Thompson to lead Colliers hotels team

Nick Thompson has returned to Colliers as the new National Director of Hotels.

With nearly 20 years of experience in the property industry, Thompson brings a wealth of expertise. Before specialising in hotel sales, he worked in valuations across the commercial, industrial, and tourism sectors.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Valuation and Property Management from Lincoln University and later completed a Master of Management majoring in Finance through Massey University.

He previously worked for Colliers from 2013 to 2017 and says he is excited to be back.

“This is a great opportunity to work alongside a large team in an organisation that has a major presence in the commercial property industry in New Zealand,” Thompson says.

“Having developed my base of international and domestic clients during my time in the industry, now felt like the right time to return to Colliers and take advantage of their strong national network.”

Across his career, some of the notable transactions he has brokered include the record-setting sales of Auckland hotels the InterContinental and Stamford Plaza.

He also sold the hotel development site at 5 Albert Street in Auckland and the voco Auckland City Centre by IHG hotel.

Richard Kirke, Managing Director of Agency at Colliers, says Thompson’s return to the business means Colliers is well placed to grow its presence in the hotel and tourism market.

“The hotel sector is a significant and specialised market that requires highly experienced and knowledgeable advisors for investors looking to sell or acquire.

"In the New Zealand market Nick has an exceptional track record and we are delighted to have him join our platform as the National Director.”

Speaking about the hotel market in New Zealand, Thompson says it is positioned to enter a growth phase following the significant new supply of hotels across the country in recent years.

“While there are some near-term headwinds with global geopolitical unrest, the long-term outlook remains positive.

"History has demonstrated that following periods of restricted travel there is pent-up demand for tourists and many people from around the world still want to travel to New Zealand. The current state of the New Zealand dollar makes the country an attractive destination.

“Investment-wise, hoteliers take a long-term view with a 10-year-plus horizon. Many owners held on to their assets during the pandemic as closed borders made transactions tough, but values broadly held strong.

“Looking ahead, there is positivity among investors with a wide range of buyer groups looking to enter the market, as evidenced by the transactions we have seen across the country during the past 12 months.”

Thompson is heading to the Asia-Pacific Hotel Industry Conference & Exhibition (AHICE) Fiji Investment in Tourism Summit in Fiji in early June, a destination that remains popular for Kiwi travellers.

“New Zealanders are regular travellers to the Pacific and Fiji is a prime destination for them with their appealing resorts and short flight time; it’s a highly accessible spot.

“It is a country where we have seen continued market activity in recent years with a number of assets trading there.”

- Supplied by Colliers