By Sue Fea
At 22 and 24, Lucy and Amelia Gain are not your average Kiwi 5-star luxury hotel owners. But that’s why their 10-room central Queenstown boutique property has been named Australasia’s best boutique hotel. The entrepreneurial young Queenstown sisters are turning heads with tourism leaders around the world less than 12 months after they bought The Spire boutique hotel in downtown Queenstown. Not only has business grown at a giddying pace, but the pair recently returned from the World Travel Awards Australasia ceremony in Thailand where they scooped three prestigious awards - Australasia’s best boutique hotel, New Zealand’s best boutique hotel and New Zealand’s best ski resort hotel. The Spire was also nominated for the World Trade Association’s best world boutique hotel. The young Diploma of Hospitality Management graduate, now managing director, Lucy (22) and her IT/business student sister, Amelia (24), who has a BA in philosophy and politics, fended off fierce competition nationally. They’re now up against top internationally renowned hotels in Hong Kong, Mauritius, Florida, South Africa, Canada and many other impressive destinations for the world title. There were some stunned faces as the two young Kiwi girls stepped up on the stage to accept their awards at the awards ceremony attended by the industry’s elite from more than 30 countries across Asia and Australasia. It was the perfect big break, the world’s top travel media at their feet, including CNN, Harper’s Bazaar, Thailand Tatler, National Geographic Traveller and Lonely Planet. “They were kind of shocked when we walked up and were so young, but everyone was really supportive. It was a superb opportunity to make some excellent contacts and definitely worth it. They were really appreciative that we’d gone - it was just us and a Tourism New Zealand representative attending from New Zealand.” There’s clearly no sibling rivalry in this family. They’re 50-50 shareholders in their hotel company, Le Due Sorelle, which means ‘The Two Sisters’ in Italian. “We’re not really like sisters – we’re more like best friends,’’ says Lucy. So what’s their secret? Well they may be young, but they’re not silly enough to give that away. Lucy admits they’ve taken on a huge risk, but they’re both young and can put in the hard yards and long hours. Ensuring they’re hands on all the time also cuts back on staff costs. “It just works. We have a really great team behind us and they’re all passionate about what we’re doing here.” While most ‘managing directors’ are working from a leather chair in a well-appointed office, on any given day Lucy can be cleaning rooms, marketing the property, paying accounts or helping out in the kitchen. Amelia also works into the wee small hours and with such a small property all the staff lend their weight to all tasks. At 22, Lucy already has an impressive hospitality resume. Formerly from Christchurch, the Gain family moved to Queenstown seven years ago where Lucy completed her Queenstown Resort College diploma before serving her six-month hotel internship in Brighton, England. Her first job was the dream - chief stewardess on a luxury yacht in Cannes, in the south of France, and her second job as second stewardess for a luxury yacht in Monaco. Apparently we’d all know her bosses - “royalty and a really switched on businessman” – but a true hospitality professional, she doesn’t give that away either. The sisters bought The Spire from businessman, Ian Inglis, of Auckland, and his Singaporean business partner Dick van der Sande, taking the reins right before the summer rush on December 15 last year. There have been challenges as with any new venture: “Every day something new comes up and every day we learn, but people just love the youthfulness. The hotels beautiful, it sells itself.” Staffing hasn’t been an issue either. “People are always asking if they can come and work here.” The essence of the bar and restaurant have been totally transformed. All the menus have been redone – a classy Thai fusion menu in the restaurant is proving popular from Thai head chef, Suranalong Jaipong (‘Pieak’) formerly of Christchurch, who has put his stamp of attention to detail on the place with help from another Thai chef and a French sous chef. Thai fusion tapas in the bar are also a big drawcard and they’ve expanded the offerings from the former champagne and wine bar to offer top quality spirits and a full cocktail menu. “There’s a sense of sophistication in the bar, but we attract young and old.” They’ve also diversified into functions for up to 80 people and conferencing, utilising a well-appointed, upmarket boardroom. Lucy says they’ve revitalised the hotel, but they haven’t touched the fit-out as the original owners did an incredible job. “Our vision is to provide the complete package, unsurpassable service and exceptional cuisine in the most luxurious and welcoming surroundings.” She says they’ve taken an avant-garde approach to the way the hotel is run and the combined skills of their passionate team of staff have allowed them to create a unique product. Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler says the Gain sisters’ “cool and stylish hotel” has a fantastic future ahead. “It’s a leading example within the hospitality industry providing a personal yet professional service in a sophisticated contemporary environment.”