With a thriving visitor economy in Auckland contributing $8.36 billion in tourism spend annually, and record numbers of visitor arrivals, it is not surprising then that the hotel sector has entered a strong development phase to try and keep up with the demand for rooms the visitor boom has created.
By 2025, Auckland is projected to welcome more than 4 million visitors a year (58 per cent more than now), creating an estimated $13.9 billion visitor economy (up 85 per cent).
A number of international brand hotel names are entering the Auckland market for the first time including Four Points by Sheraton, Ritz Carlton, Park Hyatt, SO Sofitel and Hotel Indigo.
This accommodation capacity boost will help support the forecast growth of Auckland’s business events sector, predicted to rise to $438 million in 2025, a 105% increase compared to 2014, as well as ensure Auckland has enough inventory when the region hosts major events such as the 36th America’s Cup and some of the APEC events.
Head of Auckland Convention Bureau (ACB) Anna Hayward says a diverse range of accommodation options is vital to ensure Auckland remains competitive globally.
“We are delighted to see some of the world’s leading hotel brands opening their doors in Auckland to cater for the influx of delegate numbers we are expecting to see from 2020 onwards with the opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre,” she says.
“With the scale of NZICC we’ve been attracting events which in some cases will have up to 3,000 delegates and they will all need places to stay.
“Adding to our existing portfolio of accommodation, these exciting developments will further cement Auckland’s position as a leading business events destination on the word stage.”
Also included in the pipeline are a number of refurbishments of existing buildings and extensions of existing hotels.
Castle Resorts & Hotels, one of Hawaii's largest hotel and resort management companies, has recently announced a 125-room hotel conversion – the Liberté Hotel which will open in the Aotea Quarter in 2019.
IHG are placing significant investment into Auckland with two large developments, Hotel Indigo and Intercontinental Auckland. The latter will be part of Auckland’s $1 billion Commercial Bay waterfront precinct and will have 244-rooms due to open in 2022.
Sudima Hotels & Resorts have also announced they will be building a 200-room Sudima Hotel in Auckland’s city centre due for completion in 2020, complimenting their existing award-winning property at Auckland’s airport precinct
* Author: Anika Forsman anika.forsman@aucklandnz.com
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