NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR AUCKLAND ICON
The refurbishment of Cordis Auckland, the city’s newest hotel, is complete at last, following a multi-million dollar transformation of The Langham
The grande dame of Auckland’s hotel scene has been given a completely new lease of life with a stylish multi-million dollar refurbishment which includes many exciting new features for guests including free smartphone use.
Cordis Auckland, is a new brand by Langham Hospitality Group, that has transformed its iconic predecessor The Langham Auckland on Symonds St, into a modern five-star deluxe hotel devoted to the needs of its guests and their wellbeing, while ensuring a sense of community is at its heart.
The extensive refurbishment, which includes a new-look lobby, an overhaul of all 411 rooms and suites, a refreshed contemporary-style Club Lounge on the 10th floor, and a new bar and restaurant called The Lobby Lounge, was completed on February 8 after six months of extensive work.
Cordis guests are the first hotel patrons in Auckland to be offered a smartphone during their stay with free internet access, local calls and international calls to seven countries. That web access will come in handy when they are out discovering the vibrant inner city on the hotel’s free e-bikes or roaming its streets on foot. There’s also a free Cordis shuttle to Downtown Auckland, handy for meetings, shopping and accessing some of the jewels in the city’s crown such as the waterfront and the Auckland Art Gallery, as well as its ferries, trains and buses.
After a day of meetings or sightseeing, Cordis’ stylish new The Lobby Lounge beckons for a glass of Cordis Beer, created locally at Kingsland’s Urbanaut Brewery. The Lobby Lounge is also where guests can enjoy an a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner menu and the signature High Tea by Cordis, complete with its own tea sommelier service. And we’re not talking cucumber sandwiches and cheese scones here; think ash bread rolls with smoked beef brisket and gherkin, beetroot and liquorice-cured Big Glory Bay salmon with a sable biscuit or spiced rum panna cotta with mango curd, lime gel and burnt butter crumble.
A lovely way to spend a relaxing couple of hours with friends or family, pair your gourmet feast with a glass of Louis Roederer Champagne for the ultimate celebration; and note that there are even options for the little ones including Fairy Tale Tea -- a caffeine-free fruit infusion with apple, blueberry, strawberry, pineapple and hibiscus flavours.
Eight is one of the best hotel restaurants you’ll find anywhere. With eight interactive kitchens serving different styles of food, there is no chance you will walk away from Eight either hungry, dissatisfied or bored. Think of it like a giant buffet manned by a talented team of chefs preparing fresh salads, grilling fine cuts of meat to order, and serving authentic sushi and sashimi, dim sum and noodles, pasta, seafood, an Indian tandoor and, of course, amazing desserts. There’s even a chocolate fountain, and an amazing list of New Zealand and international wines to pair with the worldclass cuisine on offer.
In good news for families, the hotel’s elegantly refurbished rooms are now more suitable than ever for your nearest and dearest. Family rooms come with two double beds, while family suites have a kitchenette. And children below the age of 12 are automatically enrolled in the new Cordis Kids Programme which gives them a VIP special check-in, their own room service menu, an activity backpack with amenities, and a treasure hunt around the hotel with an icecream at the end. They’ll also be delighted by Cody, the big-hearted and friendly red panda mascot.
Guests who book an executive room or suite are immediately granted access to the exclusive Club Lounge retreat on the 10th floor which offers butler service, daily breakfast, evening drinks and canapes, free-flow coffee and snacks, and endless icecream for the children, and maybe the, er, big children too.
It’s hard to think of a better way to spend an afternoon than poolside at Cordis Auckland’s stunning rooftop pool and jacuzzi on the loungers amongst the palms. The pool is one of the city’s best kept secrets, and the fact that it’s heated at 27C means that you can use it all year round. During the summer the hotel offers a poolside service with snacks and refreshments.
More widely known is Cordis Auckland’s acclaimed Chuan Spa, which guests from outside the hotel are also welcome to experience. Book in for a relaxing massage, facial or rejuvenating body scrub, and make sure you leave time for an ice bath and session in the pool, jacuzzi, sauna or herbal steam room.
Guests can also make the most of the modern fitness studio on Level 2, open 24 hours a day. Here you’ll find top-of-the-range TechnoGym fitness equipment, with all cardio gear complete with LCD TV screens.
Cordis Auckland is the first Cordis hotel to open in the Pacific region and only the fourth world-wide, with the other premises in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Each Cordis hotel or resort is individual in style, architecture and design, which is informed by its location.