News, Events & Media Releases
AUCKLAND'S WAITAKERE ESTATE JOINS HERITAGE BOUTIQUE COLLECTION
Heritage Hotel Management are excited to announce the addition of Auckland’s Waitakere Estate to the Heritage Boutique Collection (HBC).
Auckland’s Waitakere Estate is only 30 minutes drive West of Auckland’s CBD, perfectly positioned on Scenic Drive at the gateway to the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park and the dramatic black sand West Coast surf beaches.
Set amongst 29 pristine hectares, the property offers 14 refurbished guest rooms, 3 garden apartments and an exclusive private two-bedroom villa.
Other facilities include an award-winning restaurant, swimming pool, sauna, squash court, petanque and croquet lawn, private bush walks, all with stunning views of Auckland city, and even a helicopter landing site.
Conference and wedding parties for up to 70 people can be catered for in three banquet rooms, and it also has its own private wedding chapel.
Auckland’s Waitakere Estate has a special heritage. The property was bought in 1940 by Captain Nevill-Jackson, who built a substantial home for his family on the site, and which was converted to a boutique hotel in the early 1980’s.
The hotel continued to grow over the decades and today the Captain’s sons still personally operate the business on this very special historic estate.
For more information visit our Heritage Boutique Collection page.
RUGBY REVELERY AT HERITAGE HOTELS
The world's eyes have been on us all with the third largest sporting event in the world played on our shores. At Heritage Hotels and CityLife Hotels we were excited about the tournament and getting behind our teams, so wanted to share with you some of the local colour and people from our hotels around the country.
To check out our photos and updates visit our Rugby Celebration page.
VIEW THE NEW ONLINE E-BROCHURE
The Heritage Hotels and CityLife Hotels eBrochure has been updated with all the current images and information about the various hotels, plus a video tour for each.
To view the eBrochure online click here or visit our About us page.
MORE FREE WIRELESS!
Heritage and CityLife Hotels are pleased to announce more free wireless internet in the lobby. We've increased the daily limit, so you can log on at no charge for 30 minutes or 30MB every day! 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). Limit at Rutherford Hotel Nelson 30 minutes or 10MB.
HERITAGE BOUTIQUE COLLECTION REPORT RECORD WINTER TRADING
Heritage Boutique Collection (HBC) properties have achieved record winter trading, showing increases of over 44% in revenue over last year, according to general manager Ronnie Ronalde.
“All of our four Heritage Boutique Collection properties reported tremendous trading with the highest June and July figures since these properties opened. Even August, predicted to be a slow month, showed growth over last year,” says Ronnie.
Ronnie attributes the success of the Collection to the strength of the Heritage Hotels brand and the added boost of its many booking generation avenues to have made a significant impact on the increased business levels being experienced by all of the exclusive properties in the Collection.
Ronnie reports he is currently reviewing more properties to join the Collection and expand into other key New Zealand cities, resort regions and provincial centres. “We are constantly on the lookout for complementary properties and each new property invited to join is assessed very carefully to ensure they fulfil our brand promise of being 'somewhere special' and earn a place in our growing network.”.
HERITAGE BOUTIQUE COLLECTION – TANTALISING THE FIVE SENSES
The Heritage Boutique Collection, an exclusive network of New Zealand boutique style properties, announces its new signature Heritage Five Senses concept.
Ronnie Ronalde, the general manager of the Heritage Boutique Collection says, “We aim to be constantly customer focussed with our product development. Our guests’ comfort is our priority; hence we are delighted to introduce our new tantalising Heritage Five Senses concept.”
The five senses journey according to Ronalde begins with the visual appearance of the hotels, set in desirable locations with thoughtful architecture and elegant interiors.
The reception areas are tranquil and exude a natural signature fragrance, with the aroma flowing through into the guestrooms, where a unique welcome gift of a locally produced delicacy will tempt the taste-buds.
The décor in the guestrooms is contemporary with comfortable furnishings and bed linens of crisp linen, complemented with bathrobes and towels of warmth and thickness that stimulate the sense of touch and convey luxury and pampering. In addition hotel reception areas and guest rooms feature gentle, relaxing background music.
“Our Heritage Five Senses concept will be consistent across the Collection, giving our customers the certainty of a warm welcome, and a visually and sensually relaxing experience when choosing to stay at a Heritage Boutique Collection property.” adds Ronalde.
