In a major boost for tourism and business in Christchurch, the Rendezvous Hospitality Group will launch its Rendezvous Hotel brand to the city early next year.
Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch, formerly known as The Marque Christchurch, will be the first of the central city hotels closed following February’s quake to re-open its doors to guests.
Christchurch’s newest hotel is on track to re-open on March 1, 2012 – just in time for the Ellerslie International Flower Show.
The hotel occupies levels 1 to 15 of the Pacific Tower building on Gloucester Street, opposite New Regent St and adjacent to Cathedral Junction, and has needed only minimal structural repairs.
Its re-opening will add 171 much-needed hotel rooms to Christchurch’s inventory and provide smart accommodation and a great meeting place within the CBD for people visiting the city for business and leisure.
“We’re really excited about being able to welcome back guests to the hotel and being able to help inject some life back into the CBD,” says the hotel’s general manager Brad Watts.
“As the earthquake recovery work gathers pace there will be a lot of people in Christchurch on business who are looking for safe, convenient and hassle-free accommodation. All our 171 rooms and suites have easy-to-use free high-speed broadband access for up to a specified limit, iPod docking stations, as well as a desk and a comfortable ergonomic chair, and laptop-sized room safes. A full concierge and valet service will also be offered.
“Free internet is available in our business centre. In addition to our well-appointed guest rooms, the hotel has a smart restaurant, great bar, a selection of small meeting rooms, and a gymnasium.”
Watts says the re-branding of the hotel follows the Rendezvous Hospitality Group’s decision in October to transfer its assets into one Rendezvous brand.
The Rendezvous Hospitality Group operates 13 hotels in the Asia Pacific region, including New Zealand’s largest hotel, the Rendezvous Grand Hotel Auckland.
The 22-storey building in which the Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch stands was only completed in 2010 and it was engineered in structural steel to the highest specifications so that it would withstand full capacity earthquake events.
“Apart from cracking in the internal plasterboard walls and external cladding, which are not structural, the hotel has come through all the quakes but has been closed because of its location within the cordoned CBD,” Watts says.
“We’re delighted that situation is soon to change and looking forward to getting back to doing what we do best – providing quality accommodation and great service to our guests.”
