News, Events & Media Releases
FREE WIRELESS!
Heritage and CityLife Hotels are pleased to announce free wireless internet in the lobby. Daily, you can log on at no charge for 30 minutes or 10MB, and if needed more time can be purchased at reception.
Whether you’re a guest or a local, pop in to the lobby and grab a coffee, grab a seat and get connected! Free wireless now available at all Heritage and CityLife Hotels (except Carrington Resort).
WINTER SOMEWHERE SPECIAL TO BE IN TO WIN
Stay at any Heritage or CityLife Hotel this winter and you could win some fabulous prizes. There are HP Netbooks, Sony Bravia home theatre systems, Flip video recorders, digital photoframes, Heritage Experience packages, bottles of wine, room upgrades and more to be won!
Just pick up your free website card with unique serial number every time you check out, then enter your code in our website here to find out what you've won. There's one prize on every card, so check your numbers and you could win big!
Plus every time you stay you'll earn a stamp for your personal stamp card. Present your stamp card when you check out and you’ll earn instant prizes for staying with us regularly.
Accrue 12 stamps and you’ll receive your choice of a FREE Flip video recorder or a Heritage Romance weekend at Heritage Auckland or Heritage Christchurch. To help you on your way we’ve even given you the first stamp free.
To read more visit the Winter Somewhere Special website by clicking here, or for any queries click here to email us.
BEEF AND LAMB HALLMARK OF EXCELLENCE
The Carrington Resort restaurant has achieved the 2010 New Zealand Beef and Lamb Hallmark of Excellence. These awards recognise the highest quality in preparation and presentation of beef and lamb main courses.
The char-grilled fillet of beef with rich Karikari red wine jus dish was judged “a highly enjoyable and successful meal” and praised for its “appealing presentation” and “enjoyable flavour combinations”.
The roast rack of lamb with jus and mint oil dish was also praised as “scrumptious”, with the lamb “perfectly tender and juicy”.
You can enjoy these dishes yourself by making a reservation at the Carrington Resort restaurant on (09) 408 7222.
HOBSON STREET WING REFURBISHMENT
Heritage Auckland’s historic Hobson Street wing has completed a revamp, beginning with the foyer which includes a brand new décor with the replacement of carpeting, lounge furniture and lighting.
A stylish new design coupled with specially commissioned furniture, created by award winning architects and design consultants HBO+EMTB of Auckland, offer the perfect venue for corporate travellers to conduct their business with pleasure.
In the refurbished lobby layout there is a new café bar, open day and night, with a premium range of food and beverage items on offer, plus free WIFI for hotel guests (30 minute duration with a 10 Megabyte cap).
The second phase of the upgrade begins in May and takes place over winter, ready for completion in early October. The room update will include repainting and re-carpeting, plus new work desks, coffee tables, sofas, chairs and curtains.
Other upgraded services include new LCD televisions and I-Pod docking stations in the suites.
HECTORS RESTAURANT WINS CULINARY AWARDS
Four members of the Heritage Auckland culinary team took part in the Katrina Gordon cooking competitions to great success.
Federico Giro won gold in the Kiwi classic with a modern touch live cooking, with Krupal Hebaikar winning silver. Jenny Kang also won gold in the Florentines Patisserie cold dessert competition, taking away the people's choice award on the day too. Congratulations also to Swairy Hewamanna who also entered the category, winning a certificate.
NEW CHEF WITH ZEST RESTAURANT
CityLife Auckland is very pleased to announce that Ryan Arboleda has recently joined our Zest Restaurant and brings some great new inspiration to share. He joins us with a background in a variety of high profile restaurants including Bracu Olive Estate under Peter Thornley, Partingtons, and most recently as executive chef at Prohibition Restaurant.
Zest Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Phone 09 367 1234 for bookings, or click here for the menu.
LIVE LIKE AN APPRENTICE
Apprentice New Zealand television show fans can now enjoy a night of luxury and much less stress, in one of the exact same penthouse floor director suites where this popular television show played out.
