Luxury Lodge Sold In Million-Dollar Plus Deal

Media release, Wednesday 8 December 2004

Luxury Lodge Sold In Million-Dollar Plus Deal

One of New Zealand’s best-known luxury lodges has been sold in a million-dollar-plus deal with a major redevelopment project already in the planning.

Braemar Lodge is nestled amidst sheltered gardens on a 1.3-hectare plateau overlooking the Hanmer Basin and the town of Hanmer Springs.

The new owners, Ross Thomson and Neil Dougan have multi-million-dollar development plans for the luxury lodge. They unashamedly are targeting the top end of the luxury market – those who want to experience absolute exclusive luxury in a truly pure Kiwi alpine environment.

Between them, the partners have extensive experience in the hospitality and development sectors.

Ross Thomson was formally CEO of the exclusive Canterbury Club, the acting Chief Executive of the former Canterbury Tourism Council and also managed the Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve from 1990 to 1996.

Neil Dougan is a renowned property developer and the driver behind multi-unit developments in urban and rural Canterbury.

“Braemar Lodge is located in one of the most picturesque areas of New Zealand,” says Ross Thomson. “Our redevelopment will ensure that the serenity and beauty of its setting are reflected in the lodge itself,” he says.

With views stretching over plains, rivers and rolling hills to the mountains, Braemar Lodge is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. A year-round destination, the Lodge offers warmth in front of a roaring log fire on winter days, and al fresco dining late into summer evenings.

“There’s nothing quite like waking up at Braemar Lodge to the sun rising. In the evening when the sun sets over the mountains, this is the most tranquil place on earth,” says Ross Thomson.

Their passion for the Lodge is not the only factor that influenced the purchase of Braemar Lodge. Both Ross Thomson and Neil Dougan say there is an increasing demand for accommodation at the high end of the luxury market.

“There has been a great rise in demand for accommodation such as this from both the domestic and international market in recent years,” says Ross Thomson. “We are extremely confident that both tourists and local visitors will see Braemar Lodge as their number-one choice for absolute exclusive luxury accommodation. The Hanmer Springs area has a lot to offer in terms of activities and scenery, so we are ideally located,” he says.

Braemar Lodge is located on the Alpine Pacific Triangle tourist route, just 90 minutes from Christchurch Airport. The town of Hanmer Springs is just nine kilometres from the Lodge gates.

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