Kiwi Travellers Keep a Keen Eye on the US

Kiwi Travellers Keep a Keen Eye on the US

The latest Hotels.com® Hotel Price IndexTM shows Kiwis’ love affair for America remains strong

Auckland, 2 February 2015 - New research reveals Kiwi travellers continue to dust off their suitcases for the States, with no fewer than four US destinations featuring in their top 10 international getaways in 2014.

The latest Hotels.com® Hotel Price IndexTM (HPI®) shows it’s not the ‘Land of Opportunity’ for nothing: Kiwis made the most of an increasingly strong NZ dollar by booking sunny getaways in Las Vegas – Kiwis’ third favourite holiday spot – followed by Honolulu and New York. San Francisco came in eighth place.

New Zealanders have stamped their passports most frequently in Melbourne and Sydney, which again came in at first and second places respectively, while Australia’s Gold Coast also made it to the top 10 at number six.

Proving themselves creatures of habit, Kiwis’ top eight favourite international destinations have remained the same from 2013, with a few locations trading places, including long-time rivals Sydney and Melbourne.

The Hotels.com® HPI® captures hotel prices in major destinations across the world and is based on bookings made on Hotels.com®.

Commenting on the latest figures, Katherine Cole, Regional Director for Australia, New Zealand & Singapore for Hotels.com®, says it was great to see Kiwis taking advantage of the strong NZ dollar.

“While many of the hot spots ranking in Kiwis’ top 10 destinations have traditionally been expensive for NZ travellers, it’s fantastic to see how the stronger Kiwi dollar is enabling them to travel now more than ever.

“One of the best ways to reduce holiday costs is by taking advantage of the many competitive deals and promotions available. As the hotels experts, Hotels.com offers a wide range of hotel choices, helping holidaymakers get more bang for their buck,” she says.

Top 10 international destinations for New Zealand travellers:

For Kiwis planning on travelling to one of the nation’s top four much-loved destinations, Hotels.com® has rounded up the best deals to get you there:

Melbourne
Whether it’s catching a match for the Cricket World Cup, or exploring the Queen Victoria Markets, Melbourne has a lot to offer. Keep the kids entertained at the Royal Melbourne Zoo, or shop till you drop on Chapel Street, stopping in for a coffee at one of its unrivalled cafes.
Rooms at Mantra on Little Bourke Melbourne start at $NZ175 per room per night*. To book a stay at Mantra on Little Bourke Melbourne, visit: http://nz.hotels.com/ho242836/mantra-on-little-bourke-melbourne-australia/ or call 0800 456 081

Sydney
Planning on visiting Sydney soon? If so, enjoy the Chinese New Year celebrations, 13th February – 1st March. Or plan ahead for a night of bright lights in the big city, with Vivid Sydney running from late May to early June. Whatever the reason, you’ll find something to love in Sydney.

Rooms at BreakFree on George start at $NZ171 per room per night*. To book a stay at BreakFree on George, visit: http://nz.hotels.com/ho171235/breakfree-on-george-haymarket-australia/ or call 0800 456 081

Las Vegas
Literally one of the brightest cities around, this entertainment hot spot has something for everyone with theme parks, roller coasters, museums, national parks, and much more on offer.

Rooms at Trump International Hotel Las Vegas Rooms & Accommodation start at $NZ167 per room per night*. To book a stay at Trump International Hotel Las Vegas Rooms & Accommodation, visit: http://nz.hotels.com/ho266151/trump-international-hotel-las-vegas-las-vegas-united-states/ or call 0800 456 081

Honolulu
Known as the centre of the beauty of Hawaii, Honolulu is only a short trip from mainland America. Enjoy your days exploring the historic Pearl Harbour site or learning to ride the waves at the famous Waikiki Beach.
Rooms at Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki start at $NZ277 per room per night. You’ll even save 33% for every three nights stayed. To book a stay at Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, visit:http://au.hotels.com/ho123196/hawaii-prince-hotel-waikiki-honolulu-united-states/ or call 0800 456 081

^Hotel Deals: Price quoted is per room per night based on two people sharing and is inclusive of all fees and taxes. Rates are subject to availability. Minimum stay requirements and black-out dates may apply. Prices are available as of 29 January, 2015. Prices may fluctuate due to changes in taxes, fees and currency. Visit www.hotels.com for full terms and conditions.

About Hotels.com
Hotels.com L.P. operates Hotels.com, a leading online accommodation booking website with over 365,000 properties around the world, ranging from international chains and all-inclusive resorts to local favorites and bed & breakfasts, together with all the information needed to book the perfect stay. Hotels.com benefits from one of the largest hotel contracting teams in the industry, and offers frequent sales, special deals and promotions. Regular customer e-newsletters provide exclusive offers and advance warning of up-coming sales. There are more than 11 million reviews on the site from users who have actually stayed in the hotels to ensure customers can make an informed choice when booking. Through its industry-leading loyalty program -- Welcome Rewards -- customers can earn a free night at more than 100,000 hotels for every 10 nights stayed, subject to the terms and conditions set on www.hotels.com. Under its Best Price Guarantee, if a customer can find the same deal for less on a prepaid hotel, Hotels.com will refund the difference, subject to the terms and conditions set out on www.hotels.com. Travellers can book online or by contacting one of the multilingual call centres. Special apps for mobile phones and tablets can also be downloaded enabling customers to book on the go with access to 20,000 last minute deals. Hotels.com, LP. is part of Expedia, Inc., one of the world’s largest online travel companies with an extensive portfolio that includes some of the world's best-known brands.

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