In some great news for New Zealand's tourism industry, which is recovering following last year's earthquake in Christchurch, the Novotel Auckland Airport was officially opened yesterday by Maori King Tuheitia and New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, in a traditional dawn ceremony. The launch of the hotel – less than 200 feet from the international terminal – comes just more than 100 days from the kick-off of the Rugby World Cup.
The $65 million project has been developed by one of New Zealand’s largest Maori entities, Tainui Group Holdings, in partnership with Auckland Airport and Accor, who operate the hotel.
Auckland Airport handles over 13 million passengers annually, projected to grow to 24 million by 2025, with 73 percent of all international visitors to New Zealand arriving or departing from Auckland. That figure is expected to grow substantially in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake, making the opening of the Novotel highly strategic for the country’s short-term and long-term tourism needs.
It will also significantly benefit most international visitors, as many flights to Auckland arrive late at night and connections to key regional airports are not till the following morning. International flights departing Auckland often leave early in the morning, making an overnight stay at the airport necessary, especially as it can take up to an hour's drive to reach downtown Auckland.
For more information, visit www.novotel.com.