Heritage Boutique Collection properties are chosen for the maximum guest comfort and are in premium locations in the Bay of Islands, Rotorua and Akaroa. For more information on Heritage Boutique Collection please call ++64 9 979 7514 or click here to email.
WATERFRONT SUITES MAKES TOP 35 HOTELS ON EXPEDIA INSIDERS' SELECT LIST
Expedia® has named the Heritage Boutique Collection property, Waterfront Suites Bay of Islands, amongst the top 35 hotels worldwide on this year’s Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list.
The Expedia® Insiders’ Select list formally recognizes individual hotels worldwide that consistently deliver excellent service, a great overall experience and are of notable value.
The full list represents 500 of Expedia’s top-ranked hotels selected from more than 130,000 properties offered by Expedia®, the world’s largest online travel company.
The Waterfront Suites Bay of Islands, set on Marsden Road in central Paihia, has a range of sumptuous suites that enjoy sweeping sea vistas of the bay.
CARRINGTON RESORT SECURES 'GREEN' NOD
Carrington Resort has been awarded an Enviro Gold accreditation by Qualmark New Zealand, the independent hospitality rating organisation.
"We are delighted by the Qualmark recognition of the Enviro Gold for our resort. It makes the work our staff do really worthwhile and reinforces what a truly pristine and special setting we have here," says Simon Jones, manager of Carrington Resort.
Guests at Carrington Resort, at a safe distance from special bird life, can enjoy a round of golf on the championship standard Matt Dye designed 18 hole golf course or relax at the spectacular hill top Karikari Estate Winery which presents Northlands northern most wine. Tennis courts, an infinity swimming pool, gymnasium and billiard room complete the superb facilities.
CARRINGTON RESORT NAMED IN TOP NZ GOLF COURSES
A leading international golf website has placed Carrington Resort 16th in their list of the top 100 courses in New Zealand. The top100golfcourses website collates top golf course rankings through several sources including polling a number of club professionals.
New Zealand boasts almost 400 golf courses serving some 500,000 golfers across the North and South Islands. Golf is the country’s number one participation sport with one in four Kiwi men playing regularly.
The course voted top in the list was Carrington Resort’s neighbour in Northland, Kauri Cliffs, launched in 1997 by American billionaire Julian Robertson. The top 5 courses were rounded out by Cape Kidnappers, Kinloch, Wairakei International and Jack's Point.
To read the full list of courses visit www.top100golfcourses.co.uk. To book a round at Carrington Resort please phone (09) 408 7222 or click here to email the Pro Shop.
VALENTINES DAY CANDLELIT DINNER
Rekindle the romance – and stay out of the dogbox - with a special Valentines Day dinner at hectors Restaurant.
You’ll savour an intimate dining experience on Valentines Day, with a special menu to share in candlelight with your special someone, plus roses and champagne for all diners. For more information phone (09) 979 7434 or click here to view the menu.
HERITAGE HOTELS CHARITY NIGHT FOR ST JOHN
Damp weather didn’t dampen the crowd’s generosity at the annual Heritage Hotel Charity Night held during the ASB Classic, the women's international tennis tournament, last week.
The centre court event coordinated by the host hotel, Heritage Auckland, was held on Thursday 5th of January for charity recipient St John.
The evening event is held each year in between the singles and doubles matches. The audience at an appointed time ‘lob’ their pre-purchased numbered tennis balls in to two barrels on centre court for a chance of Heritage Auckland prizes, creating a spectacular sight.
The Heritage Auckland Lobbo event raised a record $6,200 from ball sales alone; almost double last year’s result. Following the lobbo was a quick auction of a few exclusive items bringing the total raised for St John to $16,000 in the 30 minute centre court spot.
Photo credit: Photosport
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN TRAVEL WRITERS BOARD MEET TRAVCOM
Heritage Auckland was recently host to a get together of the Society of American Travel Writers board with Travel Communicators of New Zealand (Travcom) Auckland-based members on Sunday the 6th of November.
25 members of the American Society of Travel Writers board and colleagues gathered with an equivalent number of Auckland travel writers and photographers for a luncheon in the Heritage Auckland's historic roof top Grand Tearoom overlooking Auckland's harbour.
The event was held to welcome the American travel media guests on their short stay in Auckland and to share experiences on the travel writing industry
The American media guests were impressed by the history of the Grand Tearoom which dates back to the 1930s, and the American connection, as the design of the hotel's Deco facade and Grand Tearoom was by the notable American architect Roy Lippincott.
