A proposed five-star hotel on Queenstown’s Man St could provide a one- time boost in national GDP of $75 million during construction, and ongoing GDP benefits to the tune of $37m.
More details have been revealed about The Queenstown Hotel (NZ) Ltd Partnership’s plans for the 185-room, planned over a total of six levels on top of the existing Man St carpark.
The partnership involves Trojan Holdings Ltd — owner of NZSki, and Ultimate Hikes, among other things — and Katdan Hotels New Zealand, a privately-owned company based in Sydney, Australia, which has a long association with developing and operating hotels in NZ through the Accor group, in Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Christchurch and Queenstown.
The Queenstown Hotel partnership applied under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-Track Consenting) Act 2020 — it’s been lodged and is ‘‘in progress’’ with the Environmental Protection Authority.
Its full application, prepared by Southern Planning Group, says while no contract’s been confirmed, the applicant’s preferred hotel operator is TFE Hotels.
An economic assessment of the proposed hotel, prepared by Insight Economics, estimates over the construction period — about two-and-a-half years — the project will provide employment for more than 600 full-timers, and additional household incomes of $43m.
Once operational, about 100 full-time employees will be required at the hotel, while spending of future guests will generate full-time employment for 260 people and household incomes of $15m.
Top end: An artist’s impression shows what one of the rooms in a proposed new hotel will look like
In terms of staff housing, Trojan Holdings notes it employs a significant number of staff through various companies it owns and operates — last year, the company acquired the Sir Cedrics Tahuna Pod Hostel, on Henry St, which provides accommodation for up to 90 company employees.
It’s also in the process of developing more staff accommodation in central Queenstown.
Designed by Woods Bagot, based in Sydney, the hotel’s proposed over six levels on top of the existing carpark, ranging in height from 16.75m at the eastern end to 24m at the western end.
Reset Urban Design’s landscape and visual effects assessment says the level of sensitivity of the site’s generally ‘‘very low to moderate’’ and proposed mitigation measures will be effective at reducing impacts.
It says the overall adverse effects on the landscape and visual amenity are considered ‘‘an acceptable change within the surrounding environment’’.
Subject to approval, the ground floor will house 11 guest rooms, the main guest lobby/concierge/lounge, a restaurant/bar with views over central Queenstown, towards the Remarkables, and a gym.
The remaining 174 rooms — all of which will be ‘‘more generously sized’’ than standard hotel rooms — will be spread over the other five levels.
It’s planned to use the upper level within the Man St carpark for back-of-house functions, meaning about 60 parking spaces will need to be removed.
