Australian-owned Drifter Hotel-Hostels is planning to open new branches in Auckland and Wellington, expanding on their current foothold in Christchurch. 

$22million has been invested into the project so far. 

Hotel Council Strategic Director James Doolan told Mike Hosking that we need to work on getting even more international travellers back. 

He says more capacity's needed if we want bars, shops and restaurants to be pumping. 

LISTEN ABOVE