Felix Borenstein
The Luxury Accommodation Consultant
Meet Felix.
I'm Felix Borenstein, a no-bullshit hotelier who delivers exceptional experiences.
Back in 2003, I started Owen River Lodge, a world-class fly-fishing lodge near Murchison in the South Island. For 20 years, that was my world. We scooped up national and international awards to become one of the world's leading fishing lodges.
Alongside Kylie Sargeant, we've got 25 years under our belt, navigating every aspect of New Zealand's luxury accommodation scene.
Here's our track record:
- 5-star and Luxury Lodge badges from Qualmark.
- Took home the Qualmark 100% Pure New Zealand Award.
- Bagged the NZ Tourism Association Awards two years in a row—both for Business Excellence and Visitor Experience.
- NZ Hospitality Award winner for being the Best in Environmental and Sustainability Business.
- First in New Zealand and Australia (and globally for fishing lodges) to obtain a B-Corp stamp.
- Got a "Climate Positive" nod from Ekos.
- Featured in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards, not just once, but four times from 2019—2023.
But here's the kicker: post-COVID, we're packed. My team? Still with me. And nearly half of our guests? They keep coming back.
So, who gets our magic touch?
We aren't jacks-of-all-trades. Our sweet spot is small luxury hotels, ritzy lodges, and plush bed and breakfasts.
We want you to charge with confidence, deliver unmatched value, and see your profit margins grow.
Here's how we work. Straight talk, no fluff.
Success in luxury accommodation is more black and white than you think. I won't bombard you with industry buzzwords; I'll lay out what works, plain and simple. Then I'll help you implement those changes.
While we might be a tad pricier than your accountant (but probably cheaper than your lawyer), we'll add some serious value to your venture.
Why me? Why Kylie?
I've spent 20 years running a globally celebrated luxury fishing lodge, with hands-on experience in international hotels, IT, recruitment, and more. Kylie spent her career in education working as a school principal with substantial experience in risk management, mentoring, and training with 25 years of expertise. She is adept at staff management and policy development, and let’s not forget her six-year stint managing a globally recognised 5-star luxury fishing lodge.
My experience is in businesses with big turnover and solid profit margins. I've got a history with three multi-million dollar ventures, and am the proud recipient of the Victorian Government Small Business of the Year award in Australia.
Looking for improvement?
If you're aiming for, better booking rates, enhanced guest experiences, more repeat customers and increased profits.
Maybe it's about time we had a chat.
Felix Borenstein
The Luxury Accommodation Consultant
