian visitors to the resort for the year over the million mark. Between December 15 and January 26, the Australian airline will operate up to six flights per week from Melbourne to Queenstown — it operates four at present — and up to seven flights from Brisbane, which is three more than it now operates. Additionally, it plans to operate up to six more flights between Sydney and Auckland, up to seven more between Sydney and Christchurch and up to five additional flights between Sydney and Wellington each week during that period. There would also be up to five more flights between Melbourne and Auckland and up to three more between Melbourne and Christchurch. In total, it equates to about 60,000 additional seats compared with the same period last year. Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism chief executive Mat Woods said they had been focused on positioning the region as a world-class visitor destination for decades, and Australia was their most important international market. "It's great to see Qantas increasing its capacity directly into Queenstown Airport, adding to Queenstown's appeal as a great place for our Australian neighbours to visit." A Queenstown Airport spokeswoman said the additional flights would provide better connections and more options for local residents travelling for their summer holidays, and noted the resort continued to see "strong demand for transtasman flights, and more passengers per plane". In the 12 months to February this year, 981,033 passengers travelled on flights between Queenstown and Australia. Meanwhile, Queenstown Airport passenger statistics show it is already on track to have a record-breaking year. In 2024, 2,566,584 passengers moved through the airport. In the first four months of this year, 921,539 passengers were recorded, compared with 898,610 for the same period last year.
Otago Daily Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Tourism groups step up joint work
The Queenstown and Wānaka regional tourism organisations (RTOs) are working together more than ever, creating, it is claimed, both efficiencies and more marketing clout. The co-operation even extends to their leadership, where Destination Queenstown chief executive Mat Woods is now also chief executive of Lake Wānaka Tourism after the latter's head of destination stepped down in March. On July 1, Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism will also operate with the same annual plan. Mr Woods said better co-operation between the organisations had been discussed for 10-plus years. Then, during Covid, both organisations, together with the council, produced a destination management plan. Last year, the two bodies entered a shared-services agreement where data, administration and trade and business events marketing are shared between the two. "It makes sense because when you think about when the trade team goes to America, why would you send someone from Queenstown and someone from Wānaka, when we could actually send one person to talk about both regions?" Now, the two organisations had adopted a fully shared services partnership, which also embraced all their marketing, media and communications activity. "We still have two offices, but it's one lot of staff," Mr Woods said. "There's 31 RTOs in the whole of New Zealand, and we do know the current minister of tourism has said that's too many. So we're ... showing how you can work together."
