Queenstown will host next year's Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (Trenz) conference, New Zealand's premier international tourism trade event.
The news was welcomed by local and national travel and tourism representatives yesterday.
The resort hosted the event for the first time this year, and Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) chairman Norm Thompson said the event had received "overwhelming support" from the industry.
The event brings together about 280 New Zealand tourism operators, with a similar number of invited international travel and tourism buyers and media from New Zealand's major tourism markets.
New Zealand's tourism industry is worth $9.5 billion in foreign exchange annually.
Buyers and visitors registered extraordinarily high satisfaction rates after the inaugural Queenstown Trenz event - 99% of buyers and 98% of exhibitors said their attendance was either successful or very successful.
The Southern Lakes also rated highly as a host region, with delegates commenting "favourably" on the scenery, the way the region embraced the event and the showcasing of tourism activities.
"Queenstown performed superbly as a location for Trenz, providing us with fantastic new opportunities to showcase both the region and New Zealand's top tourism operators to our international delegates," Mr Thompson said.
"Work has already started to ensure we will make Trenz 2012 even better."
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler welcomed the news yesterday and said the event was a "great success" this year, attracting high quality buyers and delivering a "first rate experience".
Southern Lakes chairman Dave Hawkey said he was "delighted" to have the opportunity to host Trenz again.
"The new format and location were very well received by international buyers and media in 2011 and we're looking forward to building on that success in 2012.
"The success of Trenz in the Southern Lakes is testament to the strong co-operation between the Queenstown, Wanaka and Fiordland areas."
Trenz 2012 will be held from May 7 to May 10.
