**Wairakei Resort is the largest hotel in Taupō and set on 70ha of grounds and adjacent forestry blocks.**

The future of Wairakei Resort is now being considered following a change of management at Taupō’s largest hotel and convention centre. Dan Hutchinson catches up with new manager Jade Bolstad to find out what’s next for the sprawling complex.

Wairakei Resort has a special place in Taupō’s history as a tourist destination, dating back to 1886.

The scale of Wairakei Resort isn’t immediately obvious to those driving past but inside the gates, nestled within 70 hectares, the resort boasts 187 rooms, 12 conference spaces, a 25-metre thermally heated pool, spa facilities, tennis courts, a 9-hole golf course, and direct access to hundreds of kilometres of mountain biking trails. Its size and scope make it a significant contributor to the Taupō tourism economy — particularly in the events and conference market.

Located in the heart of the Wairakei Tourist Park, Wairakei Resort neighbours popular tourism providers, such as Huka Jet, Huka Prawn Park, and Wairakei Terraces just across the road.

Malaysian owner Bayview International Hotels & Resorts have owned the property since 1991 but in May this year it passed management over to hotel operator Accor.

Accor operates more than 400 hotels in the Pacific region, including brands like Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel and Ibis, covering luxury, premium, midscale and economy.

Jade started in July this year and says while there have been some repairs and maintenance done in that time, they are taking time to work out where to position the resort before putting a full renovation proposal to the owners.

“The owners remain deeply invested in the property and the community. With Accor now in place, the vision is to enhance what’s already here and return the resort to its former prominence as a premier destination.”

With a renewed focus on reconnecting with the local community and tourism operators, a new on-site sales and marketing team has been introduced, helping to re-establish the resort as a major player in Taupō’s conference and events space

She says for business groups and travel agents, having a local sales team will be a huge benefit.

Her message to locals is that they are open for business. She is well aware of the importance of the resort to the wider tourism industry in the district and is excited to play a role within it.

Jade worked for Accor for 18 years, and was General Manager of the Movenpick Hotel in Wellington. She recently took a break from hotels to work in a tourism role for Weta Workshop.

“This is an incredible opportunity. Wairakei Resort has a long-standing legacy in the region, and I’m thrilled to be part of its next phase.”

“We’re looking at how we can better serve not just our guests, but Taupō as a whole — from hosting local events to creating more reasons for families and visitors to spend time here. We’ve already introduced sharper pricing for locals on the golf course, and more initiatives are coming.”

The importance of the venue for the wider local tourism sector was significant because while it can host up to 1000 people in the conference rooms, many of those guests need to find accomodation elsewhere and will do other activities while they are here, including spend in hospitality and retail.

She has met with the general managers of some of the other hotels in the district over the past few months.

“There’s a lot of excitement in the industry about Wairakei Resort stepping back into the spotlight.

“We’re already seeing more interest from business groups, event organisers, and travel partners. Our message is: we’re here, we’re active, and we’re ready to welcome you.”

She says there is also a misconception out there that they have been closed in recent years but that is not the case.

The resort was closed for a period after Cyclone Gabrielle, but has been open since then.

She says those seeking conference venues are often corporate clientele that have people based in Auckland, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Hamilton or Gisborne.

Taupō is “literally the most central location” but it competes with other regions for that type of business.

“Taupō in its day was a really strong conference and events town for New Zealand. That changed over the years for many reasons, but the industry here are pushing to put us back on the map and Wairakei Resort will play an integral role in that journey”

The resort has always been popular with families, including the villas which are clustered together in such a way that extended family or friend groups can have separate accommodation clustered around central grassed courtyard areas.

Jade says the Spring and Summer seasons are picking up well and the future is bright.