$35m Sudima Queenstown Five Mile hotel open

The doors were officially opened to part of a $75 million project in Queenstown - known as Five Mile’s Building 7 - only yesterday but its developer and owner, Clearmont Group, is already planning another expansion.

At the official opening for the $35 million, four and a-half star, 120-room Sudima Queenstown Five Mile yesterday, Clearmont Group director Craig Greenwood said while Covid had "well and truly changed the business landscape", an unintended consequence was that it had accelerated people’s understanding of how easy it was to work remotely.

"People still want to live in Queenstown and they always will.

"We’re seeing such huge demand for office space that we’ve successfully lodged an application for consent to double our office capacity. So there are more buildings to come ... We’re fully excited about the return of tourism, but Queenstown’s now being seen as a place to do business.

"Watch this space."

Mr Greenwood said there was "absolutely nothing" at Five Mile before the first sod was turned in October 2013 — Countdown, Five Mile’s first tenant, opened two years later.

He described Building 7 - which totals 9000sq m - as the "signature building" of the entranceway to the shopping centre, which sits beside Queenstown Central.

Pictured at the official opening of the Sudima Queenstown Five Mile yesterday are (from left) Clearmont Group director and co-founder Craig Greenwood, Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult and mayoress Karen Boult, Sudima Queenstown general manager Hemal Ghetta and Sudima chief operating officer Les Morgan. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGH

Mr Greenwood said the project started in January last year and "it took a bit of courage to push on with it in the face of so much uncertainty".

"Out of adversity comes the opportunity to go forward and continue to provide better amenities for our local community.

"What I think we did reflects on the long-term vision for Queenstown.

"It was the right decision to carry on, but it’s still difficult when such a big portion of the community has been historically geared to the international market.

"It’s been a blow to lose some of that international visitor market, but population growth in the district has definitely helped keep local businesses thriving, including us, and people appreciate supporting local, especially where we’re also providing jobs."

The hotel officially opens for guests today.