Quest Apartment Hotels is to open seven new properties in New Zealand between June 2021 and July 2022.

The new sites have already been acquired by franchisees and will be located across the North and South Island in metropolitan, regional, and suburban locations.

The additional properties will take the existing New Zealand portfolio to 42, and boost Quest’s global footprint to 177 venues.  

Growing confidence in the Tasman travel bubble has cemented the apartment hotel chain’s expansion plans.

Quest Apartment Hotels managing director David Mansfield said “Our expansion in New Zealand reflects a long-running commitment to growth in areas where the corporate traveller needs to be, and in this instance, demand has only increased due to the current landscape.”

Early figures from Tourism Industry Aotearoa show the arrangement is currently favouring New Zealand, with more people entering the two-island nation than leaving since the start of the trans-Tasman bubble (1) .

“These new hotels are coming to fruition at a time when Aussies and New Zealanders are taking advantage of the chance to traverse the Tasman for business and leisure,” said David.

The first new site will open its doors in June 2021 on the North Shore of Auckland, followed by hotels in Mt Eden, Queenstown and Christchurch opening before the end of the year.  

In the first seven months of 2022, sites will open in Wellington, Hastings and Mt Maunganui.   

Quest first came onto the New Zealand market in 1998 and is now the largest single hotel brand in the country.  

In Australia, there are a further nine agreements for lease signed, with construction due to commence in next 12 months, totalling 715 rooms.  

“It might seem counterintuitive to be signing deals and opening hotels on the back of such a painstaking year in 2020 and with a long road to full recovery ahead, but our locations are selected on the premise of clear market demand and fixed economic drivers, so quality accommodation is a requisite and one we’re fit to deliver on”, said David.  

(1) https://www.tia.org.nz/assets/Uploads/Trans-Tasman-bubble-benefits-NZ-.pdf