Touch of Spice has made its mark as a leader in New Zealand’s high-end holiday market and under the direction of owner Jacqui Spice, has been instrumental in redefining luxury travel.

Jacqui Spice launched Touch of Spice in Queenstown in 2005 as a personal concierge business and says 14 years on it is now the leader in luxury stays and experiences in the South Pacific.

“Not long into the business, I identified a gap in the holiday rental market for the provision of luxury holiday homes and villas that were more in line with a five-star hotel. We introduced a fully inclusive option that included luxury bathroom amenities, linen, 24/7 concierge services, and a plethora of inhouse options from private chefs to spa treatments –and that changed everything.”

“We were really the only company in New Zealand offering this at the time and certainly the only one in Queenstown.  When I was marketing the business at international trade shows no-one had even thought about recommending their clients book a private villa in New Zealand, so it was quite challenging to get the concept across. However, the business grew as more people realised the benefits of bringing the family to a home or an apartment versus a hotel or a lodge.  You certainly get more bang for your buck, more space to rest and relax with friends and family.”

The Touch of Spice accommodation portfolio has over 60 exclusive villas around the country and they are the primary agent for a range of luxury lodges, boutique hotels and other unique properties such as tree houses and glass pods.

“We are in a great position as the number one go to for luxury accommodation in New Zealand. The business has evolved into a full-service luxury travel company with a team of 20, creating incredible experiences for clients all over New Zealand, Australia and Fiji,” says Jacqui.

“Providing clients with a home away from home with all the luxuries and amenities they are accustomed to or aspire to is our number one focus.  Our villas range from $1000 NZD per night right up to $40,000 NZD for a premium residence with butler services, full-time staff, all meals, and beverages –basically an exclusive use luxury lodge model but all to yourself.”

The Residence Collection

In 2017 Jacqui Spice and her team launched a new tier in their portfolio – The Residence Collection by Touch of Spice – a group of uber premium villa rentals in New Zealand. The Residence collection includes some of the country’s most exclusive properties such as the Lodge at The Hills and The Elms at Lake Hayes Collection.

“These homes are the crème de la crème with something to suit every taste, style and need. The Lodge at the Hills includes a private chef, night porter, underground dining room, tennis court, pool, sauna, and sculpture garden,” she says.

“On Queenstown Hill we have Stelvio and Cascata, two contemporary homes with incredible views. They are some of the largest villas on offer in the country and cater perfectly to  the multi-generational families coming largely out of the UK and the US.”

Jacqui says delivering excellence to guests and homeowners is key and Touch of Spice has forged a solid reputation for outstanding service.

“We are on-call 24/7 to all in-house guests 365 days a year.  We never close and no request is too big or too small.  We decorate Christmas trees for guests, stock their pantries, book babysitters for their children and ensure a seamless stay. On the flip side we offer our home-owners complete peace of mind and the assurance that one company is accountable for everything.”

Property Listing with Touch of Spice

For the past seven years Touch of Spice has been voted Top Travel Specialists – Villa by Condé Naste Traveler magazine and the company is always keen to discover new homes to join their Private Villa Collection.

“Typically, we are looking for a home with exceptional views, great architecture, interior design, plenty of living space and luxury additions such as spa pools are always a winner,” says owner Jacqui Spice.

“As an award-winning and value-driven business with customers all over the world we ensure our sales team are on hand around the clock to guarantee all booking enquiries are responded to personally within 24 hours.”

She says providing homeowners with an acceptable return on their investment is essential, together with ensuring the property remains in perfect condition.

“What sets us apart from our competitors is everything is under one roof with our expert team. They are knowledgeable on all villa rentals and the partnerships with our international clients. We all have an in-depth understanding of what our guests and home owners want.”