InterContinental for AKL

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group this morning announced a new flagship property in New Zealand, with the InterContinental Auckland to open in 2022 as part of a $1b mixed use development.

The waterfront location at 1 Queen Street “will inevitably become a destination in its own right,” IHG said, with the project being undertaken by NZ real estate owner Precinct Properties.

“The world-class waterfront development is also destined to become Auckland’s newest shopping, dining and social hub,” the company added, with a wide range of food and beverage outlets to complement the hotel’s luxury dining experience.

The InterContinental Auckland will feature 244 guest rooms, 90% with water views, along with the signature Club InterContinental, a gym and meeting facilities.

“It’s high time Auckland got a taste of the InterContinental Life, so we are very excited about this announcement,” said IHG senior director of development for Australasia, Abhijay Sandilya.

He said the new property would benefit from convenient access to a host of “demand generators” including the NZ International Convention Centre, the SKY CITY casino and the city’s international cruise ship terminal.

InterContinental Auckland will be the second property for the brand in NZ, joining the existing InterContinental Wellington and complementing other InterContinental hotels in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Sanctuary Cove - plus Hayman Island in the Whitsundays which will also relaunch under the InterContinental banner next year.

IHG now has 48 Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental hotels operating in Australasia plus 22 more in the pipeline under the Indigo, EVEN and voco brands.