By James Wilkinson

Hilton has signed an agreement to manage the Terraces Hotel in Lake Taupo, New Zealand, in a move that will bolster the region’s MICE offering and branding on a global stage.

Terraces Hotel: to become Hilton Lake Taupo

Set to re-open in late 2009 following an extensive refurbishment, Terraces Hotel will be known as Hilton Lake Taupo and will be managed on behalf of Triumph Capital, a privately owned New Zealand advisory company.

Currently comprising 113 deluxe hotel rooms, suites and apartments, the hotel will be further developed to 149 rooms with the completion of the proposed convention centre and suites.

The main complex will open in 2009, with the new convention centre and additional rooms to open in the second quarter of 2010.

“I am pleased that we will be managing a Hilton in one of New Zealand’s most significant leisure and meetings destinations, Lake Taupo,” said Hilton Hotels Asia Pacific president Martin Rinck.

“With this exceptional upscale hotel, Hilton will offer leisure and business travellers to New Zealand superior accommodations and services and a central point from which to discover the glorious Lake Taupo area,” he said.

The original Terraces Hotel opened in 1889 and is now the heritage building that will form the part of the new Hilton hotel. It was extensively renovated in 2003 and is currently undergoing a major refurbishment to bring the property up to Hilton standards.

The upscale hotel will be Hilton’s second hotel in New Zealand, alongside popular MICE hotel Hilton Auckland.