CityLife Auckland is offering a 'Live Like an Apprentice package' which includes all the essentials for any up and coming business mogul.
Included is a night in a three-bedroom 23rd floor suite offering great city views, return limosine transfers to the hotel from your *home or Auckland airport, chilled bubbles and canapés on arrival, a 20 minute helicopter flight for two over Auckland city, one hour in-room massage treatments for two, luxury hotel bathrobes to keep, room service breakfast and a late check out the next day.
Not included are the contestants battling it out for space with you in the race to be the first New Zealand Apprentice. You can have the suite all to yourself! The package is $1995 GST inclusive per night and some conditions apply. Click here for bookings or call 0800 36 88 88.
CITYLIFE AUCKLAND COMPLETES TOP TO TOE REFURBISHMENT
CityLife Auckland has just completed a comprehensive refurbishment of its 253 rooms including its well appointed one, two and three bedroom suites, four director suites and its rooftop penthouse suite.
The refurbishment included repainting of all rooms, new lighting, drapes, upholstery, artwork, bedding, plus new 32 inch LCD televisions and DVD players in each guest room.
Of particular note are the hotel's director and penthouse suites on the upper floors of the hotel commanding outstanding views of the city, harbour and nearby parks.
The three bedroom corner director suites are ideal for VIP guests with an entourage, whilst the three bedroom penthouse is one of the most dramatic in Auckland, with an extensive contemporary New Zealand art collection throughout its two stories, making it memorable for an exclusive function or a special occasion stay.
The penthouse has a chef’s kitchen suitable for private functions for up to 50 people, plus three bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms and a sumptuous mezzanine master bedroom overlooking the harbour.
HERITAGE ROTOTUA SECURES ENVIRO GOLD
Heritage Rotorua has just been accredited Enviro Gold for sustainability by Qualmark New Zealand.
“Achieving Enviro Gold underpins Heritage Rotorua’s commitment to being a responsible tourism business, and complements our work in the Rotorua Tourism Sustainable Business Charter and our current Green Globe programme," says Heritage Rotorua General Manager Marcus Keenan.
APT PREMIER SERIES AWARD FOR HERITAGE ROTORUA
The Qualmark rated four star Heritage Rotorua has recently been awarded the AP Touring Group ‘Premier Series Hotel Award’.
Heritage Rotorua was voted as the 2008-2009 premier series award winner in surveys conducted by AP Touring Groups passengers, managers & drivers, staff & management. APT group is the number one tour operator in Australia and New Zealand, operating exceptional touring and cruising operations worldwide.
LONG-STAY RATES
CityLife Wellington offers the perfect environment for travellers looking to stay in the capital city longer-term.
Centrally located on Lambton Quay in the heart of Wellington's business, shopping and transport hubs, the hotel also contains some of the largest one, two or three-bedroom apartments in the city.
If you're planning a long-term stay in Wellington, contact CityLife Wellington on +64 4 9222 800 or click here to email. Rates begin from as little as $179 (incl. GST) per night. To read more click here to view our fact sheet.
CITYLIFE WELLINGTON FOUR-STAR PLUS QUALMARK RATED
CityLife Wellington A Heritage Hotel has been awarded a four star-plus rating by Qualmark New Zealand, the independent accommodation rating organisation for the New Zealand hospitality industry.
The Qualmark inspection noted CityLife Wellington’s excellent customer service and rated its cleanliness at 100%. The hotel also scored well for its spacious sized suites, convenient in-room kitchen and laundry facilities, pleasant decor and comfortable bedding, whilst the Living Room buffet breakfast was commended for its range and quality.
RUTHERFORD HOTEL NELSON ACHIEVES FOUR-STAR PLUS QUALMARK RATING
Rutherford Hotel Nelson A Heritage Hotel has just been awarded a four star-plus rating by Qualmark New Zealand, the independent accommodation rating organisation for the New Zealand hospitality industry.
