Holiday Inn Express launches in New Zealand with first hotel in Queenstown

Holiday Inn Express, the fastest-growing brand owned by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), has made its debut in New Zealand with the launch of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown, which opened on July 10.

The new hotel features 227 contemporary guest suites, in addition to superior rooms that provide views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range. The hotel’s architecture was designed by local architecture practice McAuliffe Stevens (MSRA), and combined abstract elements representing ice and erratic rock, with a design that fits with the hotel’s urban surroundings.

“The opening of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown is not only a wonderful addition to this vibrant and much-loved town, but a testament to the strong, ongoing partnership we have with Pro-invest Group,” said Leanne Harwood, managing director for IHG Australasia & Japan. “I have no doubt that the brand’s unique approach to smart travel, essential facilities, sustainability, and fresh energy will make it staple for holiday-goers for many years to come.”

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown continues the brand’s commitment to responsible tourism, with innovations coming together in a sustainable stay. All air exhausted from the hotel, for example, is passed through a heat recovery plant, which extracts the energy from the hotel’s bathrooms, toilets, gym, meeting rooms, and restaurants, and transfers that energy to the incoming fresh air. This results in a substantial reduction in energy used to pre-treat incoming air used in ventilating the hotel.

“We are committed to expanding the Holiday Inn Express brand in New Zealand and we’re confident that Queenstown’s reputation as premier destination makes it the ideal place to start,” said Ronald Barrot, the CEO of Pro-invest Group. “Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown has a stylish alpine vibe, complete with an outdoor lounge with a firepit. It’s also equipped with the smart, simple rooms and features business and leisure travelers know and love.”