It would be "fantastic" if Prince William and Kate Middleton considered Queenstown as an option for their honeymoon after their wedding next year, the mayor and tourism chief say.
When asked if an invitation would be extended to the royal couple yesterday, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden said she could not think of a better setting for newlyweds to spend private moments celebrating the beginning of their marriage.
Ms van Uden said the area, in her opinion, was "the most majestic setting on Earth".
"I think this couple will know where they want to go on honeymoon, and if a request comes our way, we'll do everything to make it a wonderful time and ensure they're treated no differently to any other couple seeking to experience what Queenstown Lakes district has to offer," Ms van Uden said.
Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt said yesterday Queenstown would be "an ideal destination for them and it would do a great job".
DQ and Tourism New Zealand India and Southeast Asia regional manager Kiran Nambia extended an invitation to Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to return to Queenstown with his wife Sakshi Rawat for a honeymoon in July.
The invitation was extensively reported by the Indian news media.
However, Mr Everitt said he expected there would be a lot more procedure involved with the monarchy.
"There's quite a bit of protocol around how these decisions are made, so we just have to think that through.
"Inviting the captain of the Indian cricket team, while he's a very high-profile individual, he's a private citizen at the end of the day, so it's a relatively straight forward process to enter into that kind of engagement."
When asked what activities the couple could enjoy if they honeymooned in the resort, Mr Everitt said it was more about the mood of the holiday.
Quiet time together, romance, seclusion, privacy and interaction with the Wakatipu's natural environment were the attractions most honeymooners in general favoured, he said.
Mr Everitt said all sorts of VIPS came through town and DQ was always delighted to work with authorities on putting together the model itinerary.
"If we were asked, or invited, to do so with the proper protocols in place, we'd be delighted to do that."
