When it comes to selling Queenstown and Wānaka to the world, the Travel Trade team knows the importance of understanding our region so that you can build itineraries confidently and dream weave travel experiences that are tailored to your business and client's specific needs.
The Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism Trade Team work closely with the travel trade and the industry to help promote the region. Supplying you with up-to-date information on new Queenstown and Wānaka activities, restaurants and accommodation developments, including tools and resources such as our Travel Sellers Guide, segment training guides, blurbs, image gallery and itinerary inspiration.
We work with a number of partners to promote Queenstown and Wānaka and increase our profile in the domestic and international markets. We have strong ties with our members (local business and tourism operators), Tourism New Zealand, airports, airlines, regional tourism organisations and industry bodies.
Originally from the UK I moved to New Zealand as a young child and have lived in both Wellington and Auckland. But it was Queenstown I fell in love with over 30 years ago when I followed a girl down here. That girl is now my wife and together we’ve raised three amazing kids in this incredible town which we call home!
I am passionate about Queenstown and love everything it offers: skiing, biking, rich history, stunning scenery, world class food and genuinely awesome people. I’m incredibly fortunate to help showcase this special place to the world.
Originally Australia born but arriving on the shores of Queenstown in 1997, I consider myself a through and through kiwi, more importantly a Queenstown local. Growing up here your true appreciation for our beautiful home comes with age; often not realising how good we’ve got it! From skiing our amazing mountains, to swimming our blue lakes and exploring our hills, 28 years on I understand the just how lucky we are to call this home! I consider myself a part of Queenstown, and Queenstown a part of me. What better place to work than the one that helps share its wonder and stories with the world.
Originally from Northeast China, I arrived in New Zealand in 2018 on a Working Holiday Visa. What began as a one-year adventure gradually became the place I chose to call home, and I remain deeply grateful that this once-distant dream is now part of my everyday life. My journey in the tourism industry started here, inspired by a genuine connection to Queenstown and its unique way of life. There is magic in the simple moments - watching paragliders drift across the sky, seeing the historic steamship glide over the lake, and feeling the calm that comes from being surrounded by mountains and water. To me, Queenstown is more than a destination; it’s where my passion found purpose, and where I’m honoured to share its magic with the world.
I grew up in north east Victoria, Australia with parents who deeply valued travelling and seeing the world. It was because of this that after school I continued to travel throughout Australia, before working in Canada where I fell in love with the mountains and the adventurous life style that goes along with it. I met my partner there and we moved back across the world and decided to call Queenstown our home. In my spare time I love to rock climb, snowboard and soak up our amazing arts and culture scene here. I will never forget my first day arriving here driving down from Christchurch and tears welling up in my eyes at truly how breathe takingly beautiful this place is and it is this feeling that I am now so passionate about sharing with others!
Marketing Partnerships & Alliances
The Southern Lakes International Marketing Alliance
The Southern Lakes International Marketing Alliance (IMA) is a marketing collective made up of Destination Queenstown and Lake Wanaka Tourism and Central Otago. The alliance promotes the collective Southern Lakes region as a premium visitor destination in long-haul markets via participation in Tourism New Zealand-led trade missions and roadshows (e.g. Kiwi Links) in the UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and Auckland Airport Partnership
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Auckland Airport and Destination Queenstown have teamed up to sell New Zealand's gateway city and the southern resort town to North American leisure, business and incentive travellers.
The three organisations work together on joint sales calls and in-market representation, road shows, media and travel agent visits and promotion through owned channels. They are developing itineraries that will focus on both regions: food, golf, luxury, outdoors, arts and culture, 'low-carbon experiences', and a specific incentives itinerary.
