Under the watchful eye of Auckland-based interior designers Macintosh Harris, the lobby and reception area makeover infuses both a delicate French flavour as well as a reflection the hotel’s iconic location in the heart of Queenstown.

The new lobby evokes a feeling of grandeur featuring a colour palette that mirrors the turquoise hue of Lake Wakatipu and blends it with gold highlights - a historical nod to Queenstown’s gold mining heritage. An ultra-fine mirror mosaic envelopes the wall of the grand staircase adding to the glamour of the space. Contemporising the hotel’s French culture, the design effortlessly merges Christian Lacroix armchairs and floral artwork throughout the lobby.

Combing local with international objets d’art some of the key features are ‘Rosie’ an  artwork by Auckland based artist Robert Scriven located above the fireplace in the lobby, a series of murals titled ‘Monochromatic Otago’ and a sculptured floor lamp ‘Lampada Ribot’ composed of a brass handmade loudspeaker.

The pièce de résistance is an embellishment artwork on the 100 year old Steinway piano which graces the lobby. ‘Formation in Gold’ by celebrated contemporary Kiwi artist Anna Leyland is an art installation that provides multi-layered references to national and cultural symbols and balances traditional shapes with modern flow.

Sofitel Queenstown’s General Manager Jeremy Samuels says: “We’re delighted with the new look lobby which infuses our rich heritage with contemporary aesthetics. It’s a celebration of the allure and energy of being in Queenstown”.

Located at 8 Duke Street, the multi-award-winning Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa is renowned for its refined experience and outstanding service, an enticing blend of French ‘joie de vivre’ and the warm hospitality that’s inherent to Queenstown. The hotel was placed #8 in one of the world’s most prestigious travel awards – Conde Nast Traveler, Top Hotels in Australia and New Zealand: Readers’ Choice Awards 2016.

The hotel features 70 Superior and Luxury rooms, 10 Prestige Suites, two Penthouse Suites and So Spa at Sofitel which takes guests on an unadulterated journey of relaxation and pampering, all in the finest location in the heart of Queenstown.

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