Accor will reopen two of its four Christchurch hotels, in what the hotel firm has described as a “major vote of confidence” in the region.
The four properties in the Canterbury capital were closed following the earthquake in February 2011.
The first to reopen will be the Hotel Ibis Christchurch in September 2012 with Novotel Christchurch to follow in April 2013, but Accor has claimed they will be “effectively new hotels”.
“Both of the hotels were relatively new – the Ibis was built in 2007 and the Novotel in 2010 – so they were built to very exacting standards and their structures received only minor damage during the earthquakes,” regional manager Zayne Boon said.
While the heritage Warners Hotel wing of the Novotel had to be demolished, the remainder of problems at both properties were internal. As a result, both properties are undergoing a complete refit.
“When they reopen, they will have a very fresh and new feel to them,” Boon promised.
Their reopening is expected to “fast track” Christchurch’s recovery, signalling to the world the city is ready to welcome tourists back.
In addition, it will help address the critical shortage of hotel rooms in Christchurch, he added, with knock-on benefits for employment and the wider business district.
“There are already encouraging signs, with permanent and temporary shopping precincts opening and more businesses returning to the city centre, but the city really needs the confidence boost of major international hotels re-opening to cater for domestic and overseas visitors,” Boon said.
The future of Accor’s two All Seasons hotels in the city are still pending decisions with access severely restricted by ongoing demolition work in surrounding areas.
Christchurch gets hotel boost