The Qualmark inspector scored the Rutherford’s reservations systems, cleanliness and comfortable bedding at 100%. The hotel also scored well for its recent refurbishment programme which replaced all standard room types with modern executive rooms.
Also mentioned was the hotel’s exterior improvements including new paintwork and pleasant landscaping, lifting the profile of the property.
“We are delighted with the new upgraded star rating for Rutherford Hotel Nelson A Heritage Hotel. The hotel’s completed refurbishment programme we believe has contributed to this success and makes the hotel a great asset for business and leisure visitors to Nelson,” says Jeff Shearer, Chief Development Officer, Heritage Hotel Management.
NOTHING STANDARD ABOUT RUTHERFORD HOTEL NELSON
The Qualmark four-star rated Rutherford Hotel Nelson A Heritage Hotel has recently retired the last of its standard rooms with the completion of its top to toe renovation of the hotel. The last standard rooms have now been converted into executive rooms offering pleasant modern design, extra comfort and enjoyment for the guest.
Situated in the heart of Nelson’s CBD on Cathedral Square, the hotel has 113 well appointed rooms, including the newly refurbished executive rooms and two distinctive dining experiences not to be missed.
Oceano seafood restaurant offers delicious fresh local produce complemented by a wide selection of lamb and beef dishes. Also recommended is award winning Miyazu Japanese restaurant where guests can enjoy the flamboyance of the teppan yaki table.
If all the delectable in-house dining tests the waistline, guests can have a workout in the hotel’s well equipped health club followed by a relaxing sauna.
HERITAGE HANMER SPRINGS SECURES QUALMARK 4-STAR PLUS RATING
Heritage Hanmer Springs has been awarded an upgraded Qualmark rating to four star plus and secured an Enviro Silver accreditation for its sustainability.
The Qualmark report rated highly the hotel’s pleasing garden surrounds and accommodation room refurbishments including new curtains, lighting, paintwork and flat screen televisions. In addition, the hotel’s public areas have received new furniture and styling. In the grounds, the villas have also been refreshed with new furniture and televisions.
“The refurbishments we have completed in the last year were a big help to us getting this upgraded star rating, and we are not finished yet. We are working next on a new reception area to be completed ready for the busy summer months”, says Tony Howlett, general manager Heritage Hanmer Springs.
ROOM REFURBISHMENTS WELL UNDERWAY IN HANMER SPRINGS
Heritage Hanmer Springs is continuing a thorough refurbishment of all guest rooms. To date, all the hotels' spacious 3-bedroom Villas have benefited from new flatscreen televisions, DVD players, stylish leather couches, curtains and bedspreads.
The Garden Rooms are in the process of undergoing a similar transformation, with new flatscreen televisions and DVD players plus repainting throughout, due for completion at the end of March.
The hotel's Superior and Deluxe Rooms will also enjoy a similar makeover, with the entire property expected to be complete by the end of June.
In addition, mouth-watering new seasonal menus have been unveiled in the on-site Isobel's Restaurant.
Experience the beauty of Hanmer Springs yourself by phoning (03) 315 0060 or click here to email.
HERITAGE CHRISTCHURCH SECURES ENVIRO GOLD
Heritage Christchurch has been recognised for its sustainability achievements with a Qualmark Enviro Gold accreditation.
To earn this status, hotels have to demonstrate high levels of energy efficiency, careful waste management and water conservation, plus be responsible corporate citizens.
General Manager Gary Jarvis says “Our staff have really pushed hard to achieve many sustainability initiatives in the last year. I am very proud their efforts have been so well rewarded.”
Heritage Christchurch staff contribute personally with participation in native tree planting projects at Halswell Quarry Park, the Travis Wetlands and Charlesworth Reserve. In addition, staff car pooling is rewarded, plus any viable sustainability ideas for the hotel operations.
