Radisson Hotel Group will make its long-awaited debut in New Zealand beginning from 2021 as four new hotels across three brands prepare to open in Queenstown and Lake Tekapo.
The four properties, all in the South Island, mark the debut of Radisson in the country and will comprise 777 new hotel rooms across its Radisson Blu, Radisson Red and Park Inn by Radisson brands.
Two privately-owned hotel development companies – NZ Horizons Limited and Remarkables Hotel Limited – are behind the deals, with the two properties in Lake Tekapo specifically being developed by subsidiaries of NZ Horizons Limited.
Lake Tekapo, located between Queenstown and Christchurch, is an area rich in natural beauty located close to Mount Cook – part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve – making it popular among the stargazing community as well as outdoor enthusiasts with an abundance of hiking and biking trails.
Radisson’s first hotel to open in New Zealand will be the 112-room Park Inn by Radisson Lake Tekapo which is expected to be welcoming guests by the middle of 2021. Around 18 months later, the region’s first international brand will open in the form of the 237-room Radisson Blu Resort Lake Tekapo, which will include a number of restaurants and bars, fitness centre, spa, heated indoor swimming pool, conference and meeting spaces and an executive lounge.
In Queentown, the two forthcoming properties will open on the same date in late 2022 and sit side-by-side. The Radisson Blu Hotel Queenstown, Remarkables Park will offer 171 rooms alongside multiple food and beverage outlets, fitness centre and meeting spaces. Next door will be the Radisson Red Queenstown, Remarkables Park, which will greet guests with an interactive TV wall in the lobby and also offer a fitness centre, meeting spaces and social dining outlets.
Radisson Hotel Group President Asia Pacific, Katerina Giannouka, said New Zealand was one of the world’s most popular destinations, growing particularly among Asian travellers.
“There is still a shortage of internationally branded accommodation in the South Island of the country however, so we are delighted to introduce four outstanding hotels and three of our original brands to New Zealand for the first time. We look forward to contributing to the continued growth of the country’s tourism industry in the coming years.”
The company says it is actively working with a number of hotel developers to locate further opportunities to expand its presence through New Zealand.