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CHINA 'S BIGGEST AIRLINE TOUCHES DOWN IN QUEENSTOWN NEW ZEALAND

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April, 2011

A Chinese delegation met and dined with Queenstown tourism industry leaders at the resorts luxury Millbrook Resort this month.
China Southern Airlines is one of the largest and fastest growing in the world and to launch the inaugural service between Gaungzhou and Auckland, a delegation was hosted on a familiarization trip to three New Zealand destinations, Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown. During the tour, the airline signalled its commitment to New Zealand by announcing it planned to increase its three times a week direct service to a daily one.
Millbrook general manager David Onions said the potential for New Zealand, Queenstown and Millbrook was absolutely huge.
Chinese tourist arrivals to New Zealand increased 20 percent last year to 123,000 and they spend $300 per night on average. This number will now grow exponentially, its a big coup for New Zealand and in Queenstown, and we now need to work with Auckland Airport to make sure we attract this business south to Queenstown.
The function introduced the Chinese delegates to Queenstowns tourism community as a first move towards working together.
It was very important for us to showcase the best of New Zealand hospitality by hosting this delegation. We were well aware that Millbrook had been chosen for that purpose and made sure we delivered on that expectation, said Mr Onions.
Many of these people had never been to New Zealand before, and now they have been to Queenstown. We look forward to working with them in the future to grow tourism in our region.
The dinner was hosted by Auckland Airport and the delegates welcomed to the resort with speeches from Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Vanessa van Uden, Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt, Queenstown Airport chief executive Steve Sanderson and Auckland Airports general manager aeronautical business development Glenn Wedlock. Zhang Lin, vice president international affairs office China Southern Airlines, responded on behalf of the Chinese people.