Queenstown’s St Moritz upgrades

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4 September 2008

Queenstown’s St Moritz upgrades to Accor’s new MGallery collection following multi-million dollar refurbishment

It has been a big year for Hotel St Moritz. The chic Queenstown hotel recently celebrated its tenth anniversary with a multi-million dollar upgrade of its rooms and public facilities, as well as being named the country’s best hotel at the 2008 New Zealand Tourism Awards.

It is the fourth time St Moritz has been crowned New Zealand’s finest.

Now the former Grand Mercure hotel has become the first hotel in New Zealand to join Accor’s prestigious new collection of boutique hotels called MGallery.

MGallery currently consists of just eight hotels around the world, selected for being truly unique, embracing individuality and providing a distinctive travel experience.

These original hotels are classified into the four categories which tell their story

Overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range, Hotel St Moritz  is a Location hotel defined by its warm spirit and distinctive style that reflects the essence of its dramatic setting.

Over its ten years Hotel St Moritz has become renowned for not only this stunning location, but also its distinguishing alpine décor, high levels of service and unique personality.

General Manager Lynne McVicar says the combination of a major tourism award, full refurbishment, anniversary and the MGallery launch marks a decade of success that comes from the clear vision and dedication of the team which has allowed the hotel to flourish.

“Many of our guests are seeking a more unique and memorable travel experience, especially in a destination as world-renowned as Queenstown. Joining the MGallery portfolio means that we are able to offer an atypical and distinctive experience, while still providing the security and confidence of an international hotel group.”

A STYLISH REFURBISHMENT FOR ST MORITZ

The induction to MGallery follows immediately after the completion of the extensive refurbishment. Building upon a history of design quality, the upgrade includes a refreshing palette of interior colours, intriguing artworks and handsome furnishings that adds distinction, richness and context to its location and story, while retaining the essence and character of the hotel. 

As Stewart Harris of Martin Hughes and Associates, who has directed the hotel design evolution for the past 10 years, said - "St Moritz is a timeless classic beautifully authentic to Queenstown, we are simply adding some refinement and depth.  It is imperative we retain its ‘soul’."

Essential to this ‘inner soul’ is the Hotel's lobby, which features Queenstown’s characteristic schist stone, and an eclectic range of artworks and design features. The designers added a "waiting room", a warm space where people feel at home and relaxed.

All rooms received an attractive makeover, cleverly blending timeless classics with modern essentials. Texture, colour, light and detail are key elements of this change along with an impressive 40 inch LCD television and technology port which features IPOD and AV connectivity (adding to already available broadband/wifi capability).

Lombardi Restaurant, Bar and Library boasts a new look that is commensurate with its outstanding reputation.  The iconic U-shaped bar has been transformed with the addition of copper, leather and chandelier.  The dining room depicts a handsome, cultured and classic offering complemented by The Library/Living Room where its schist stone fireplace blends with theatrical elements.

To fully complete this impressive makeover, and to fit in with the new MGallery label, the hotel has added an outdoor "St Moritz Hot-tub Deck" and designer gymnasium that combine fitness and health with a stunning vista. 

ABOUT MGALLERY

MGallery is a collection of upscale hotels that are remarkable in their personality. Selected to offer each guest an original experience thanks to their distinctive features, they come to life with an upscale service offer and bespoke products.

Designed for a broad range of individual guests in activity–center and city center destinations, MGallery will seduce both business travelers looking for tailor-made services and tourists eager to experience authentic venues and moments. The MGallery collection of hotels thus reinforces the consistency of Accor’s portfolio in the upscale non standardized segment.

As of Q3 2008, the MGallery network comprises 8 hotels and will grow to over 40 establishments in Europe, Middle-East, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean and Latin America by end 2010. Visit www.mgallery.com.
 

Accor, the European leader and a major global group in hotels, the global leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 170,000 employees. It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in its two core businesses:

- Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing more than 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre.

- Services, with 30 million people in 40 countries benefiting from Accor Services products in human resources, marketing services and expense management.

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