Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, in conjunction with its Auckland-based affiliate Hotel & Tourism Resources, signed the memorandum of understanding with Wensley Development, marking the Honolulu-based hotelier's entry into the New Zealand lodging market.

Managing Director of Wensley Developments, Ross Wensley, said he was delighted to have an internationally acclaimed hotel brand associated with his newest development.

"Outrigger's overall management style, service ethics and international marketing reach, together with the group's excellent track record in delivering strong, consistent occupancy levels were key influencers in our desire to have Outrigger come on board.
"All these factors play a vital role in attracting investors and ensuring the long term success for the resort," Wensley said.

With a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, the resort will be completed over two stages.  Stage one, comprising 37 rooms and suites will open in June 2003 in time for ski season.  The final stage will add a further 62 rooms and suites and will open in December 2003, to coincide with the summer holiday travel season.

Outrigger's Vice President for Business Development, Bill Henderson, said New Zealand had been in its sights for more than eight years, and today's announcement signified a new benchmark for the group.

"While Outrigger Queenstown at The Beacon is our first foray into the New Zealand market, we have a solid expansion strategy in place to create further visibility for our brand in the important trans-Tasman markets.

"We have found that many of our wholesalers in Hawaii, Australia, and other Pacific destinations are also present in Queenstown, and we will be aggressively promoting travel to Queenstown to the core inbound markets in Australia, USA, Japan and Europe," Henderson said. 

Outrigger's long-term strategy is to have four to six hotels and resorts operating throughout New Zealand within the next three years.

The group expects its New Zealand operations to mirror the success it has experienced in Australia, given the similar appeal both markets have among domestic and inbound travel markets as safe, affordable, holiday destinations.  Outrigger currently manages seven properties opened in Australia, with three more to open in the next six months.

Local tourism veteran, Laughton Wilkinson of Hotel & Tourism Resources, said Outrigger Queenstown at The Beacon fits well with Outrigger's brand image throughout the Pacific.

"In Australia, a growing number of developers are vying for Outrigger's attention, with two of Queensland's largest property developers firmly siding with the group, due to its solid track-record and strong occupancy levels, that are obviously integral in attracting investors."

Summing up today's announcement, Wilkinson said, "This is an exciting development for New Zealand tourism.  The commitment by such a highly regarded and widely recognized regional group, such as Outrigger, brings a new dimension to our visitor industry. 

"Access to Outrigger's international customer base will lift New Zealand's profile in the global markets which are so important to us," Wilkinson added.

Other features of the resort include meeting and conference facilities, gymnasium, tour desk, cable television and extensively landscaped courtyards.  Many of the suites contain kitchen and laundry facilities, with the majority also having expansive views of the lake.

Queenstown, located on New Zealand's South Island, is highly revered among the world's snow skiing enthusiasts as a premier alpine resort destination.  It is also home to the world's first commercial bungee jumping site, and a myriad of high-adrenalin sports including white water jet boating and rafting, canyoning, trekking, and hang gliding.

As an eco-adventure destination, Queenstown has few rivals, nestled between the pure, glacier-fed waters of Lake Wakatipu and majestic Southern Alps, along with proximity to such spectacular national treasures as the World Heritage sites at Milford Sound and Mt Cook.

Outrigger Hotels & Resorts is division of Outrigger Enterprises, Inc., the largest locally owned lodging company in Hawaii and one of the fastest growing lodging companies in the Pacific. Under its two hotel brands - Outrigger Hotels & Resorts and OHANA Hotels & Resorts - the company currently operates or has under development 48 hotels and resorts throughout the Pacific region, representing more than 12,000 hotel rooms and condominium units in Hawaii, Micronesia, Australia and the South Pacific.  Outrigger's affiliate, Outrigger Lodging Services, operates nearly two-dozen hotels and resorts throughout the U.S. Mainland.