Dates locked in for 2012 Queenstown Winter Festival

Mark your calendars now… the dates for the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest winter party are officially locked and loaded for next year!

The multi award-winning American Express Queenstown Winter Festival will take centre stage in Queenstown, New Zealand, from 22 June to 1 July 2012.

The iconic Queenstown event, now into its 38th year, officially kicks off winter in the stunning four-season resort with a 10-day action-packed programme of new events, established favourites and plenty of entertainment and celebration.

Festival Director Simon Green returns to the helm for his seventh festival while key naming sponsor American Express is back on board for a milestone 21st year.

Mr Green said he was “already well underway” with plans for some exciting new events and could also confirm that the downtown ice rink, a popular new feature at the 2011 festival, would return for 2012.

“It gave Queenstown that magical winter wonderland and proved to be a huge hit with visitors and locals so we’re thrilled to have it back.”

Mr Green said another focus for the 2012 festival would be on making the most of destinational marketing opportunities for Queenstown and the wider region.

“The festival has well and truly proved itself to be an event that successfully delivers for the local community and visitors alike.

“This year we’ll be working even harder with our key partners, including Destination Queenstown and American Express, to broaden our reach and stimulate more visitation.

“Our aim is to inspire people from all around the world to come to Queenstown while the festival is on and experience an unforgettable winter holiday,” he said.

Surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountains, Queenstown transforms into a winter paradise each year attracting snow sports enthusiasts from around the world with its incredible scenery, crisp blue-sky days and easy access to some of New Zealand's finest skiing.

Whether visitors have an appetite for fresh air, adventure and mountains or are more at home tracking down a delicious meal and fine wine, this cosmopolitan lake and alpine resort town provides the perfect mix of on and off snow action.

For more information about Queenstown visit www.queenstownNZ.co.nz.

About the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival

Since first being staged in 1975 by Queenstowners who thought the arrival of snow was a ‘great excuse for a party’, the Festival has evolved to forge a unique identity as the Southern Hemisphere’s premier celebration of all things winter. An iconic event on New Zealand’s calendar, it attracts 30,000 attendees and injects a whopping $50 million back into the local economy.