The 17-storey Crowne Plaza Christchurch opening marks a milestone for the revitalised city.
The new hotel offers 204 rooms, a new café, bar and restaurant and four event spaces, with the return of the brand to the city a significant milestone for the current owners of the former office building, InterContinental Hotels Group.
Building co-owner Shane Le Compte of local investment and development company MC Christchurch Holdings says the former Crowne Plaza Christchurch had a loyal following amongst Cantabrians and this was instrumental in turning an old earthquake-damaged office building into a functioning hotel.
“We’ve worked closely with IHG and our design team to develop an international hotel with a local feel, and we feel we’ve achieved that.
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone who comes through the doors this weekend so we can start to make the hotel once again an iconic destination in Christchurch.”
Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism CEO Vic Allen described the return of Crowne Plaza Christchurch to the central city as “fantastic news”.
“That’s not only due to the hotel’s excellent location overlooking Victoria Square but also because it will inject some much-needed conference and meeting space into the city,” he says.
“Work on the refurbishment of historic Victoria Square should be completed early next year, and construction of the nearby Convention Centre within three years, making the hotel an even more attractive proposition for corporate, domestic and international visitors.
“With the central city rebuild now well underway, visitor numbers are expected to increase significantly this summer so the additional hotel capacity is very timely.”