“Our approach to sustainability is multi-faceted. This is probably what contributed to our Enviro Gold status. We also don’t believe there is such a thing as a bad idea so our ‘green committee’ will look at any suggestion that can assist our sustainability commitment,” says Jarvis.
VOTE FOR US IN THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS
Heritage Christchurch has been nominated in the Corporate Events Guide's People's Choice Awards for 2010. The hotel has been nominated in the Best Nationwide Hotels category.
Last year’s winners were decided by the votes of more than 13,000 people connected to the conference and events industry in New Zealand. To vote for Heritage Christchurch online please click here.
HERITAGE CHRISTCHURCH HEALTH CLUB AWARD WIN
Heritage Christchurch's on-site health club in the OGB wing has just won the prestigious award for best health club in the South Island for the fourth consecutive year.
The health club includes a lap pool, jacuzzi and sauna in the complex, plus well equipped gym with access to personal training programmes by arrangement.
The health club was announced winner at the annual NZ Fitness Life Awards held in Auckland in the Fitness centre of the year South Island under 1000 members category.
Spring is the perfect time to get fit again, so phone 03 377-2122 for more information on the health club.
ICON CONFERENCE CENTRE SECURES ANOTHER AWARD WIN
Heritage Queenstown’s Icon Conference Centre has chalked up another award win, this time for the quality of the construction, when recently the building firm, Amalgamated Builders (2001) Ltd, Queenstown, were presented with a Master Builders award for their work on the Icon Conference Centre project.
The Southern Region of Registered Master Builders Association presented Amalgamated Builders (2001) Ltd, Queenstown, with the category winner title for the RMB 2010 Commercial Project Awards – Tourism and Leisure Project.
The award follows the New Zealand Institute of Architects Southern Award for Best Commercial Design presented in late 2008.
“This award is great endorsement for our Icon Conference Centre. Thoughtful design and skilled workmanship have gone into creating our wonderful venue. It shows investing in a high quality product does reap rewards, and the great feedback from our conference delegates continue to confirm it every day,” says Carey Norton, general manager Heritage Queenstown.
HERITAGE QUEENSTOWN AWARDED ENVIRO GOLD
Heritage Queenstown has been awarded Enviro Gold accreditation, Qualmark's highest rating in sustainability. General Manager Carey Norton says “Heritage Hotels has been a leader in environmental benchmarking and the group has striven for these improvements for the best part of a decade, so it is terrific to have this official endorsement for our efforts.”
Contributing factors to Heritage Queenstown receiving the accreditation, was the creation of the hotel’s own worm farm for kitchen waste, operational benchmarking and efficiencies in power, gas and water consumption, a commitment to using environmentally friendly consumables and a rigorous recycling programme. A recent recycling idea adopted at Heritage Queenstown and several other Heritage Hotels is the recycling of used guest room soaps to be reconstituted in to bio fuel.
ICON CONFERENCE CENTRE WINS DESIGN AWARD
Heritage Queenstown’s Icon Conference Centre has won the Southern Architecture Award in Commercial Design presented by the New Zealand Institute of Architects Inc.
The Institute’s judges in presenting the award to the venue’s architects, Warren and Mahoney, complimented the Icon Conference Centre’s well integrated placement between the hotel’s existing hotel wings and its ‘meticulous’ detailing.
The Heritage Queenstown two-storey state of the art conference centre, opened in May 2008, is built on the lakeside of the hotel and enjoys expansive uninterrupted mountain and lake views.
“The success of the project lies in the very flexible uses the spaces afford, both indoor and outdoor. Conference delegates will be tempted out onto decks to enjoy the scenery and most chefs would die for the full commercial kitchen,” said the judges of the award.
The Heritage Queenstown Icon Conference Centre architects, Warren and Mahoney, celebrated their 50th birthday recently, and are a leading practice in environmentally sustainable design, consistently producing high quality, award-winning buildings.
For information on a conference at Heritage Queenstown call 03 442 4563 or email rachelb@heritagehotels.co.nz.