$1.4m hotel aims to lure the rich set

The former Slow Food Cafe in south Masterton is undergoing a dramatic $1.4 million transformation and extension, turning it into a boutique hotel that will rival The White Swan in Greytown or the Martinborough Hotel.
Developers Trevor and Rebecca Pearce say they are hoping Tulloch Lodge Country Hotel will carve out a whole new niche in Masterton's hotel market.
"Tourism is the number one industry in New Zealand, and there is nothing in Masterton in this niche to make them want to stop," said Mr Pearce.
"Without defaming the other hoteliers here, there are no boutique hotels in this town. There is nothing for those people that want to spend more than $80 for a room," said Mr Pearce.
The upmarket 10-suite hotel is scheduled to open just after the new year.
Mr Pearce says there is a growing demand for high-end accommodation in central Wairarapa.
"There has been a definite move north in tourist dollar spending that is filtering through. We are looking for the cosmopolitan Wellington person coming out of the city for a Wairarapa experience," he said.
They point out that Masterton hosts more events than anywhere else in the region, such as the balloon fiesta, the dragon boat festival, air shows and drag racing.
"It's the international trend towards a decline in motel visitors and a swing towards boutique hotels," said Mrs Pearce.
Slow Food Cafe closed in March this year for redevelopment and the Pearces are using Greytown talent to build and fit their latest project.
Renowned interior designer Michael Nalder is decking out the 10 suites and Holmes Construction are the building contractors.
Mrs Pearce said they are trying to create a "unique personal country style atmosphere".
She describes Mr Nalder's design brief as a kind of 'Ralph Lauren country lodge theme' with Nalder's "signature touch of decadence".
The new chef, Mark Sutherland, has spent the past 14 years in Australia but is originally a Masterton boy. He has been working in the New South Wales government's equivalent of our parliament's Bellamy's Restaurant.
Another new import is restaurant manager Marlon Tortoza, formerly of Salute in Greytown.
Mr Pearce said although the hotels situation in south Masterton has its advantages, there was one location he would prefer.
"If I was to be perfectly honest, I would love to have this sitting in the middle of Queen Elizabeth Park," he said.
He said the Masterton District Council has been very supportive of their development.
Even though fellow developer Doug Catley's Pheasant Inn proposal in Queen Elizabeth Park would be in competition with their hotel, Mr Pearce welcomes such an addition to the Masterton market.
"I think it is a bloody positive thing for the town.
"I'm totally supportive of what Catley is trying to do. All it is going to do is bring people here who are going to spend money in town," he said.
When the rooms are completed the hotel will be marketed on the internet.
Mr Pearce says around 80 per cent of booking enquiries for The White Swan came from the net.
He estimates the king size rooms will go for between $170-180 a night. The hotel will also include conference facilities aimed at attracting midweek conferences from Wellington.
Another Pearce project on the go is the development of the Royal Hotel in Featherston. He says it is not in the same boutique market as their last two projects but it still makes for "a nice country hotel".
The Pearces recently sold the lease on the White Swan Country Hotel to a Wellington couple but still own the land and buildings.
"We had such a good experience with The White Swan. The town down there was ready for it," said Mr Pearce.