Marriott to convert tower as hotel room rates rise
Marriott International will open a new 255-room hotel in the heart of Auckland later this year.
The new Four Points under the Sheraton brand will convert an existing office building on Queen St next to Aotea Square, in a hub of popular shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes.
Marriott’s Asia-Pacific head of brand and marketing, Mike Fulkerson, said the Four Points brand was growing rapidly in the AsiaPacific region, with two hotels in Brisbane and Perth. Another two were under development in Sydney and one in Melbourne.
Marriott regional development manager Maria Verner said it was a good time to invest as occupancy and room rates were at a high.
‘‘We see huge potential for the Four Points by Sheraton brand in New Zealand,’’ she said.
Auckland mayor Phil Goff’s proposed rates increase for accommodation providers to raise up to $30 million for tourism promotion and events have been opposed by the industry over concerns that higher room costs would reduce demand.
But Marriott’s is the second hotel development announcement since Goff’s rates proposal.
Goodman Property Trust said last week it would build five new properties in East Auckland following high occupancy levels at its Quest serviced apartments.
The Four Points by Sheraton would be Marriott’s first hotel in New Zealand. Last year the hotel giant announced it would open the Ritz-Carlton Auckland in 2019.
Four Points would offer views of the city, an all-day dining restaurant, a bar and lounge, about 300 square metres of conference and meeting space, a fitness centre, and on-site parking.