975 days ago

Luxury Queenstown hotel building for sale, offers over $35m considered

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Otago News

From reporter Debbie Jamieson:L

A new five-star-plus Queenstown hotel building is for sale and the vendor will consider offers over $35 million.

Kevin Carlin built the seven-storey 14-suite Carlin Boutique Hotel and Oro restaurant near central Queenstown during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It opened in early 2022 and has since received several international awards including three Boutique Hotel Awards, such as the World's Best New Hotel in 2022.

Carlin operates the hotel and intends doing so for the next 30 years, but now wished to free up the capital involved in the building for other projects.

It was standard practice for hotels and other businesses to rent the buildings they operate from, he said.

”I was the rare person that’s a property developer and owned the building.

”I always intended to sell the real estate to get the cash back for another development,” he said.

He intended leasing the building back for 30 years and operating the hotel himself “if someone pays the price”.

“I’m not going anywhere. This is my retirement project.”

He declined to give details of other developments he sought capital for, though he is developing a five-star Radisson Hotel​ in Queenstown with Australia-based partner Centuria.

Despite a major staff shortage in Queenstown the Carlin Boutique Hotel was almost fully staffed with 38 employees on board.

Bookings were good going ahead, but he was looking forward to the return of European and wealthy Chinese travellers, he said.

Chinese visitors were struggling with visa issues in their own country while a lack of flights connecting Europe and New Zealand was deterring those visitors.

“I was there recently, and it took me four flights to get home to Queenstown,” he said.

Visitors to the hotel can book a room from $2219.50 a night, according to the website.

Each of the interconnected suites has views over central Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, its own outdoor fire and spa pool, and a kitchen where private chefs can whip up a meal.

“We don’t expect our guests are ever going to buy eggs and cook,” Carlin told Stuff on a tour when it first opened.

The property is listed with Bayleys Real Estate and expressions of interest are sought.

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More messages from your neighbours
3 days ago

A riddle to start the festive season 🌲🎁🌟

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I'm a fruit. If you take away my first letter, I'm a crime. If you take away my first two letters, I'm an animal. If you take away my first and last letter, I'm a form of music. What am I?

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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17 days ago

Think you can spot a scam from a mile away?

The Team from Netsafe

You might be surprised. Scammers are getting slicker, sneakier, and a whole lot more convincing, and they’re targeting everyone from students to grandparents.

Before you brush it off with “I’d never fall for that,” give your scam radar a quick tune-up! Test yourself with Netsafe’s fun new Scam Spotting Quiz or try our online module for even more skill-building.

Scams can catch anyone — even the careful ones.
Keep your wits (and your wallet) about you!

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12 days ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.

Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.

Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?

Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!

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