Tried & Tested: Queenstown
At Tandem Travel, we recommend hotels every day. While our Preferred Partner Programme gives us access to a carefully selected portfolio of trusted properties, we believe there's no substitute for experiencing them firsthand.
Tried & Tested follows our team as they stay in the hotels we recommend, focusing on the details that matter most to business travellers, from location and workspaces to wellbeing, convenience and the overall guest experience.
On our latest visit to Queenstown, here's what stood out.
For Conferences Made Easy – Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
Anyone who's travelled for a conference knows how quickly the little logistics can add up. Finding your way around an unfamiliar city, organising transport between meetings or squeezing in a meal between sessions all takes time.
That's why Novotel Queenstown Lakeside stood out to Glenda Daken, Account Manager.
The hotel is within walking distance of Queenstown's lakefront and central dining and retail precinct, with restaurants, cafés and transport options all close by, as experienced by Glenda during her stay. For time-poor travellers, the ability to access key amenities on foot is a practical advantage.
The convenience continues inside the hotel. Check-in was warm and seamless, the rooms were spacious and quiet, and breakfast at Elements offered plenty of choice before heading out for the day. There's also conference space for up to 30 delegates, making it well suited to smaller meetings and corporate events, while onsite laundry facilities and an activities desk add flexibility for longer stays or travellers extending their visit.
"The location made such a difference. Being able to walk almost everywhere meant I could focus on the trip instead of worrying about getting around."
— Glenda Daken
It's easy to understand why this hotel continues to be such a popular choice for conference delegates and business travellers looking to make the most of their time in Queenstown.
Tandem Takeaway: A great fit for conference delegates, corporate groups and travellers who want to spend less time thinking about logistics and more time making the most of their stay.
For the Modern Business Traveller – voco, Queenstown
Recently refurbished and reimagined as voco Queenstown, this was one of the most recently refreshed hotels our team experienced.
When Simone Adams, Marketing & Communications Specialist, checked in, the refurbishment was immediately noticeable. Queenstown has no shortage of great places to stay, but many have been around for some time. voco felt different. The shared spaces were bright and welcoming, while the rooms had a contemporary feel without losing the warmth you'd hope for after a day in the Queenstown winter.
What stood out wasn't one standout feature, but how naturally everything came together. The room made clever use of the available space, with a comfortable table and chair for catching up on work, integrated seating and thoughtful design touches like the bathroom door doubling as the shower door. It never felt cramped, despite making the most of every square metre.
Breakfast was another highlight, with a generous range of hot and continental options that made it easy to start the day without needing to stop elsewhere. The gym and sauna were welcome additions after a day outdoors. They may not be the reason you'd choose the hotel, but they certainly added to the overall stay.
One unexpected favourite was a quiet bench inside the hotel overlooking the snow-covered Skyline which became Simone's morning coffee spot before walking into town. It was a simple moment, but one that highlighted the value of staying somewhere that's well positioned, allowing everything else to fall naturally into place.
By the end of the stay, it was easy to understand why the refurbishment has given the hotel a new lease on life. It feels contemporary without trying too hard, practical without feeling corporate, and strikes a balance that's well suited to today's business traveller.
Tandem Takeaway: Ideal for travellers looking for a contemporary stay with practical facilities, a great breakfast and an easy walk into the heart of Queenstown.
For Longer Stays – Ramada, Queenstown
Not every business trip is a quick in-and-out. Some stretch into a week or more, where you start to settle into a rhythm and need a space that feels genuinely comfortable, not just somewhere to sleep.
That was exactly the kind of stay Sandie Clark, Performance Lead, had in mind when she spent time at Ramada Queenstown Central.
Rather than feeling like a hotel designed for short visits, Ramada felt like somewhere you could comfortably settle into. More than half of the rooms are apartment-style, complete with kitchens and in-room laundry, making them particularly well suited to project work, extended business travel or anyone wanting a little more flexibility while they're away.
One feature that especially stood out was the two-bedroom apartments. Having dual ensuite bathrooms means colleagues can travel together while still having their own space, something that's surprisingly difficult to find and often makes a real difference on longer trips.
The practical touches continue throughout the property. Reliable Wi-Fi, a well-equipped gym, onsite conference facilities and an easy walk into central Queenstown all contribute to a stay that's straightforward, comfortable and well suited to longer visits.
"The apartment-style rooms completely changed the experience. Having the extra space, kitchen and laundry made it much easier to settle in and made a longer stay feel far more comfortable."
- Sandie Clark
Not every traveller needs apartment-style accommodation, but for those who do, it removes many of the small frustrations that can come with spending extended time away from home.
Tandem Takeaway: Ideal for longer stays, project teams and colleagues travelling together who'll appreciate extra space and the flexibility of apartment-style accommodation.
Why We Do This
At Tandem Travel, our role goes beyond making bookings. By staying in the hotels we recommend, we gain firsthand insight into the details that matter most to business travellers, whether that's proximity to a conference venue, a functional workspace, access to wellbeing facilities or simply a hotel that makes life on the road a little easier.
Those are the details that don't always appear on a booking website, but they often make the biggest difference to the overall travel experience.
Every hotel we visit helps us make better recommendations for our customers. It means when we're matching someone to a property, we're drawing on firsthand experience, not just a brochure or a website.
Next stop: Christchurch.
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