Queenstown’s about to be immortalised.
The Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce is developing a resort version of the Monopoly board game, due for delivery by mid-to-late November.
CEO Sharon Fifield says other centres around New Zealand have developed their own board game, including Wānaka, which was released late last year, ‘‘and we just thought now is our time’’.
The Chamber’s working with an Australian supplier, which has a licence from Hasbro to create regional versions, and is canvassing its members to source all the ‘properties’ for the board, along with sponsor businesses for the ‘Community Chest’ cards, and a sponsor for the Monopoly money.
The uptake so far’s been off the charts, she says.
‘‘Some businesses are falling over themselves — they almost have to be on the board — which is really awesome.
“What marketing opportunities do you get when you get this much facetime, a captive audience, for the rest of history?”
While she won’t reveal who’s on the board already, Fifield says premium accommodation providers and businesses ‘‘quintessentially Queenstown’’ feature, while businesses can also sponsor in their favourite charity or sports team for inclusion, particularly in the ‘Community Chest’ cards.
At this stage, 3000 boards will be printed, but if there’s a huge demand for pre-orders — via the Chamber website — that number will be upped.
