Award-winning New Zealand accommodation offering, Huka Lodge, will join the growing Baillie Lodges family of high-end luxury after negotiations to acquire the property, located just outside Taupo on the North Island, proved successful.
The move continues the recent international expansion of the Baillie Lodges network of properties and comes a few weeks after the organisation made its debut move into the Northern Hemisphere with the acquisition of Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Canada’s Vancouver Island.
New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Office has reviewed and cleared the path for the acquisition to go ahead.
Under the deal, the existing Huka Lodge staff will transfer over with the new owners, with the resort continuing to be led by General Manager, Kerry Molloy. All existing partnerships with suppliers and operators will also remain unchanged, with Baillie Lodges vowing to expand these links and further promote the concepts of local produce, culture and experiences.
Baillie Lodges Founder, James Baillie, said he was excited at the chance to represent and continue the growth of Huka Lodge.
“Huka Lodge has long set the standard for excellence in luxury lodging, and we’re honoured that Baillie Lodges will serve as its new steward,” Baillie said.
“We recognise the incredible opportunity we now have to lead the award-winning lodge into a new era and take very seriously our role in maintaining the property’s fine heritage and global reputation.”
Elsewhere, planning continues at Baillie Lodges for the reconstruction of its Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island, which was destroyed in the early 2020 bushfires.