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As the festive season approaches, Amadeus, a global leader in travel technology, has recently revealed its latest business intelligence data, highlighting the year’s most desired destinations for Christmas and New Year travel.
Queenstown, New Zealand, has claimed the fifth spot on this list with a remarkable 86% increase in traveller interest. Known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant activities, the southern hemisphere gem is once again proving its allure to holidaymakers worldwide.
Amadeus’ insights also provide a global perspective on hotel occupancy trends, highlighting a surge in travel demand. The data also highlights significant growth in hotel occupancy at a regional level across Europe (13%), China (10%), Latin America (8%), Asia (9%), and the Caribbean (5%) from last year. Comparatively, growth in hotel average daily rate (ADR) is also seen across these markets, with the Caribbean up 15% and Latin America 9% on 2023 prices.
From the release, Katie Moro, vice president, Data Partnerships, Hospitality at Amadeus, says “The growth we are seeing this year in hotel occupancy in the international markets is positive news for hoteliers worldwide. Warm weather climates are very popular during the holiday season, and it’s interesting to see the shift towards exploring new destinations. The data highlights the continued, growing enthusiasm for travel, and presents a real opportunity for hoteliers to understand what is going on in their markets and launch marketing campaigns to tap into this demand. By having access to these forward-looking insights, hoteliers can also better prepare their staff for peaks in occupancy and optimise their revenue strategies.”
Queenstown’s unique appeal as a holiday destination was further highlighted by Mat Woods, chief executive of Destination Queenstown, who mentioned its exceptional blend of natural beauty and accessibility.
“Queenstown is renowned as the southern hemisphere’s premiere four-season destination, and summer is a particularly popular time with long warm days giving visitors more time to experience the beauty of the region. Queenstown is surrounded in natural beauty with its awe-inspiring landscapes, dramatic mountain peaks, cascading rivers, alpine lakes, and lush forests, providing endless options for places to explore within close proximity to the heart of town. There is an incredible range of things to see and do, with world-renowned adventure activities, a celebrated food and drink scene, and extensive hiking and biking trails catering to all age groups and abilities.”
He also emphasised the convenience of reaching Queenstown
“Adding to Queenstown’s popularity is the convenience of Queenstown Airport being located just 8km from the town centre, multiple flights from New Zealand’s main centres, and direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Gold Coast each day. A gateway to the lower South Island, visitors also have the option to travel through Queenstown by car on the Southern Scenic Route which is a stunning way to explore the area with convenient access to Otago and Southland.”
As Queenstown gears up for a festive influx of visitors, its commitment to sustainability and hospitality remains strong.
“Queenstown looks forward to welcoming visitors from across New Zealand and around the world this holiday season, with locals and businesses ready to showcase the best of everything on offer. Summer is a time to rest and relax, and while it’s tempting to tick everything off in a quick trip, we encourage visitors to slow down, stay a while, and take the time to get to know people and the special place we call home. Popular destinations can feel busy during peak season, so to ease congestion in Queenstown we encourage use of the $2 public bus network, catching a Queenstown ferry from Frankton to Queenstown, or exploring the trails by foot or bike.”
“The expansion of the Queenstown Trails network has been timed perfectly for summer, with more than 140kms of trails offering a brilliant way to explore Queenstown and its surrounds, and a great way to get from A to B while keeping emissions low.” says Mat.
