About Destination Queenstown
Destination Queenstown (DQ) is the Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) responsible for the marketing of Queenstown as the Southern Hemisphere's premier four season lake and alpine resort.
As the neutral tourism contact point for the resort, we work with local businesses, including tourism operators, the hospitality industry, accommodation providers, retailers, and service sectors to promote Queenstown as a unique destination that offers visitors truly memorable experiences. Our role is to co-ordinate, facilitate, motivate and develop the marketing of Queenstown.
On an international level, we work closely with Tourism New Zealand and in our long haul markets we promote the wider Southern Lakes region alongside our neighbours Destination Fiordland and Lake Wanaka Tourism.
We are responsible for the branding and positioning of Queenstown.
We have a mandate to generically promote the Queenstown District as an international visitor destination through a variety of distribution channels and we act as the neutral co-ordinator of initiatives and campaigns that benefit our members.
We have a core role in several areas including providing information, trade liaison and media promotion. We also co-ordinate the collective marketing of Queenstown – identifying, prioritising and promoting the various visitor groups that we believe Queenstown can attract.
The role of our team is to provide the right assistance to the right people, be it frontline staff, corporate contacts, travel agents, media or Destination Queenstown’s members. Liaison with key markets, leveraging advertising investment, maintaining relationships, developing new contacts and providing updates on events, developments, new products and relevant news in our region is all part of our job.
Our history
Queenstown’s journey to becoming an internationally acclaimed four season resort began with the support of Kiwis who used it as a popular summer holiday destination. As better roads and facilities were developed the town became a picturesque overnight stop for coach tours and became a thriving winter ski resort when Coronet Peak opened in 1947.
The region has always been a magnet for adventurers and entrepreneurs and these pioneers became the mainstay of Queenstown's adventure tourism industry. World-first innovations such as commercial jet boating and bungy jumping have forged Queenstown’s enduring reputation as the ‘Adventure Capital of the World’.
With its majestic beauty, unrivalled range of activities and attractions, range of accommodation choices, cosmopolitan shopping, award-winning food and wine, cosmopolitan nightlife and friendly Southern hospitality, Queenstown is recognised as one of the world’s most desirable destinations.
As Queenstown's popularity has increased, so too has its accessibility. Regular direct flights now operate from major New Zealand centres and Australia’s East Coast.
A marketing body, now known as Destination Queenstown, was formed in 1985 to collectively promote Queenstown to the world. The regional tourism organisation (RTO) is funded by commercial ratepayers via an annual levy collected by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Working with Destination Queenstown
We are committed to offering ongoing support to our members and identifying opportunities to work together. Learn more about our membership benefits or to find out how your business can join Destination Queenstown Inc.
Visit in Person
We're at 50 Stanley Street, Queenstown (above the Speight’s Alehouse). As our office is a hive of activity, we recommend you contact us to arrange an appointment with members of our team in advance. We also attend a number of tourism industry and community events throughout the year. If you're a local business, please visit the members' section of our site to find out when and where our next industry update is going to be held.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact us.
We'll direct your enquiry to the appropriate team member at Destination Queenstown.
Please direct all enquiries to reception@queenstownNZ.nz or call +03 441 0700
