“It’s much more than just a hotel,” Invercargill Licensing Trust chief executive Chris Ramsay said when describing the inner-city development.
Backed with a budget up to $40 million, the project is set to transform the Invercargill CBD and provide a stylish modern space for both locals and visitors.
The development will feature eateries and bars on the ground level, meeting and private dining spaces on the first floor, with 4.5-star quality accommodation above. Eight-stories tall, the building will also feature a rooftop function space.
“Ultimately, it’s a contemporary design with a ground-floor presence that will generate the desired wow factor,”
Queenstown-based architects Warren and Mahoney – who also designed the SKYCITY NZICC and Hobson St hotel among other notable projects – helped create the design.
The hotel’s construction will be completed in two stages, with the first featuring 80 guest rooms. Ability to future-proof was fundamental in the hotel’s design, so an additional 40 rooms are able to be added when demand warrants it.
“We’re brave enough to put a stake in the ground and get the ball rolling because we believe this will help Invercargill continue to grow as a destination,” said chairman Alan Dennis, on behalf of the Board.
“It’s going to take partnership and a united approach. We’re providing a catalyst for that because we have confidence in this city and province.”
The Trust operates 24 businesses in the Invercargill hospitality industry, but that last hotel development it was involved in was Ascot Park in the 1970s.
If the consent process goes smoothly, construction will begin in October 2021.
