IHG Hotels’ Voco brand makes debut in Queenstown
IHG, developer, owner and asset manager Pro-invest Group and operator Connect Hospitality announced plans for the conversion in February, which is said to be a strategic move to better align the high-performing Queenstown asset to capitalise on strong market conditions and sustained demand in one of New Zealand’s most popular visitor destinations.
The transition to Voco involved a refurbishment of 227 guestrooms and suites led by Space Studios and a full redesign of the lobby and food and beverage spaces.
All guest rooms and suites have been upgraded with new bedding, Antipodes plant-based amenities, aerated rain showers, smart TVs with Chromecast, high-speed Wi-Fi and 24/7 room service. Eighteen suites feature Dyson hair dryers and hair straighteners, Marshall Bluetooth speakers, and a premium minibar offering of cocktail mixers and pod coffee.
“The opening of Voco Queenstown marks the next chapter for an asset and destination we have long believed in. Having developed, owned and actively managed the hotel since inception, the repositioning to voco represents a clear value enhancement, aligning the asset with premium demand and capitalising on Queenstown’s sustained year-round performance,” said Pro-invest Group Founder & Chairman, Ronald Stephen Barrott said.
The latest Voco opening becomes the second in New Zealand following the brand’s debut in Auckland. There are currently over 100 Voco hotels globally. Across New Zealand and Australia, properties currently open include Auckland, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Hunter Valley, and Darwin.
“Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most dynamic hotel markets, and Voco is a brand that is well suited to the destination,” said IHG Hotels and Resorts Australasia and Pacific Managing Director, Matt Tripolone.
“The opening of Voco Queenstown demonstrates the value that can be created when the right asset, the right market and the right brand come together. Working alongside our partners at Pro-invest Group and EVT Connect Hospitality, we’ve repositioned an already successful hotel to better meet evolving guest expectations while creating long-term value.”
EVT Director of Commercial and Connect Hospitality, Mat Duff, added: “Connect Hospitality’s strength lies in combining deep local operating expertise with global brand delivery. At Voco Queenstown, our focus is on executing consistently at a high standard, creating distinctive guest experiences, and embedding the hotel within the local market to ensure the Voco brand resonates in a way that’s both authentic to Queenstown and true to its global positioning.”
The hotel’s redesigned lobby is flanked by fireplaces, Voco’s signature scent and a curated playlist. Anchoring the lobby is Mīharo, an artwork by Māori artist Cheree Te Orangaroa Downes (Murihiku, Southland), woven from whītau harakeke and slumped glass.
The new restaurant and bar, Mozzarella and Co., features Mediterranean fare with a show kitchen, wood-fired pizza oven, in-house bakery, and chef’s table experience.
The outdoor terrace and lounge spaces, each centred around a firepit, and a private dining room for up to 14 guests complete Voco’s new offerings.
Voco Queenstown will also introduce a Resident Host, a new front-of-house role that combines concierge, porterage, and guest services into a single, highly visible point of guest connection.
“The Resident Host leads an intuitive, warm service style designed to create more personal guest connections and reflect the brand’s ‘reliably different’ positioning,” the group stated.
The hotel is located on the corner of Stanley and Sydney Streets, and is within walking distance of the Queenstown lakefront and tourism hot spots. Voco Queenstown is an ideal base for skiing at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona, and day trips to Milford Sound.