The Wānaka project is part of a nationwide, 13-hostel joint venture by international hotel platform Gaw Capital Partners Hospitality (GCP Group) and New Zealand entity, Haka House Group, founded by Christchurch businessman Ryan Sanders.
The developers will be creating 1800 Haka House beds in Wānaka, Queenstown, Tekapo, Mt Cook, Franz Josef, Christchurch, Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Taupo and Bay of Islands.
Wanaka’s Haka House would have more than 100 beds, with a mix of private rooms and dormitories, Mr Sanders said yesterday.
"I am super excited about it."
“This segment of the market is looking for a higher standard of amenities and technology including high-speed internet, USB A and C charging, as well as well-designed communal areas including fully equipped kitchens, dining and living room areas along with lockable storage."
GCP Hospitality chief executive Erwann Mahe said Haka House hostels would be design-driven, to meet a wide demographic of travellers including couples, families, millennials and Gen Z.
Tekapo would be one of the first in the chain to open and Wānaka would probably be one of the last, Mr Sanders said.
The former Wānaka YHA was bought in October 2022 and continued to operate with that name while the new owners considered where to position it in the market.
"Covid decimated the market.
"It is great to be at the forefront of resurrecting this style of accommodation. It is an important segment of overall tourism mix," Mr Sanders said.
Wānaka was special because it had "terrific summer and winter markets", giving the business two peaks to work towards.
"When international tourists think of New Zealand it is the landscape of Wānaka they recognise most, the big, open clear beautiful spaces, snowy beautiful mountains and lakes."
Haka House supported the Queenstown Lakes district’s regenerative tourism focus.
Among the "cool things" Haka House would do would be to use recycled plastic bottles to make uniforms and duvets, create worm farms, use solar energy systems and begin the process for BCorp certification next year.
Large-scale Maori artworks by mural artists Charles and Janine Williams would depict the connection between Maori culture and the natural world in each location.
