# New Zealand Pod Hotel SO Hotel in Christchurch By Happy Hotelier | Published 2007-12-20 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/so-hotel References: [happyhotelier](http://www.happyhotelier.com/2007/12/20/christchurch-the-so-pod-hotel/) & [hotelso.co.nz](http://www.hotelso.co.nz/) **The So Hotel** [Hotel SO](http://hotelso.co.nz/Home) in Christchurch, New Zealand is another massive (284 rooms of which 190 are pod size) Pod Hotel that opened on 6 November 2007. Room rates for a double start at an affordable NZ $ 89. **Its Team** The team consists of people from industries as diverse as property development, hotel management, marketing and advertising. They believe this diversity in backgrounds is essential in providing the fresh perspective needed to develop an experience unencumbered by the traditional ways of designing and managing a hotel. **Its Philosophy** Some hotels offer a budget experience at a cheap price. Others offer a luxurious experience at a high price. SO believes that great design, great technology and great service should be available to everyone at a great price. Other than the "strict" pod hotels like Yotel Qbic and Easy Hotel it also offers bar, restaurant and business facilities. **Its History** Looking into its history and background is interesting. The Hotel has been developed by Dave Henderson who became famous in the middle 90ies for his struggle with the NZ tax authorities. It started when he claimed a tax refund that resulted in a tax review with a huge back taxes claim. It even put him into bankruptcy from which he was able to come back when he successfully overturned the tax claim. The whole story is documented in the feature film [We're Here to Help](http://www.heretohelp.co.nz). The NZ release of the film coincided with the Hotel opening. The funniest thing is that the hotel is located in....the former Tax Office. After Henderson bought the property he refused to extend the lease of the Tax Office and after having them vacate the building he started converting the building in a hotel. **More Reading** It is also featured by [The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/nov/27/hotels.newzealand) and [USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/travel/deals/inside/2007-10-18-modular-hotels_N.htm) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.9/10 - Popularity: 40% | Activity: 68% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Pod Hotels:** Opportunity for innovation in designing and managing budget-friendly hotels with pod-size rooms. - **Diverse Teams:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the hospitality industry by leveraging diverse backgrounds to provide fresh perspectives in hotel development and management. - **Accessible Luxury:** Opportunity for creating disruptive innovation in offering great design, technology, and service at an affordable price in the hotel industry. ### Where This Applies - **Hospitality:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in designing and managing pod hotels. - **Real Estate:** Opportunity for innovation in converting unconventional properties into hotels. - **Film and Entertainment:** Opportunity for innovative hotel experiences that tie in with the release of a feature film. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Modern Boutique Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-postmark-hotel.md) - [Australian Sleep-Focused Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emma-sleep-hotel.md) - [Comprehensive Hotel Renovations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/m-social-hotel.md) - [Fashion-Forward Hotel Transformations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soparis.md) - [Hotel Brand Launches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heritage-and-vertex.md) - [Eccentric Soho Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/martin-brudnizki.md) - [Antarctica Glamping Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/echo-camping-pods.md) - [All-Glass Mesmerizing Compact Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beaufort-bushland-retreat.md) - [Mattress Brand Sleep Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-emma-sleep-hotel.md)