Wim Ruepert
Director, Auckland, New Zealand
Wim Ruepert is a Director at Horwath HTL New Zealand, a leading expert in hotel planning and development, as well as hotel asset management services.
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He offers comprehensive expertise in market studies, financial feasibility analyses, strategic advisory, operator and brand selection, acquisition due diligence, and the identification of value-enhancing improvements for hotels. Furthermore, he provides expert witness services and litigation or mediation support to various stakeholders.
Wim has over 28 years of experience in senior financial leadership and general management within the hotel industry. He has developed a robust international portfolio, having worked across Australasia, Europe, the USA, China, Japan, and the Caribbean. Prior to joining Horwath HTL, he held senior roles at Intercontinental Hotels Group, including regional finance and area general manager positions, with responsibility for multiple hotel properties.
During his tenure at Horwath HTL, Wim has conducted a wide range of market studies, projections, feasibility analyses, operator selections, asset management, and related engagements across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific.
Wim has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including recognition for leading the Crowne Plaza Auckland to be voted Best New Zealand Business Hotel in 2014 and 2015. He has been instrumental in reversing market share losses and significantly increasing operating profits for the hotels under his management. Additionally, Wim was awarded the "Manager Finance & Business Support of the Year" accolade for the Asia Pacific Region during his tenure with the Intercontinental Hotels Group.
Education:
– Master of Business Administration (MBA), Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM), Sydney, Australia
– Hotel Management School, Heerlen, The Netherlands (Graduated)
– Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA
– Post Graduate Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism Management, MGSM & International College of Tourism and Hotel Management (ICTHM), Sydney, Australia

Experience
Bold steps forward
We help clients achieve extraordinary outcomes.
Rugby World Cup Impact Study
New Zealand
SkyCity Horizon Hotel Hotel Market and Revenue Projections
Auckland, New Zealand
Market Analysis and Projections for Wellington Convention Centre
Wellington, New Zealand
Hotel Lease Expert Witness Representation
New Zealand
Operational Due Diligence for Fund Manager
Oceania
Development & Execution of a Long-term Strategy for Hamilton Airport Hotel & Conference Centre
Hamilton, New Zealand
Māori Battalion Museum Development Business Case
Waitangi, New Zealand
Performance Improvement Plan for Resort Repositioning
Fiji
Expert insights
Cutting edge analysis.
New Zealand Hotel Performance Focus February 2025
New Zealand’s hotel market in February 2025 showed mixed regional performance, with RevPAR declining nationally by 1.8%, yet strong growth in areas like Queenstown and Nelson-Marlborough, while others faced challenges, amidst a backdrop of fluctuating international visitor arrivals and increased supply.

New Zealand Hotel Performance Focus December 2024 – January 2025
New Zealand’s hotel sector experienced encouraging growth in December 2024 and January 2025, with RevPAR increasing by 5.7% compared to the previous year. Queenstown and Christchurch led the way.

New Zealand Hotel Performance Focus November 2024
After six consecutive months of year-on-year declines, hotels in New Zealand experienced a 7% growth in Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) in November, driven by increased international visitor arrivals and major events. While cities like Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown saw robust performance improvements, markets such as Wellington and the Central North Island faced challenges due to reduced demand levels.

New Zealand Hotel Performance Focus October 2024
The New Zealand hotel industry faced mixed performance in October 2024, with national RevPAR declining by 5.4% compared to the previous year, though regional markets like Queenstown saw significant gains. Factors such as increased room supply, reduced government travel, and challenges in international visitor recovery contributed to the overall decline, particularly in Auckland.
