Boutique Hotels & Lodges has pleasure in introducing the hosts of two new properties to our Boutique collection – Hotel De Brett in Auckland and Shakespeare Cliff Lodge & Retreat located in the Coromandel. ‘Meet the Hosts’ gives you an overall profile of the owners who contribute so much to the guest experience.

HOTEL DE BRETT – AUCKLAND CITY
http://hoteldebrett.com

John Courtney and Michelle Deery are new to the hotel business, but bring many years of experience as investment banker, interior designer and passionate guests of international boutique hotels to the Hotel De Brett experience.

The purchase of the derelict hotel in 2007 was an addition to their commercial building portfolio in Auckland’s CBD, and added a much needed boutique hotel to Auckland’s inner city.

After almost two years of extensive redesign and renovation Hotel re-opened in February 2009, and showcases the best of New Zealand art, design, cuisine, wine and service.

Hotel De Brett is located at the nexus of High Street’s high fashion, and Shortland Street’s top business precinct and is once again a focal gathering place for Aucklanders and international visitors alike.

SHAKESPEARE CLIFF LODGE & RETREAT – COROMANDEL PENSINSULAR
www.shakespearecliff.com

Alex has a long history with the Coromandel Peninsula. Three generations and some 65 years ago his family moved to the area and became connected with the land as they developed a large farm on the hills behind Cooks Beach.

After spending time travelling the world, both for pleasure and business, Alex returned to New Zealand and purchased a block of the original family farm, moving into the wine industry planting 35 acres of vineyard, part of which still remains in production today.

In his professional career, Alex has worked in the IT industry (many years for both SAP and Microsoft here in New Zealand and in offshore roles) and most recently set up a successful business consulting practice, assisting fast growing export companies to expand into offshore markets.

In his most recent venture, the development of Shakespeare Cliff Lodge & Retreat, Alex has a goal to share one of the most beautiful locations in New Zealand with like-minded people from around the world. Guests will enjoy being part of the experience, connecting with the Coromandel Peninsula and its people while receiving added value from his knowledge of the area and his culinary skills, especially with local foods – prepared freshly, sustainably and deliciously!

P.O. Box 28028, Kelburn 6150 Tel – 04 9730999
www.boutiquehotels.co.nz nz@boutiquehotels.co.nz

The May 15 edition of The New Zealand Herald contains an article about Tahi titled “Pataua North: Eco Retreat is Natural Flight of Fancy”.  Author Jim Eagles talks about the 740 acre estate’s environmental work including the restoration of the land to its natural state prior to settlers arriving. He calls owner John Craig “one of New Zealand’s environmental heroes”. The article also mentions the many activities at Tahi and talks about how it can be successful as an environmentally responsible sustainable development as opposed to a traditional farm. Tahi tells a story of birds returning, forests rejuvenating and wetlands restored where past, present and future are treasured. It is an experience not to be missed.

For more information please go to www.nzherald.co.nz and in the search box type in Tahi.

www.tahinz.com             or                info@tahinz.com

 At Boutique Hotels and Lodges we constantly strive to bring you the best of New Zealand and we feel we have achieved this in the very competitive Queenstown market.

In the World Travel Award Nominations 2010, Azur Lodge is nominated as New Zealand’s Leading Luxury Lodge and Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel is nominated as New Zealand’s Leading Boutique Hotel.

In the recent Trip Advisor Top 10 Hotel Awards 2010 the only New Zealand properties included in the Top 10 Luxury Hotels in the South Pacific are Queenstown Park and Azur. Queenstown Park also received a Top 10 award in the service category. Trip Advisor users rate Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel as #1 of 63 hotels in Queenstown and Azur Lodge as #2. Azur is also nominated in the Travel & Leisure Best Awards Survey. To take the survey go to http://tlworldsbest.roiresearch.com.

Both Azur and Queenstown Park are sponsors of Queenstown’s upcoming Winter Festival to be held Friday 25 June - Sunday 4 July 2010.

www.azur.co.nz or rsvns@azur.co.nz

www.queenstownpark.co.nz or hotel@queenstownpark.co.nz

www.boutiquehotels.co.nz or nz@boutiquehotels.co.nz

 Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand has gained a Qualmark Enviro-Bronze Award, recognising its high standards in environmental practices. 

To earn New Zealand tourism’s official environmental award, Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel had to show effectiveness in energy efficiency, waste management and water conservation, with community activities and conservation initiatives also considered under Qualmark’s environmental criteria. 

