Hilton Worldwide vice-president operations Australasia Ashley Spencer, of Sydney, last night told invited guests that Queenstown was a strategically important location for the hospitality management company, which would lease buildings within the $1 billion Kawarau Falls Station development.
Mr Spencer and Marlene Poynder, new general manager of both Hilton Queenstown and "Kawarau Hotel, managed by Hilton", introduced the Hilton brand to about 100 civic, business, and tourism representatives at a function at Amisfield Wine Company, near Arrowtown.
Hilton wanted to develop the best five-star international product in the country, Mr Spencer told the Otago Daily Times.
"The authorities have high hopes for driving numbers into Queenstown over the next few years. They want to triple the number between now and 2030, which is great. We can bring a bit of quality to that too, so it's not just all about raw numbers; it's about bringing those clients in who are going to spend money on the helicopter rides, the fine dining, the excursions. So I think we have a lot to bring to the party."
Mr Spencer said the Hilton group had not been deterred by the troubled financial history of Kawarau Falls Station.
"We've been adamant we want to be in Queenstown for many, many years. We've been a market leader in Auckland since we opened nine years ago, we opened in Taupo a year and a-half ago and have every intention of having Hiltons in other parts of the North and South Islands as well."
Recruitment advertising for 21 senior management positions had created "an enormous amount of interest" nationally and applications were being reviewed, Mrs Poynder said.
Management and supervisor positions would be advertised soon, followed by further advertising for house staff.