Refreshments were high tea style with lamingtons and cucumber finger sandwiches to celebrate the unique history of the iconic former tearooms of the Farmers Department Store.
NEW HEALTHY LIFESTYLE MENUS LAUNCH AT HECTORS RESTAURANT AND LOBBY BAR
As part of an on-going sustainability initiative, Heritage Auckland has launched its Healthy Dining Concept, with a new menu that is entirely plant-based. Wherever possible, the ingredients are also local. A delectable range of healthy lifestyle meals, snacks and deserts are now available in Hectors Restaurant and The Lobby Bar at Heritage Auckland.
To see the variety of healthy options available just download one of our sample menus here, or alternatively pop in to sample this exciting new range for yourself!
THREE SHORT BALLETS FROM THE BIG APPLE
Start spreading the news. New York City comes to town!
The New Zealand Ballet is bringing a new work by NYC’s hot, young choreographer Larry Keigwin, coupled with a chance to see the work of Black Swan movie choreographer Benjamin Millepied, live.
American ballet star Gillian Murphy makes her NZ debut in the programme, dancing in Millepied’s romantic ballet 28 Variations on a Theme by Paganini and the Balanchine classic Who Cares? set to Gershwin’s show tunes.
The show runs across the country from late February until the end of March. For booking details visit www.nzballet.org.nz.
CityLife Auckland is a proud sponsor of the arts. Stay after the concery in a deluxe suite for $199 per night including breakfast for two in the morning and car parking. For reservations contact us via email or phone on 0800 368 888.
SUMMER OPERA IN THE GARDENS
Auckland Friends of the Opera invite you to an open air concert of popular opera and stunning performances in the magnificent setting of Ayrlies Gardens, Whitford on Sunday 11 March.
An ever popular event with opera lovers, Ayrlies brings the best of New Zealand Opera talent together to perform a selection of favourites. Bring a blanket and a picnic lunch, relax on the beautiful lawns below the stage or freely wander over the 12 acres of sweeping lawns, ponds, waterways and exquisite plantings to the strains of opera through the trees.
Discover more at the NZ Opera website or click here to email.
CITYLIFE AUCKLAND HELPS 'HEET' HOMES IN NEED
CityLife Auckland A Heritage Hotel has gifted all its hall carpets from its 24 floors from a refurbishment, to the charity HEET to help underprivileged homes keep warmer this winter.
HEET, which stands for Huntly Energy Efficiency Trust, aims to help families in the Greater Auckland and the Waikato region keep warmer and healthier with proper insulation and energy-efficient floorings and window coverings in their homes. The trust aims to assist about 300 families each winter.
CityLife Auckland has supported HEET in the past too. In 2008 the hotel donated all its thermal drape curtains to the charity during an upgrade of soft furnishings. The donation was the largest HEET had ever had at the time.
HEET are now seeking more donations of good quality thermal backed curtains to complement the big carpet donation by CityLife. For donations please contact Kym Holland on 07 828 8004 or email kym.h@heet.co.nz.
CITYLIFE AUCKLAND WINS TRAVELBUG AWARDS
CityLife Auckland has recently won two Travelbug hotel awards for 2011! The hotel was awarded Best Guest Reviews 2011 as well as Gold Property 2011. According to Travelbug, "qualifying for these awards is no simple task and the winners represent the very best of the accommodation operators listed on" the site. Our congratulations to the CityLife team!
FREE BOOKING CONFIRMATIONS BY SMS
When you book your stay at CityLife Auckland on our website, you will have the opportunity to receive a free booking confirmation via text message, so you'll have your confirmation number wherever you are!
When you enter your personal details during Step 3 of the booking process, you can also enter your mobile number and select the option for an SMS confirmation, and you should receive the text message within a few minutes of submitting your booking. You will still receive a confirmation via email, but this way you'll have it if you forget or choose not to print out the email.
Try it for yourself by booking your stay today, or if you have questions or feedback, please email us.
CITYLIFE WELLINGTON MANAGER APPOINTMENT
Viresh Mathur has been promoted to the permanent role of hotel manager of CityLife Wellington A Heritage Hotel. He has been acting manager for the hotel for several months. Prior to this he was executive assistant manager of Heritage Christchurch.
