Guest nights hit a new record for short term accommodation, surpassing 40 million nights in the year to September.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Released this morning, Stats NZ revealed annual guests nights had doubled since records began in the year ending June, 1997.
Accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said hotels had led guest night growth, recording more than a third of all guest nights.
"Annually, guests spent more nights in hotels than motels for the first time in 2008, when motel nights dipped during the global financial crisis," Ms McKenzie said.
"Since then hotels have consistently been the largest provider of short-term commercial guest nights in New Zealand."
The Queenstown Lakes district recorded the most growth in the last 14 years.
"Guest nights spent in Queenstown Lakes district are now approaching levels seen in central Auckland," Ms McKenzie said.
The accommodation survey figures don't include hosted and private accommodation, including Airbnb, bed and breakfast and holiday homes.