Destination Southern Lakes, the new destination management organisation (DMO) for the Queenstown and Wānaka region has announced its board of directors.
The DMO will oversee the implementation of the region’s destination management plan, Travel to a Thriving Future, which was endorsed by the Queenstown Lakes councillors in February 2023. The destination management plan is a partnership between Destination Queenstown, Lake Wānaka Tourism, and the Queenstown Lakes District Council, with input from Kāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation. The DMO is the first of its kind in New Zealand and focuses solely on the delivery of destination management initiatives.
The following five successful candidates have been appointed to the Board; Murray Strong (Chair), AJ Millward, Dr. Kate Meyer, Dean Fraser, and Kristine Dunne. The Chairs of Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism, Richard Thomas and Calum MacLeod, complete the DMO board.
Destination Queenstown CEO Mat Woods said he was excited to work with a strong board to oversee the delivery of the destination management plan.
“The Queenstown Lakes District has the ambitious goal for the region’s visitor economy to be regenerative and carbon zero by 2030. To meet that goal, we need to get underway with delivering the projects from the DMP.”
The DMO will ensure there is effective, accountable leadership that can guide stakeholders to deliver the destination management plan and its projects. Establishing an independent governance group to oversee progress at a districtwide level ensures an appropriate balance of independence, accountability, and expertise.
