NEW ZEALAND. Auckland International Airport has signed a joint venture with Accor Hospitality and Tainui Group Holdings to develop and operate a Novotel hotel at the airport, to be completed in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Tainui has been appointed lead developer and investor, with Auckland Airport holding a minority interest. The 260-room hotel (four-star plus) will be developed on a long-term ground lease granted by Auckland Airport and will be managed by Accor.
Total cost is projected at NZ$65 million (US$43 million) including hotel construction estimated at approximately NZ$45 million (US$30 million). The deal remains conditional on project finance and construction tender.
Auckland Airport General Manager Property Peter Alexander stated: “There has been a clear demand from the tourism industry and travellers for a hotel in the airport terminal precinct for some time. We are exceptionally pleased to bring together such a strong group of partners, each bringing a strong track-record, skills and experience. The outcome will be a great hotel and will deliver yet another string to the bow of Auckland Airport, one of the ten best airports in the world.”
Novotel Auckland Airport will be designed by Warren & Mahoney Architects. The design will infuse subtle references to New Zealand’s culture and heritage, aiming to offer style and convenience, Auckland Airport said.
“The hotel will be an elegant, contemporary facility which represents the Auckland Airport brand, the cultural heritage of Tainui and the service values of Accor,” commented Warren & Mahoney Design Director Andrew Barclay, adding: “The hotel’s high degree of façade transparency, its natural materials and its dramatic/sculpted form are intended to provide a first insight into the essential qualities of New Zealand and its people.”
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Tainui Group Holdings has a history of developing some of the leading hotels; its portfolio includes the Hotel Novotel Hamilton Tainui (pictured), a four-star hotel in the heart of Hamilton, New Zealand, on the banks of the Waikato River |
Commenting on the joint venture, Tainui Group Holdings CEO Mike Pohio said: “This deal represents a significant development opportunity for Tainui that we believe will complement our existing successful hotel investments. The airport hotel will also generate considerable long-term economic growth and provide many new jobs for the Auckland region. The hotel will assist Auckland and New Zealand tourism and trade. It will cater for the inevitable economic recovery and growth when it returns.”
Accor Hospitality Vice President Paul Richardson added: “Accor is delighted to enter this joint venture with Tainui and Auckland Airport, and is looking forward to applying our world-class hotel management expertise to providing this global gateway with a truly international accommodation, conference and food and beverage alternative.
“Novotel Auckland Airport promises to deliver a world-class guest experience enhanced by authentic uniquely New Zealand touchpoints and references that will be underpinned by the warmth and generosity of our New Zealand people,” he said.
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Auckland Airport was profiled in the May 2009 issue of The Moodie Report Digital Print Edition |
About Tainui Group Holdings
Tainui Group Holdings is the commercial arm of Waikato-Tainui. The group is involved in property development, investment and management and has a history of developing leading hotels.
About Accor Hospitality
Accor, a major global group and the European leader in hotels, as well as the global leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 150,000 employees. It is armed with 40 years’ expertise in two core businesses: hotels and services.
Its hotel operations include the Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing 4,000 hotels in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre.
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