IHG Hotels & Resorts has officially opened voco Queenstown, the second New Zealand property for the global hospitality group’s premium upscale brand, following the conversion of the former Holiday Inn Express & Suites.
The 227-room voco Queenstown debuted on 15 July 2026 within walking distance of the lakefront and central to the resort town’s ski fields.
The property is a repositioning of IHG’s former Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown site with developer, owner and asset manager Pro-invest Group and operator Connect Hospitality.
It follows voco’s New Zealand debut in Auckland and joins existing Australian properties on the Gold Coast and in Melbourne, Brisbane, Hunter Valley and Darwin, where IHG recently opened Australia’s first voco Suites property. Globally, IHG’s premium lifestyle brand voco has now surpassed 100 hotels.
What guests will find inside
The conversion involved a refurbishment of all 227 guestrooms and suites by Space Studios, plus a full redesign of the lobby and food and beverage spaces.
The redesigned lobby features fireplaces and is anchored by Mīaro, an artwork by Māori artist Cheree Te Orangaroa Downes (Murihiku, Southland), woven from whītau harakeke and slumped glass in deep blues, purples and blacks reflecting the landscape of Tāhuna (Queenstown).
Rooms have also been upgraded with bedding made from recycled materials, carpets that incorporate recycled fishing nets, Antipodes plant-based amenities, aerated rain showers and smart TVs with Chromecast and 24/7 room service.
In addition, 18 refreshed suites offer Dyson hair tools, Marshall Bluetooth speakers and a premium minibar.
The hotel’s new restaurant and bar, Mozzarella & Co., pairs a Mediterranean menu with South Island produce, built around a show kitchen with a wood-fired pizza oven, in-house bakery and a chef’s table plus a private dining room for up to 14 guests. Outdoor terrace and lounge spaces are each centred around a fire pit.
Who it suits
With onsite car parking and a central location, the hotel positions itself as a base for skiing at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona and day trips to Milford Sound.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Managing Director Australasia & Pacific Matt Tripolone said: “Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s most dynamic hotel markets, and voco is a brand that is well suited to the destination.”
“We’re excited to introduce New Zealand’s second voco hotel, following the brand’s debut in Auckland, and welcome guests to experience everything this exceptional destination has to offer.”
Pro-invest Group Founder & Chair Ronald Stephen Barrott added: “The opening of voco Queenstown marks the next chapter for an asset and destination we have long believed in.
“Having developed, owned and actively managed the hotel since inception, the repositioning to voco represents a clear value enhancement, aligning the asset with premium demand and capitalising on Queenstown’s sustained year-round performance.”
KARRYON UNPACKS: New Zealand is among the top outbound destinations for Australian travellers, and Queenstown’s year-round appeal spans winter ski trips and summer touring. A premium, upscale hotel in the heart of town, close to Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona, adds new Queenstown inventory for advisors to upsell to clients.
