Cool: 145-Key St. Regis Queenstown, New Zealand, Opening Late 2027

Did you forget Eichardt's? Headed there later this month. It has 8 rooms and can be booked with Hilton points or FNCs.

@ PJS678 -- Oversight on my part. Thanks, just added mention of that to the post.

Close location to downtown at Brecon St & Man St in a residential neighborhood, but up the hill - Brecon St connection is not a road, but a double set of stairs - with 60 steps. So everything you want to go someone you will be walking up and down a 60 step staircase.

Google maps - Man and Brecon and view Brecon St from downtown.

The Hotel St. Moritz which is just outside the downtown core is also another great property, and is in the MGallery Collection in Accor. While not quite 5-star, it’s at least 4:5 in my eyes with great rooms and amenities, and absolutely stunning views of the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu. Some of the warmest service I’ve ever received anywhere, too. Prices are generally $150-$200 less than the Sofitel downtown.

Love Queenstown. Magical place. Day-trips to nearby wine regions, Milford Sound, Tititea/Mt. Aspiring, Aoraki/Mt. Cook national parks. Some of the best lamb in the world, too. Having more luxury options there is a good thing. I think it would be the first St. Regis in NZ, and other than Bora Bora, there really aren't many in Oceania. Years ago, there was talk of a new St. Regis in Australia's Gold Coast, too; any word on that?

Bonvoy!

As in, another place to get Bonvoyed.

The area around Queenstown is wonderful but Queenstown itself is an awful tourist trap.

Also the flight into Queenstown is amazing going into the valley between the mountains.

Ben, do you genuinely think St. Regis is real luxury, or a chain of mostly “luxury factories”?

TBH I've now had the chance to stay at second hotels in every location where I've stayed at a St. Regis and it appears to me that they are luxury factories with a think veneer of old world charm.

Having said that, I'd welcome your thoughts.

I completely agree. It's a hike of only a few minutes from the CBD (including up that slope that seems a bit more annoying than it looks), but it's a wonderful hotel - and is just outside the main tourist zone which I feel makes it pretty much perfectly located.

Check out Blanket Bay as well, easily a top 10, maybe top 5, hotel for me. Unbelievable property, views, food, and service. Great rooms... truly a unique stay and tons to do nearby. Worth the short and beautiful drive. Idyllic.

Ah the rich people and their luxurious and overpriced resorts.

They will soon join places like Vail or Aspen as they price out Queenstown to the masses.

For the benefit of the readership… how do you define luxury factories and where is the line drawn between them and real luxury?
If what you mean is the cookie cutter nature of them, then yeah… I guess…
Or is it something else?

Meh… rendering of st Regis building looks more like a Marriott inn or extended stay.

Queenstown (rightly) has very strict rules on building height, size and style. The building is in keeping with other properties in that area.

Unless you want to walk to the Skyline gondola, in which case the location saves you walking up those 60 stairs!

Quite a good location - just on the edge of the central area, meaning a 5-10 minute walk to anywwhere, given how tiny central Queenstown is. But not right in the middle with all the backpacker hostels.

I heartily endorse the continued development of Queenstown, because it keeps the scum away from Wānaka.

I had a great stay at the Hilton Queenstown last year. I know it’s not “luxury,” but I like how it’s more secluded, the standard room is a nice size, and the service was pretty good. I would recommend it.

We stayed at the Hilton just outside town two weeks ago. Nice location but easily the worst breakfast of any of the ten hotels on our trip. So basic and no changes from day to day.
Many of the hotels in the Queenstown core look very old and tired from the outside. Several new builds in the Frankton area.

Great. Just what Queenstown needs, more expensive accommodation.

Definitely needed... Have stayed at the Sofitel and a big disappointment in terms of room outlook (claims to have views of the mountains, actually looks onto the street and the hotels garbage bins, charges a premium for that experience).

In Queenstown Mr and MRS Smith has Azur Lodge with private Villas on the lake.Can be booked through Hyatt or Chase
Chase travel was hundreds cheaper than Hyatt per night and at the time we earned 10 miles per dollar but now one would earn 8 miles per dollar through Chase
Not cheap THOUGH very expensive