Capstone celebrates Michelin Keys for Delamore Lodge and The Clements Hotel

Capstone Hotel Management is celebrating significant recognition in the Michelin Guide's 2026 hotel selection, announced on 18 September, with two hotels in its boutique collection awarded Michelin Keys.

Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island has been promoted from One Key to Two Michelin Keys, building on its recognition in 2025, New Zealand's first year in the Key selection. The Clements Hotel in Cambridge has been awarded its first One Michelin Key, just over a year after opening.

Both properties are managed by Capstone Hotel Management, part of Marsden Group, under hotel management agreements. Under these partnerships, owners keep their property's identity, their vision and their sense of place, while Capstone brings operational leadership, sales and distribution expertise, and the support of a national network of hotels and lodges. Having two of the 28 Michelin Key hotels across New Zealand sit within one boutique collection reflects what a partnership with Capstone can deliver.

Marsden Group Chief Operating Officer Clare Davies said the Keys are a credit to the people at each property. “These Keys belong first and foremost to our teams on the ground, who care deeply about our guests and their properties. Delamore and The Clements show what is possible when a management approach is built around each property's individual strengths, and we are proud of the teams and owners behind them.”

Delamore Lodge, set in the Hauraki Gulf, joins the ten Two Key hotels in the country. Two Michelin Keys recognise an exceptional stay, and the lodge continues to invest in its offering with soft refurbishments across its luxury rooms, public areas and villas.

The Clements Hotel is a restored 1866 heritage hotel in the heart of Cambridge, with a Beaux-Arts façade, stained glass and a sweeping staircase brought back to life. Since opening in August 2025, the property has received a Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Business Award and a 5-Star Boutique rating on its first evaluation.

Like the Stars awarded to restaurants, Keys recognise hotels that deliver outstanding stays. Properties are assessed by anonymous inspectors against architecture and design, quality of service, personality, value and connection to place. In New Zealand, 28 hotels now hold Keys, including 10 Two Key hotels and 18 One Key hotels. Globally, 2,832 hotels hold Michelin Keys.

Capstone Hotel Management, part of Marsden Group, manages 25 hotels and lodges across New Zealand, from Queenstown's Coronet Ridge Resort and Golden Bay's Ratanui Lodge to Woodhouse Mountain Lodge in Matakana and Portage Resort in the Marlborough Sounds. The network includes The Alfred Hotel in Blenheim, due to open in late 2027.