Located more than 6,500 miles from the west coast of North America in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the small island nation of New Zealand is for many travelers a dream destination.
Due to both the striking natural beauty of its landscape and its distance from many other parts of the world, the country lends itself to frequent mythologization.
The cult-favorite movie trilogy “The Lord of the Rings” was filmed entirely across the country’s North and South Islands, and tourists often come to experience unique natural phenomena such as hot springs, geysers, boiling mud pools, ancient rainforests, and fjords.
Hotels are well aware of this and are seizing on rising tourism facilitated by greater air connectivity to open new properties. The New Zealand government reported that the 256,600 visitors who came to the country in 2026 surpassed 2019 pre-pandemic levels for the first time.
Marriott opening 3 New Zealand hotels by 2029
Hotel giant Marriott is set to bring two of its brands to three new properties in Auckland, Rotorua, and Wellington by 2029.
A new 135-room property under the main Marriott Hotels brand is being built in Rotorua, Top Hotel Projects reported. The city on the central North Island sits directly on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is popular with tourists for its intense volcanic and geothermal activity.
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New hotels under the more premium Autograph Collection of four- and five-star properties will also open in Auckland and Wellington by 2029.
With the St. Regis Queenstown also slated to open on the more remote South Island in 2027, Marriott will bring the total number of its properties in the country to six. The two existing Marriott properties in the country, the JW Marriott Auckland and Four Points by Sheraton Auckland, are both located in the country’s most populous city.
The new hotels, meanwhile, are part of the chain’s efforts to expand into more cities and destinations in the country.
Marriott president calls Rotorua “traditional cultural hub of New Zealand”
Rajeev Menon, the Marriott International president for the Asia Pacific region, called the New Zealand market “an important growth region for Marriott.”
“As our portfolio expands beyond traditional gateway cities, we see significant opportunities to meet growing demand from travelers and Marriott Bonvoy members for high-quality, differentiated stays,” Menon said in a statement.
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“The planned debut of Marriott Hotels in Rotorua — the traditional cultural hub of New Zealand and the Autograph Collection in the vibrant cities of Auckland and Wellington will broaden the choices available to guests while showcasing the unique character of each destination.”
The Official Auckland, Autograph Collection hotel will be built inside the historic Te Puni Kōkiri House office building on Auckland’s “Golden Mile” main shopping thoroughfare by 2028, Top Hotel Projects noted. In addition, the Fable Wellington will open inside a historic 1940s-era office building on the corner of Lambton Quay and Stout Street in Wellington in 2029.
The three new properties will bring a total of 335 additional hotel rooms to New Zealand.
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