136 live jobs in Queenstown

Transport The fourth meeting to discuss the need for Wakatipu to develop and implement a travel demand management plan (TDMP) was held on Tuesday this week. The consultants employed by NZTA to write a TDMP have concluded their report and recommendations. This has not yet been published but will be made available for review in due course. NZTA management is now considering whether it is appropriate for full or partial implementation and funding.     It was agreed at the meeting yesterday that the impact of transport on the quality of life and quality of business was significant. Further, it was agreed that social and business-led responses, rather than just an infrastructure provider response were required to drive the mode and mind shift change required to improve how we move about the Wakatipu region. The Boards of the Chamber and Shaping our Future have agreed to move forward to explore a suitable entity to commence this work. I would like to thank all the Chamber members, resident association members and other folks who have contributed to the process thus far and I will continue to keep you updated on this work. If you want to support the move to active transport, Chamber member’s the Queenstown Trails Trust have shared this great website if your workplace is interested in supporting staff or your fleet move to e-bikes. Great depreciation/FBT calculator, the works. Airport It was disappointing to see QAC’s statement of intent knocked back for a second time last week, with only three present councillors voting to accept the revised statement of intent.   The airport and its future planning have become a lightning rod for those who wish to express their social and environmental concerns.  Appropriate strategies for managing the impact of growth on the region are, of course, far wider than airline passenger growth. The notion that closing the door to national or international migration or visitors is also problematic. I am pondering whether it is Trump’s wall-type thinking? The world population is growing, climate change is happening, people are on the move (as they always have been). We need to act as a community, with urgency, to put in place ways to cope with migratory, as well as visitor growth. Notwithstanding, the message has been sent from organized and concerned community organizations. This community needs to see a far, far stronger destination management and sustainability focus in how tourism businesses operate. The board of the QAC would do well to consider how they might address this. The Chamber board certainly is. Bed Tax Just in from Wellington. “The paper is in the cabinet process (running a bit later than originally planned) and we anticipate that the Minister will be in a position to make an announcement this month. I am unable to pre-empt that announcement without Ministerial authorization”.   Minister Twyford will be in town on September 13th for a Chamber lunch at the Crowne Plaza. Phil looks after urban development and transport. Tickets are limited and available on our website .  AGM The Chamber is a membership organization and we are reliant on our board to provide governance and direction to the paid executive. The Chamber AGM is coming up (November) and we have two vacant elected positions (thanks to Charlie Phillips and Anna Edie for their contribution). If you or someone you know are interested in standing, I would be happy to discuss this role with you or contact our board chair Craig Douglas directly (after he gets back from holiday at the end of next week). His phone number is 021 594 125. Local council elections The Chamber mayoral and election debate will be held next week at 5.30pm at the Memorial Hall in Downtown Queenstown. We are privileged to count most of the candidates amongst our membership and I am looking forward to hearing them speak on topics that are important to our region. Big thanks to Chamber board member and Mediaworks GM Rik Van Dijk for hosting this event for the Chamber. Be good to see you there (book your free ticket on our website ). Kind regards, Anna Mickell Anna Mickell is the CEO of the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce, an organization that represents business owners working in the Wakatipu region. New members are welcome. 

Next Wednesday, 18 September from 9 a.m. to noon, WWIN (Wanaka & Wakatipu Investment Network) and Startup Queenstown Lakes will host the Angel Association of New Zealand for their Angel Investing 101 course. The session will be led by Auckland-based investor Ken Erskine at the Sherwood Queenstown. The course will help learn the basics of becoming an angel investor and having an appreciation for the risk profile and mechanics of angel investment is all covered in this succinct ‘awareness raising’ course. Topics will include: the rewards and challenges of being an angel, the legal requirements around eligibility and if you decide to become an investor director, the importance of building a portfolio and how to go about this, the importance of being involved the role of exits, and where and how to access support The course has a fee of $69 including GST to cover travel, presentation, and food costs.  Purchase your ticket in advance via  Eventfinda

International Tourism numbers are facing a slowdown as global instability impacts. With International events driving uncertainty especially the Trade War between the US and China, Hong Kong unrest and Brexit are playing into the global economic fears, New Zealand is on the receiving end in the form of a slow down in international visitor arrivals. While QAC is reporting growth in international numbers this is predominantly Australian arrivals with the Chinese market, which is behind last year by 8%, entering through Auckland and getting washed into the domestic travel numbers. Chinese visitor arrivals have been slowing since late last year and the tourism industry is bracing for no or very low growth for the next couple of years. Some key industry figures believe that a slow down is an opportunity to prepare for growth in the future and to address some of the holes in the tourism offering, especially around infrastructure. Locally some concerns are appearing with a significant jump in hotel rooms coming onto the market just as the market is slowing. A tightening job market could also impact employee conditions just as there is a focus on local businesses paying the living wage. If conditions deteriorate significantly expect to see a swing to focus on the domestic market which still makes up two-thirds of the tourism industry. 

Air New Zealand Queenstown International Marathon - Race day Saturday 16 November 2019 #MEDALPERKS We’re inviting local Queenstown to work with the Air New Zealand Queenstown International Marathon and celebrate the 11,000 runners by offering specials across the event weekend. To redeem the offers, runners need to flash their medals at your store. All #MedalPerk deals should reward runners’ achievements such as a free coffee with breakfast, post-race nourishment or a percentage discount on a tourism experience. We’ll be shouting about #MedalPerks and participating businesses across our marketing channels. Click Here to sign up For any questions please get in touch with Nicole Fairweather, Race Director, nicole.fairweather@ironman.com https://queenstown-marathon.co.nz/

There will be two sections to the pre-election debate evening with a 'Q & A session for the Wakatipu candidates' from 5:30-6:30pm followed by a 'Mayoral debate' from 7-8pm.   Questions about local issues will be posed to the candidates on the night and members and guests are welcome to ask their questions from the floor. We look forward to seeing you all at the Debate for what promises to be an informative and interesting event. Details: 12 September, Wakatipu candidates Q & A - 5:30-6:30pm; Mayoral debate 7-8pm; Queenstown Memorial Centre.  Complimentary - all welcome, registration essential, cash bar Registration: www.queenstownchamber.org.nz

After seven months of negative growth, August changed direction and delivered an 18% increase in job openings. The strongest growth came in the Food and Beverage and Accommodation sectors which jumped 35% where finding staff just got significantly harder. F&B and Accommodation always make up the largest share of job roles available but this month the increase saw it climb from 50% of all the job openings to 57%. The tourism sector conversely continues to see a slow down in job openings which started at the beginning of the year and now tourism is only accounting for 5% of the jobs available in the market. Construction roles have also become noticeably smaller, which may be as a result of the decline nationally in construction activity and more candidates being available from other markets. While the month of August was up 18%, the calendar year is trailing 4% after steep declines, especially in the first quarter. The last two months have slowed and now showing growth and with new hotels coming on stream its likely to be a busy run-up to Christmas.