Joint venture formed to build Novotel hotel at Auckland Airport
A joint venture has today been signed between Accor Hospitality, Tainui Group Holdings and Auckland International Airport, to develop and operate a world-class (4-star plus) 260 room Novotel hotel atAuckland Airport, to be completed in time for Rugby World Cup 2011.
Tainui will act as lead developer and investor in the joint venture, with Auckland Airport holding a minority interest. The hotel will be developed on a long term ground lease granted by Auckland Airportand will be managed by Accor. The total forecast completed cost is $65million including hotel construction estimated at approximately $45million.
The deal remains conditional on project finance andconstruction tender.Novotel Auckland Airport will be designed by Warren & Mahoney Architects, and the final design willinfuse subtle references to NZ culture and heritage, offering style and convenience and a great first andlast impression to travellers.
Tainui Group Holdings CEO, Mike Pohio, said, “This deal represents a significant developmentopportunity for Tainui that we believe will complement our existing successful hotel investments. TheAirport hotel will also generate considerable long-term economic growth and provide many new jobs forthe Auckland region. The hotel will assist Auckland and New Zealand tourism and trade. It will cater forthe inevitable economic recovery and growth when it returns.
”Auckland Airport general manager property, Peter Alexander said, “There has been a clear demand fromthe 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 thebow of Auckland Airport, one of the 10 best airports in the world.”
Accor Hospitality Vice President, Paul Richardson, said, “Accor is delighted to enter this joint venturewith Tainui and Auckland Airport, and is looking forward to applying our world-class hotel managementexpertise to providing this global gateway with a truly international accommodation, conference and foodand beverage alternative. Novotel Auckland Airport promises to deliver a world-class guest experienceenhanced by authentic uniquely New Zealand touch points and references that will be underpinned bythe warmth and generosity of our New Zealand people.”
Warren & Mahoney Design NotesDesign Director at Warren and Mahoney, Andrew Barclay, says “the hotel will be an elegant,contemporary facility which represents the Auckland Airport brand, the cultural heritage of Tainui and theservice values of Accor.” Above all, he says, “the hotel’s high degree of façade transparency, its naturalmaterials and its dramatic/sculpted form are intended to provide a first insight into the essential qualitiesof New Zealand and its people.”
Further Background:
About Tainui Group HoldingsTainui Group Holdings (TGH) is the commercial arm of Waikato-Tainui. Established in 1998, TGH hasbuilt a reputation for excellence in property development, investment and management and has a historyof developing successful hotels. TGH’s guiding principle is to lead Maori economic development.
About Accor HospitalityAccor, a major global group and the European leader in hotels, as well as the global leader in services tocorporate clients and public institutions, operates in nearly 100 countries with 150,000 employees. It offers to its clients over 40 years of expertise in two core businesses:-Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, all seasons, EtapHotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing 4,000 hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lenôtre;-Services, with 30 million people in 40 countries benefiting from Accor Services products in employeeand public benefits, rewards and loyalty, and expense management.
About Auckland AirportAuckland Airport - World Airport Award Winner 2009Auckland Airport has been voted the 10th best in the world and the best airport in the Australia Pacificregion, in the 2009 independent Skytrax World Airport awards. The World Airport Survey is conducted byUK-based aviation research organisation, Skytrax. The survey is completed by approximately 8.2 milliontravellers from more than 190 airports around the world. The questionnaire asks travellers to evaluatetheir experiences across 39 different airport service and product factors - from check-in, arrivals, transferthrough to departure at the gate. www.airlinequality.co.nz