International bookings for New Zealand's hotels have climbed to 41 percent, as demand from Asia strengthens recovery efforts.
Growing demand from international travellers across Asia helped reshape guest mix and booking behaviour at New Zealand hotels in 2025, according to new data from SiteMinder, the world's leading guest acquisition and revenue platform.
SiteMinder's Hotel Booking Trends, based on more than 130 million hotel bookings, reveals that New Zealand ranked among the top three markets globally for average booking lead time in 2025, averaging at 44 days, behind Ireland (46 days) and Portugal (45 days). The extended lead times reflect both renewed international demand and New Zealand’s geographic position as a long-haul destination requiring forward planning.
New Zealand was also one of only a handful of markets globally, alongside Malaysia, to record a significant jump in international reservations in 2025, going from 37.94 percent in 2024 to 41.47 percent. Returning tourists from across Asia Pacific played a central role in this recovery, following several challenging post-pandemic years for parts of the country.
This resurgence was clearly reflected in how New Zealand hotels secured their bookings in 2025. Regional favourite Agoda entered the country’s Top 4 revenue-generating channels for the first time, while Chinese travel platform Trip.com reached seventh position - its highest-ever ranking in New Zealand’s Top 12. The rise of these channels signals the growing influence of travellers from Asia in shaping hotel revenue streams.
New Zealand recorded a relatively low cancellation rate in 2025 at 17.7 percent, a positive indicator of strengthened traveller confidence and a stabilising market where guests are not only booking earlier but also committing to their holiday plans.
Bradley Haines, Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific at SiteMinder, says the data highlights a meaningful turning point for New Zealand’s accommodation sector.
"New Zealand’s recovery story in 2025 was defined by returning international demand from across Asia in particular and longer booking horizons," said Haines.
"As a long-haul destination, travellers naturally plan further in advance, and that plays directly into the hands of hoteliers who have more time to optimise pricing and maximise revenue. Combined with lower cancellation rates, this creates a far more predictable operating environment than we’ve seen in recent years."
SiteMinder's data shows New Zealand remained one of the most seasonally concentrated markets analysed globally. Of the 20 destinations reviewed, New Zealand recorded the highest percentage of arrivals in January and the second-highest percentage of arrivals in December, behind only Malaysia.
Despite New Zealand's well-regarded ski fields and winter tourism offering, the concentration of arrivals across December and January reflects the country's peak summer season, bringing long, sunny days and warm temperatures.
In addition to shifts in retail booking channels, New Zealand hotels demonstrated the growing value of B2B distribution. Hotelbeds entered the country’s Top 5 revenue-generating channels for the first time, while WebBeds emerged as a newcomer to the Top 12, highlighting the increasing ability of local hotels to unlock revenue gains from wholesale and intermediary networks.
"Hotels across New Zealand are becoming increasingly sophisticated in how they balance direct, retail OTA and B2B demand," Haines added.
“In a market defined by seasonal peaks, long-haul travel patterns and growing international demand, the hotels that can strategically manage this diverse mix of channels are the ones maximising revenue and driving stronger business performance”.
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