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Café at Queenstown Events Centre — Request for Proposal

There's an opportunity available to operate the cafē at Queenstown Events Centre (QEC)

The café in QEC's main foyer is a meeting point for thousands of locals and visitors every week — gym-goers, swimmers, sports teams, event attendees, staff and whānau. We're inviting proposals from experienced food and beverage operators keen to run the cafē from 21 July 2026.

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About the opportunity

  • Location: Main foyer, Queenstown Events Centre, Joe O'Connell Drive, Frankton

  • Initial term: Two years, with two further two-year renewals by agreement

  • Rent: $15,000 plus GST per annum (alternative rent proposals welcome)

  • Commencement: 21 July 2026

  • Fitout: Tables and chairs supplied; water and electricity connected; limited on-site food prep capacity (no commercial oven); dedicated storeroom beside the café, with additional shared storage available

What we're looking for

We want an operator who can:

  • Run a reliable, welcoming café throughout the week and during peak QEC usage times

  • Offer healthy, fresh food and beverages appropriate to a sport and health environment

  • Provide barista-style coffee

  • Keep pricing affordable for everyday QEC users

  • Support our environmental commitments, including our single-use cup free (SUC-free) policy

  • Meet all relevant food safety, health and safety, and insurance requirements

Proposals may also include service extensions, such as a mobile coffee cart during peak event days.

What to include in your proposal

A business plan of no more than 15 A4 pages, covering:

  • Café concept and how it fits the QEC environment

  • Food and beverage offering, including a sample menu with pricing

  • Day-to-day operating model and opening hours

  • Fitout plan and any additional fitout requirements

  • Staffing structure

  • Sustainability and compliance approach

  • Customer engagement and loyalty initiatives

The page limit excludes your title page, staff profiles, health and safety plans, food hygiene rating, insurance certificates, and conflict of interest declaration.

Key dates

  • Proposals open: 28 April 2026

  • Site visits: By arrangement, generally after 4:30pm on weekdays

  • Proposals close: 5.00pm, Friday 22 May 2026

Questions

All questions and clarifications should be directed to:

Merle Strudthoff, QEC Operations Manager merle.strudthoff@qldc.govt.nz 03 450 0521

Download the full RFP and then submit your proposal using the form below

Submit your proposal

Please upload your proposal and all supporting documents