Signs of revival for Auckland Viaduct hotel

Auckland five- star waterfront hotel Sofitel Viaduct Harbour is about to reopen, say staff and a company chief, but an investor has raised concerns.

The hotel — earlier branded as a Westin — shut in July when a company behind it went down.

Contractors were at the hotel this week bringing in equipment. Although it remains shut to guests, one staff member said a soft opening was planned for next Thursday and the hotel would be fully open by October 19.

Auckland businessman Prakash Pandey of C. P. Group is one of two directors of the liquidated hotel company, with Grahame Fong.

Pandey said this week: “The refurbishment project to elevate the hotel to a new level is completed and it is opening soon.”

On July 6, Pandey — sole shareholder of Viaduct Quays Hotel — called in liquidators. The hotel had been shut and Tony Maginness and Jared Booth of Baker Tilly Staples Rodway i ssued their first report naming creditors. The liquidators blamed the hotel’s closure on Covid- 19.

Many of the hotel suites are owned by investors in Singapore and Malaysia.

One investor told the Weekend Herald he strongly objected to the July liquidation.

“By putting VQHL into voluntary liquidation, leases were terminated with independent unit owners who collectively own 88 rooms,” the investor said.

When the hotel was rebranded as a Sofitel, Accor took the management contract. An Accor spokesperson said a statement would be issued this month about the hotel’s reopening.