Visitors flock to Queenstown ahead of Winter Fest

Queenstown accommodation providers are gearing up for a bumper season thanks to the thick layer of snow already blanketing the slopes.

With just under a week to go before the start of the annual Queenstown Winter Fest, hoteliers are already experiencing an influx of thrill-seeking visitors.

One place benefiting from the uplift is The Rees Hotel and Luxury Apartments.

Bookings are up compared to the same time last year and Chief Executive of The Rees, Mark Rose, is looking forward to the welcoming the visitors that flock to the festival.

“The Queenstown Winter Festival is the “official” announcement that the mountains are open. It says, put on your woolies and come on down,” said Mark.

“In terms of bookings we’re probably around 19% up on this time last year. It’s always a busy time for us but this year is shaping up to be something special.”

According to Rose the majority of visitors will be coming from around New Zealand and from across the ditch and booking through online sites such as Booking.com.

The online travel agent is the world’s biggest accommodation supplier and major source of booking for The Rees.

Booking.com New Zealand area manager Tracey Foxall backs Rose. She suggests Kiwis looking for a winter weekend getaway should be making reservations now.

Tracey said; “We’ve roughly 155 properties listed in the Queenstown region and with everything that’s on offer during the festival and in Queenstown itself, we are expecting a very busy winter season – the festival alone attracts 45,000 visitors.

“But whatever the time of year we try to show travellers at home and abroad that New Zealand has so much to offer, with some of best places to stay available through Booking.com.”

Running from 19 – 28 June 2015. ‘Winter Fest’ celebrates everything a beautiful Queenstown winter has to offer. Kicking off with the opening party and fireworks over Lake Wakatipu followed by nine days of music, theatre, markets, comedy, skiing and snow.

For more details on the Winter Festival visit www.winterfestival.co.nz/ and to book accommodation go to www.booking.com/

ENDS

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