New Zealand’s First Fully Smart Hotel

I hope you are having a great day. High tech and stylish, New Zealand’s first fully “smart” hotel has opened its doors in the heart of Queenstown. A first in New Zealand and in the world, the new mi-pad Queenstown is described as a next generation, energy-conscious hotel experience for the smart traveller – bringing together technology, sustainability, comfort and convenience. The key to mi-pad Queenstown is that there is no key.

The six-storey hotel features 57 stylish rooms with the latest in-room tech, multiple “social spaces” and an impressive rooftop terrace. Guests booking their stay download the hotel’s personal app “mia” and their smartphone becomes a room key, meaning that the physical check in (or check out) is a thing of the past. Mia also has a range of other tricks up her sleeve, with the app enabling guests to set temperatures and mood lighting in their room (even remotely), request room service or alert hotel staff that they don’t want to be disturbed. Access to the hotel is available 24/7 thanks to the technology. Once guests are settled in, mia transforms into a personal digital concierge, delivering the latest information on events, activities or offers and encouraging them to experience the best of this popular year-round alpine destination. Guests can have as much or as little interaction with mi-pad staff and other guests as they like, including the option to share experiences, photos or messages through mia’s private chat group. A floor-to-ceiling “social wall” in the hotel’s entrance lobby also features mia’s latest updates and guests’ shared experiences. In the heart of Queenstown, the hotel’s best kept secret is its huge rooftop terrace with an outdoor fireplace, plentiful seating and wraparound 270-degree views of Lake Wakatipu and surrounding mountains.