Manager John Etheridge, says “I am pleased that the initiatives that were implemented right from the build stage have been recognised as we put a huge value on New Zealand’s environment. We have worked and continue to work in numerous areas as we can see the true benefits to our overall well being not only the environmental but also those gained through economies for the business”.

Accommodation, activities and transport businesses carrying the Qualmark® logo have been independently assessed to meet tough quality standards and environmental criteria - earning New Zealand tourism’s official quality mark. Qualmark is jointly owned by Tourism New Zealand and the New Zealand Automobile Association. The program is run as an industry service, on a not-for-profit basis.

For further information please contact:John Etheridge

+63 3 441 8441

john@queenstownpark.co.nz

www.queenstownpark.co.nz

Point View Lodge at Lake Taupo, New Zealand Receives Gold Environment Award

Qualmark New Zealand has given Point View Lodge its highest environmental award, Qualmark Gold. Point View is the only accommodation in the Taupo area to have achieved this status. They are also rated Qualmark 5 star guest and hosted, the top ranking in this category.

Trip Advisor reviews of Point View Lodge are 100% recommended / excellent. Comments range from “Charming, welcoming and beautifully appointed” to “the perfect hosts make it a perfect few days” to “10 out of 10″.

For more information about Point View Lodge, including a new video tour of the property, please go to www.pointview.co.nz. 

Treat yourself to a break away and enjoy the accommodation at Sarnia Park  Boutique Lodge by taking advantage of  their summer mid-week specials. 

The rate for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights for the months of January and February 2010 :

$220 per night for bed and full breakfast for two
or

Add a delicious meal to your stay for: $350 for dinner, bed and breakfast for two.

 Boutique Hotels and Lodges suggests the dinner option. Sarnia Park’s world class chef, Carlos Martinez, grew up in Mexico City has worked in New York, Miami Beach & New Orleans under celebrity chefs such as Emeril, Bobby Flay and Mario Battali. Carlos has lived in New Zealand for the last ten years and has developed his own style of New Zealand cuisine incorporating season inspired ingredients. This is an opportunity not to be missed.

While at Sarnia Park you can also enjoy their amazing gardens which were recently named “A Garden of Significance” by The New Zealand Garden Trust. Or relax by the pool with a good book and a glass of wine.

Congratulations to Azur Lodge and Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel for receiving awards in Trip Advisor’s Traveller’s Choice 2010 Hotel Awards.

Trip Advisor’s annual awards are done for the Top 10 properties per region and category with New Zealand included in the South Pacific region. In the South Pacific Luxury Awards category, Azur Lodge  and Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel, both in Queenstown, New Zealand were in the Top 10. They are the only New Zealand properties to receive awards in this category/region.

In the Best Service Award category, Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel also received a Top 10 Award for the South Pacific.

For more information please go to www.tripadvisor.com and at the top of the home page, next to “The Best Hotels for 2010″, click the tab “Get the List”. Then go to “World’s Favorite Hotels by Category”. When you click on the category the South Pacific Region will appear.

www.azur.co.nz

www.queenstownpark.co.nz

www.boutiquehotels.co.nz

meg@glenaros.com or www.glenaros.com

Sarnia Park Boutique Lodge, Wedding and Function Centre in Cambridge, New Zealand is featured in four places in the current summer issue of New Zealand Weddings magazine. “Sweet & Lowdown” was shot at the height of the cherry blossom season. “Dream Weaver” shows the grand staircase and ballroom in the lodge. Sarnia Park is also featured in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Special  and “Moments of Brilliance”, also about the region.

If you’re not planning a wedding, please visit Sarnia Park for a garden tour. They have just been awarded membership in The New Zealand Garden Trust as a “Garden of Significance”. The lodge is set on 29 acres, of which 8 are magnificently landscaped gardens including a lake, gazebo and historic kauri chapel.  And don’t forget the wonderful accommodation available, six luxury ensuite rooms and suites, and a world class chef to prepare your meals. Whatever you dream, Sarnia Park will fulfill it.

For more information about Sarnia Park or to set up a garden tour please contact Sarnia Park at: info@sarniapark.co.nz or www.sarniapark.co.nz

Congratulations to Tahi Beach in Northland for achieving Qualmark’s Enviro Gold award. They are one of only two New Zealand holiday homes to receive this award.

Tahi Beach is a secluded eco estate of over 740 acres, spreading from surf beach to native forest, wetlands to farmlands. In an environment dedicated to conservation and the restoration of eco systems, luxury accommodation awaits you in one of the bungalows. Experience this environment committed to responsible management and carbon neutrality without compromising on your comfort.