New Zealand’s first fully smart hotel has opened its doors in the heart of Queenstown.
A first in New Zealand and in the world, the new mi-pad Queenstown is described as a next generation, energy-conscious hotel experience for the smart traveler bringing together technology, sustainability, comfort, and convenience.
The six-story hotel features 57 stylish rooms with the latest in-room tech, multiple ‘social spaces’ and an impressive rooftop terrace.
And the key to mi-pad Queenstown is that there is no key.
Guests booking their stay download the hotel’s personal app ‘mia’ and their smartphone becomes a room key, meaning physical check-ins (or check-outs) are a thing of the past.
Mia also has a range of other tricks up her sleeve, with the app enabling guests to set temperatures and mood lighting in their room (even remotely), request room service or alert hotel staff that they don’t want to be disturbed.
Access to the hotel is available 24/7 thanks to the technology. Once guests are settled in, mia transforms into a personal digital concierge, delivering the latest information on events, activities or offers and encouraging them to experience the best of this popular year-round alpine destination.
Guests can have as much or as little interaction with mi-pad staff and other guests as they like, including the option to share experiences, photos or messages through mia’s private chat group.
A floor-to-ceiling ‘social wall’ in the hotel’s entrance lobby also features mia’s latest updates and guests shared experiences.
The $15m John Blair-designed hotel is in the heart of Queenstown, less than a two-minute walk from the center with its hundreds of bars, restaurants and activity operators set on the shores of stunning Lake Wakatipu.
Although there are snacks and breakfast options available within the hotel, mi-pad’s owners made a conscious decision to keep F&B services to a minimum to encourage guests to savor the town’s renowned eateries.
But if they prefer to order-in or BYO, the hotel’s best-kept secret is its huge rooftop terrace with an outdoor fireplace, plentiful seating and wraparound 270-degree views of Lake Wakatipu and surrounding mountains.
The terrace is exclusively available to guests and is the perfect spot to enjoy an outdoor dining experience or luscious wine with some of the best views in town.
The mi-pad hotel concept is the brainchild of Queenstown property developer Lewis Gdanitz and is the fruition of three years of hard work.
“mi-pad is the result of 15 years of research, traveling the world and finding the places that did accommodation really well,” Gdanitz says.
“We’ve been able to deliver a property that’s unlike anything else on offer in New Zealand, operating on a premise of affordable luxury delivered using the latest technology. I’m also very proud of the eco-conscious initiatives we have in place for every aspect of the operation.”
The hotel hasn’t forgotten the basics of ensuring guests get a great night’s sleep, with Queen beds, clever storage options, smart TV’s and bathrooms featuring organic products and top-of-the-line hair styling tools.
