WellingtonNZ.com,
New Zealand 

Beds are being filled in Wellington.

Wellington hotels are bucking the downward trend being reported around the rest of New Zealand, according to the latest New Zealand Hotel Council (NZHC) statistics released this week. The results from NZHC Wellington members, representing 19 of the largest hotels in the region, show strong growth in both occupancy and daily rate, compared to the same time last year.

NZHC Wellington occupancy figures for September 2009 show a 7.5% increase on the previous year, compared to a 1% drop across NZHC members throughout the rest of the country. In addition, the region achieved 3.6% growth in the average daily rate compared with a 5.7% decrease nationally.

These results support the recent quarterly Fly Buys/Colmar Brunton Mood of the New Zealand Traveller survey released by the Tourism Industry Association, which found more respondents would prefer to visit Wellington ahead of any other New Zealand location.

NZHC Wellington Region Chair Lee Pearce said the excellent relationship between the city hotels, the city council and Positively Wellington Tourism is reflected in these results.

“A great deal of effort has been made in building up the region’s events calendar, turning Wellington into the events capital of New Zealand. The recent Bledisloe Cup match at the Westpac Stadium and the annual World of Wearable Art Show were both significant factors in the success of Wellington’s September figures. However, there is still much more work to be done around staging events in the shoulder seasons to attract both international and domestic visitors to our region,” Mr Pearce said.

Positively Wellington Tourism (PWT) Chief Executive David Perks said PWT and the city's hoteliers work hand-in-hand.

“The hotels don't just sell room nights and we don't just sell Wellington. We all sell the Wellington experience,” he said.

About the New Zealand Hotel Council:

- Represents the interests of New Zealand’s international chain, large independent, and privately owned hotels around the country.

- Over 100 members, across seven tourism centres (Auckland, Rotorua, Central Park (Taupo/Hawkes Bay), Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown), account for around 80% of total hotel capacity and close to 100% of ‘large hotel’ inventory.

- Collectively, NZHC members operate over 16,500 hotel rooms, control assets with a capital value in excess of NZD 3 billion, generate annual revenue of NZD 886 million and employ 9,000 full and part time staff.

- NZHC is an Incorporated Society with an elected Board of four NZ-based heads of international chains and the Chairs of the seven regional groups – Auckland, Rotorua, Central Park, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. The Council’s Independent Chair is Jennie Langley.

- Wellington-based secretariat provides hotel-specific research and analysis, access to specialist legal and professional advice, issues briefings and industry updates, and represents major hotels at a range of tourism, business and political fora.

For further information please contact:

Jennie Langley
Independent Chair
Ph +64 21 730 387