Viresh has worked for the Heritage Hotel Group since 2005, beginning his career at CityLife Auckland, working in a number of operational management roles over several years. During this time he won the company’s highest accolade as ‘the employee of the year.’
Viresh has a diploma of hotel management from India, an advanced diploma of hotel management from the Pacific International Hotel Management School of New Zealand and has most recently completed a post graduate diploma in business administration at the University of Auckland.
“Wellington is a vibrant city destination and I am delighted to be based in a hotel set right in the heart of it. The wonderful events the city attracts along with Wellington’s well deserved high profile in the screen industry make it an exciting place to be,” says Viresh.
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.
WORK BEGINS ON NELSON CONFERENCE CENTRE
Work has begun on Rutherford Hotel Nelson’s new conference centre with theatre space for up to 700 people. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2012.
The project is a continuation of plans to expand the hotel’s conference capacity after the Nelson City Council pulled out of a planned partnership deal to build a performing arts centre adjoined to the conference centre.
The extension will be built to the west of the hotel facing Nile St with a conference room able to be divided in two. This will cater for up to 700 people in a theatre-style setting, or seat up to 550 at a banquet.
General manager Bevan McGillicuddy said it was a "significant" development that would complement the existing hotel while generating new business and benefits for the entire region.
NEW CHEF AT RUTHERFORD HOTEL NELSON
William (Bill) James has been appointed as the new executive chef at Rutherford Hotel Nelson. Bill’s career in cooking began at the Savoy Hotel London in the late 80’s and progressed through fine dining restaurants in the UK. While in New Zealand in the mid nineties, Bill held positions as Sous Chef at the Panorama Room in the Hermitage Hotel Mt Cook and Head Chef at Bistrot in Merivale. Most recently Bill was the Senior Chef Lecturer at Rick Steins Cooking School in Cornwall.
Bill is interested in the Nelson region due to the vast amount of produce that the region has to offer and is looking forward to working alongside Tony Carpenter (Sous Chef), Takehito Maeda (Miyazu Sous Chef) and the team at Nelson's iconic hotel. We are pleased to welcome him to the team!
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.
100 YEAR MILESTONE FOR OLD GOVERNMENT BUILDING
100 years ago, on 20th November 1911, the foundation stone was laid for what we now know as Heritage Christchurch's Old Government Building.
On this date an official ceremony was hosted by the mayor and attended by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Sir Joseph C. Ward, to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone. Cranes and gantries were decorated with flags and streamers, and a large crowd gathered to watch. The event, 61 years after the city of Christchurch was founded, was heralded as an indication of the profound progress New Zealand was making.
The building was commissioned in 1909 and was designed and supervised by architect Joseph C. Maddison, in the Italianate style of the 1880s for which he was known.
Historical records do not show there was ever an official opening ceremony, however records do indicate the Government Buildings were opened sometime in August 1913.
Reference: Yonge, M. (1996), Government Buildings, Christchurch 1909-1996. Hong Kong; Everbest Printing Co.
RETURNED BAGS BUILD BRIDGES POST EARTHQUAKE FOR CHRISTCHURCH
Heritage Christchurch has successfully returned all luggage abandoned by guests on the day of the catastrophic February 22nd earthquake to as far away as Argentina, Finland, the Netherlands, the UK and America.
During the lengthy wait to gain access inside the cordon to retrieve the bags, Heritage Hotel Management’s Sue Christie kept in regular contact with these past guests spread across the globe; many of whom exhibited great patience and support for Christchurch.
One Canadian couple advised they were so moved by the plight of Christchurch they attended an Earthquake fundraiser once back in their home town of Toronto which raised $70,000 for Christchurch.
Other acts of kindness included a couple who gifted their wine purchases left behind in their room, to a Pharmacist in Oxford (near Christchurch) who had helped them with doctors appointments and obtaining new medication that was lost when the quake hit.
There were some unusual requests too regarding luggage. Upon the return of a family’s luggage off shore it was discovered a treasured Steiff teddy bear was missing. A second mission back into the hotel room found Ted still tucked up in bed and he was promptly sent on to be reunited with a very happy young lady.
Along with many emails of thanks back to Heritage Hotels who worked with DHL for the successful repatriation of the luggage for all Heritage Christchurch’s guests, was even an emailed picture of the courier arriving at a Texas couples’ home to deliver their bags.
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 03 450 1526 or email rachelb@heritagehotels.co.nz.