President Asia Pacific for Hilton Worldwide Martin Rinck says demand for hotels in the Asia Pacific region is high and hotel operators have been overlooking business opportunities.

Fifty-one New Zealand businesses have made the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 2009 edition for the Asia Pacific region, it was announced in Hong Kong last night.

The Fast 500 ranks the fastest growing companies in the Asia Pacific region based on percentage growth from 2006 to 2008.

Last year, 31 New Zealand companies were ranked, while 38 made the cut in 2007 and 31 in 2006.

The New Zealand ranked companies come from across the country with 16 based in Auckland, 16 in Wellington, 10 from around Canterbury, six from the Waikato and three from Otago.