Hotel complains about 'cheap' cars lowering tone

The boss of a five star Queenstown hotel has complained that "cheap" cars parking outside it are lowering the tone.

Sofitel general manager Wouter de Graaf made his complaint in a submission on the Queenstown Lakes District Council's review of parking controls in Queenstown.

He said it was very difficult to deliver a five-star luxury experience with public parking, in particular by young people frequenting nearby bars, at the front of the Duke St hotel, the Southland Times reported.

"A lot of times the total value of all the cars in front of our door is not more than $1500, not particularly the look that we are after for our high-end paying customers."

Mr de Graaf also complained about customers getting parking tickets.

"This is very upsetting for a lot of our national and international customers, because who would expect that at a five-star luxury hotel."

- NZPA