Novotel Auckland Airport Hotel Opens

The 263-room Novotel Auckland Airport was officially opened today by Kingi Tuheitia and New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, in a traditional dawn ceremony.

The launch of the hotel, just 50 metres from the international terminal, comes just over 100 days from the kick-off of the Rugby World Cup.

The $65 million hotel project has been developed by one of New Zealand’s largest Maori entities, Tainui Group Holdings, in partnership with Auckland Airport and Accor, who operate the hotel.

Auckland Airport handles over 13 million passengers annually, projected to grow to 24 million by 2025, with 73% of all international visitors to New Zealand arriving or departing from Auckland. That figure is expected to grow substantially in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake, making the opening of the Novotel highly strategic for the country’s short-term and long-term tourism needs.

It will also significantly benefit most international visitors, as many flights to Auckland arrive late at night and connections to key regional airports are not till the following morning. International flights departing Auckland often leave early in the morning, making an overnight stay at the airport necessary, especially as it can take up to an hour's drive to reach downtown Auckland.

“For the majority of visitors to New Zealand, the Novotel is the first and last impression they have of the country, so the design of the Novotel has been infused with subtle references to New Zealand’s natural environment, culture, art and heritage,” said General Manager, Paul Columbus. “We believe it will be a showcase for the best New Zealand has to offer. Part of the New Zealand experience is the close encounter with nature, so the hotel has been surrounded with distinctive indigenous plants, including Pohutakawa (NZ Christmas) trees, while the triangular architectural features of the building are designed to reflect the bows of traditional Maori ‘waka’ canoes, which first arrived here at Manukau Harbour many hundreds of years ago.”

There is a distinct green theme in the hotel’s lobby where guests are greeted by a ‘living wall’ of indigenous plants that are nurtured by a hydroponic system. All the timbers used in the Novotel are 100% FSC-accredited Southland maple beech, which are harvested on a sustainably-managed basis, and are part of the hotel’s commitment to become a fully certified Earthcheck hotel. Major effort has also been made to reduce energy and water usage in the hotel’s daily operations.

The design of the hotel has been undertaken by leading New Zealand architect and designer, Warren & Mahoney. Some of New Zealand’s most promising designers and artists were commissioned to work on the hotel’s fit-out, and the locally-produced items range from a vast, self-supporting spiral steel staircase in the lobby to a Maori patterned ‘Patiki’ screen in the restaurant, designed to represent abundance and ‘manaakitanga’ (caring for people).

While paying homage to the past and to Maori heritage, the Novotel is also very much a reflection of contemporary New Zealand, with the latest in communication technologies, including full arrival and departure monitors in the lobby to ensure that guests are kept fully informed of the latest plane movements.

Windows in the rooms are larger than standard, and are double glazed so that there is no noise even from aircraft taking off. The lighting systems provide light where guests most need it. The bed is raised and framed by an upholstered headboard that follows the contours of the back, while providing another opportunity for New Zealand theming, with images of the graceful, undulating indigenous toi toi grasses.

The bathroom is separated from the rest of the room by a transparent glass partition that can be covered by an internal privacy screen.

“We offer the most innovative connectivity with a proper working desk and communications panel that can help convert a room into a mobile office,” said Columbus. “We will also eventually be able to introduce room access via mobile phone – the first in New Zealand – so that a guest will be able to get off the plane and go straight into their room ... Fitness is an important part of an airport hotel experience, so our in-Balance Fitness gym has the most sophisticated equipment and we will also have special facilities for airline crews.”

Another feature of the hotel is its conference centre, with 12 meeting rooms, capable of hosting conferences for up to 315 delegates theatre style

There are a surprising number of activities in close proximity to the airport. Wine tastings and dinners can be organised at one of New Zealand's most renowned wineries, Villa Maria, and Butterfly Creek is a vast tourist park offering everything from a tropical butterfly house with over 750 species to New Zealand's only saltwater crocodiles.

Special Opening Deal Rates start from NZ$179 per night, but until the end of August, a 25% discount is offered on all fully flexible rates. Terms and conditions apply.

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