AKA Rooftop aerial view at sunset in Auckland

HOSPITALITY · NEW ZEALAND

Developing hotels.
Creating destinations.

Michael Chow brings hospitality destinations to life.
Hotel Developer & Investor · Co-founder, Stonewood Group

Explore selected projects ↓
AKA Rooftop · Drone approachDrone footage

A HOSPITALITY JOURNEY

Experience from
building to opening.

Hotel development and hospitality experience, brought together.

Explore Michael’s experience through selected Stonewood hospitality projects, from city hotels and building conversions to setting up and opening AKA Rooftop. A portfolio for investors, hotel partners and people who want to help create the next destination.

Selected projects and track record. Projects reflect development experience and track record; they are not a statement of current ownership.

01 Pullman02 Oaks03 Microtel04 Radisson RED05 AKA Rooftop

SELECTED PROJECTS

Five destinations.
Distinctive perspectives.

01—05
Pullman Rotorua exterior at duskOFFICIAL PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY
01

ROTORUA · HOTEL

Pullman
Rotorua.

A prominent city building reimagined as a contemporary hotel, moments from Rotorua’s lakefront.

1135 Arawa StreetCity hospitality
Explore the project ↗
Oaks Wellington on Courtenay PlaceOFFICIAL PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY
02

WELLINGTON · HOTEL

Oaks
Wellington.

A former vehicle assembly building finds a new chapter in the heart of Wellington’s entertainment precinct.

89 Courtenay PlaceAdaptive reuse
Explore the project ↗
Microtel Wellington exteriorOFFICIAL PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY
03

WELLINGTON · HOTEL

Microtel
Wellington.

A commercial building transformed into a compact city hotel, with an urban character all its own.

25 Vivian StreetBuilding conversion
Explore the project ↗
Radisson RED Auckland Premium Park View guest roomPREMIUM PARK VIEW · OFFICIAL ROOM PHOTOGRAPHY
04

AUCKLAND · HOTEL & RETAIL

Radisson RED
Auckland.

An office building’s next chapter: a design-led hotel and retail destination connecting Queen Street and Lorne Street. Explore three guest-room interiors from Radisson RED Auckland’s official room gallery.

Auckland MidtownMixed-use redevelopment
Explore the rooms ↗
AKA Rooftop restaurant and bar

05 / AUCKLAND · HOSPITALITY

AKA Rooftop.
Brought to life.

Michael’s hospitality experience includes setting up and opening AKA Rooftop — a restaurant and bar above Auckland.

An all-weather retractable roof opens the terrace to the sky, bringing the rooftop experience into every season.

Described by AKA as New Zealand’s largest open-air rooftop terrace.

Experience AKA Rooftop ↗
ORIGINAL VENUE FOOTAGE · AKA ROOFTOP
Michael Chow, official Stonewood Group portrait
MICHAEL CHOWCO-FOUNDER, STONEWOOD GROUP

ABOUT MICHAEL

Development.
Hospitality.
Experience.

Hotel Developer & Investor.

Michael Chow is a co-founder of Stonewood Group. His experience spans hotel development and hospitality, including setting up and opening AKA Rooftop. This portfolio brings selected projects together for prospective investors, hotel partners and people interested in contributing to future hospitality projects.

Connect on LinkedIn ↗Stonewood GroupVisit Stonewood Group ↗

PLANNED HOSPITALITY PROJECTS

The next
chapter.

Development plans and concepts, distinct from the selected portfolio above. Scope remains subject to design development and feasibility.

Existing Pullman Rotorua building, not a future expansion rendering
EXISTING PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH
Planned expansion & upgrade

Pullman Rotorua

Two stages. One hospitality destination.

Current expansion plan
15 additional rooms with conference and wellness upgrades.
Separate future expansion
A further 100 rooms proposed by the owner.

Separate future proposal; scope remains subject to design development and feasibility.

Existing Oaks Wellington hotel, not a proposed rooftop rendering
EXISTING PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH
Concept & feasibility

Oaks Wellington

A hotel upgrade with a new rooftop experience.

Proposed hotel improvements with a rooftop bar and restaurant, currently at concept and feasibility stage.

Concept stage. Design, delivery and any future branding remain unsettled.

PALMERSTON NORTH55
The Square.Hotel conversion concept
Proposed conversion

55 The Square

Hotel accommodation meets rooftop hospitality.

Proposed hotel conversion in Palmerston North with an AKA-style rooftop restaurant and bar, including a retractable roof.

Design development stage. Hotel branding and final design remain to be confirmed.

CHRISTCHURCHClearwater.Accommodation development proposal
Proposed development

Clearwater, Christchurch

A planned accommodation development.

Planned accommodation development — scope and delivery programme under review.

Proposed development. Final scope remains to be confirmed.

Explore hotel opportunities ↗

These are planned or proposed projects, not completed outcomes. Contact Michael to discuss a potential investment or partnership. No investment offer is made on this website.

THE NEXT CONVERSATION

What could we
build together?

Explore an investment, discuss a hotel partnership
or introduce your experience and ambitions.

01 / INVESTORS

Investment opportunities

Start a conversation about hospitality and development opportunities.

02 / HOTEL PARTNERS

Hotel partnerships

Connect about development, hotel operations or creating a hospitality destination.

03 / PEOPLE

Careers & talent

Introduce your skills and interest in contributing to hospitality projects.

Introduce your interest or experience. Career enquiries are expressions of interest; no current vacancy is implied.

Drone → AKA → Pullman → Oaks → Microtel → Radisson RED · 48 seconds

AKA: supplied drone and original venue footage. Pullman, Oaks, Microtel and Radisson RED: animated official photography. Upbeat EDM soundtrack with a strong 128 BPM dance beat.

LET’S CONNECT

A conversation
starts here.

Tell Michael about your interest in a project, partnership or career opportunity.

Include your country code if outside New Zealand.

Your details will be used to respond to this enquiry. Please read our privacy notice. You can also email Michael directly.

FILM & MEDIA

Real places.
Clear provenance.

A journey through selected New Zealand hospitality projects. Films combine original AKA footage and animated project photography.

Experience and venue features

AKA’s official functions and events page describes an all-weather retractable roof and New Zealand’s largest open-air rooftop terrace. This is the venue’s description, not an independently verified size comparison. Retrieved 11 October 2026.

Planned projects

Plans and proposals remain subject to feasibility, design development and the required approvals. Images show existing properties rather than proposed future designs.

Radisson room images are sourced from Radisson RED Auckland’s official room page, retrieved 11 October 2026. They depict this Auckland property, not another Radisson location.

The moving sequence

  1. Pullman Rotorua — animated official photography.
  2. Oaks Wellington — animated official photography.
  3. Microtel Wellington — animated official photography.
  4. Radisson RED Auckland — animated official photography.
  5. AKA Rooftop — supplied drone footage and genuine venue footage from its official homepage.

The soundtrack is upbeat instrumental EDM at 128 BPM with four-on-the-floor drums and heavy bass from the HeyGen music catalog. Genuine live-action footage for chapters 01–04 remains a media gap. No generated buildings are used. Media use on this website was approved by John Chow on 11 October 2026.