Hotel & Tours Group

A joint venture was signed today between hotel group Accor, Tainui Group Holdings and Auckland International Airport (AIAL), to develop and operate a world-class (4-star plus) 260 room Novotel hotel at Auckland Airport, to be completed in time for Rugby World Cup 2011.

Tainui will act as lead developer and investor with a majority interest in the joint venture and AIAL will hold a minority interest. The hotel will be developed on a long term ground lease granted by AIAL and will be managed by Accor under its renowned Novotel brand. The total forecast completed cost is NZ $65million including hotel construction estimated at approximately $45million. The deal remains conditional on project finance and construction tender.

Novotel Auckland Airport will be designed by Warren & Mahoney Architects, and the final design will infuse subtle references to NZ culture and heritage, offering style and convenience, along with extensive conference and function facilities, a restaurant and bar, and leisure facilities. The hotel will be located within a short walking distance of both the international and domestic terminals.

The Novotel will be a highly strategic addition to Accor's New Zealand network, which already comprises 27 hotels, including five in Auckland. The project will continue Accor's partnership with Tainui, who previously developed the Novotel and Ibis hotels on Hamilton.

Accor is also a world-leader in operating airport hotels. The group operates hotels at a large number of key airports including London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, Paris' Charles de Gaulle, Berlin's Tegel, and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi. In Australia, Accor has airport hotels in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and the new Novotel Brisbane Airport, which is scheduled to open.