New owners of The Spire Queenstown bring fresh approach

The new owners of boutique hotel business The Spire Queenstown are promising a genuinely fresh approach to hotel management.

New Zealand sisters Lucy and Amelia Gain officially took over ownership of the multi-award-winning 10-room property yesterday (December 15).

And at just 22 and 23-years-old, they are looking forward to the challenge of approaching the market with some fresh thinking and new ideas. 

Lucy, 22, is a graduate of the Queenstown Resort College Diploma of Hospitality Management, while 23-year-old Amelia, who has studied philosophy and politics, is currently studying IT.

Together they are 50/50 shareholders in a new company – Le Due Sorelle or The Two Sisters – which has bought the business because the opportunity presented itself and the opportunity was “too good to turn down”.

Lucy is the company managing director and Amelia will be in charge of accounts and IT, and both believe they have the complementary skills to make the business work.

“We knew a couple of months ago that the opportunity to buy the property was there so we looked at it long and hard, but it was just too exciting to turn down,” said Lucy.

“We know Queenstown extremely well as our family lived here for five-and-a-half years, and since they left we’ve worked and studied here and overseas on and off in the hospitality industry.

“Some people will be surprised by our ages, but I’ve worked in the luxury sector over the past couple of years, working on luxury yachts in Europe. We know how to look after guests, we’ll give them a really personal experience and stay, and we appreciate what they are looking for.”

Amelia said they were prepared to put in the hard work and long hours to ensure the business was a success.

“We’re very hard working, enthusiastic and dedicated and we’re determined to make this work,” she said.

“Lucy has a very outgoing personality whereas I’m more of a ‘behind the scenes’ person, but we both have some good ideas about how to make The Spire more inviting and accessible not only to guests, but to the local community.”

The sisters stressed that it would be “business as usual” over the busy summer period while they took stock of forward bookings and future opportunities.

“We do have some exciting ideas up our sleeve and plans to revitalize the business in some areas, but for the moment we will concentrate on the guests we already have coming and on building relationships with inbound tour operators, agents and the local business community,” said Lucy.

“We have some longstanding staff at The Spire with whom we plan to continue to work to ensure continuity in the delivery of exceptional service.”

Queenstown Resort College CEO Charlie Phillips said he wished Lucy and her sister all the best with their new venture and was “delighted” with the news.

“Our Hospitality Management Diploma graduates have only been in the market place for two years,” he said. “We challenge all our graduates to be General Managers within ten years, so we’re absolutely delighted to have someone achieve that level at such a young age.

“Lucy was a model student who always gave her best and she certainly has a good grounding with the QRC qualification combined with experience overseas on luxury yachts.

“It all helps give her a skill set that should ensure success.”