NZ Hotel Holdings has selected a new hotel operator for its iconic property in Rotorua, which will see Holiday Inn Rotorua transform into a Rydges hotel from July 2022.
The Holiday Inn Rotorua belongs to a hotel portfolio owned by NZ Hotel Holdings, a partnership between NZ Super Fund, The Russell Property Group and Lockwood Property Group. The portfolio features other well-known hotels, including Four Points by Sheraton and the Adina Apartment Hotel in Auckland, QT Auckland, Rydges Wellington, BreakFree Hotel in Christchurch, and the Sofitel in Queenstown. The properties are overseen by The Russel Property Group on behalf of the partnership.
Brett Russell, managing director of Russell Group, revealed that the Holiday Inn’s contract to operate the property had ended in February 2021. However, due to unprecedented challenges brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing a new operating agreement was delayed, and the group decided to renew Holiday Inn’s existing contract to cover this period.
This year, Russel Property Group conducted an RFP to establish a new operating contract for the hotel. EVENT Hospitality and Entertainment, which operates Rydges, QT and Atura Hotels, and JUCY Snooze, has been successfully chosen and will be running the property as a Rydges hotel from July onwards.
According to Russell Group managing director Brett Russell the RFP process was very competitive and they were confident appointing Rydges to operate the hotel would be a positive step forward. “Our partners at EVENT are experienced hotel operators with a proven track record as our operating partners at QT Auckland and Rydges Wellington, and we are confident that the transition can occur without disruption to operations, and without interruption to an attractive offering for visitors to Rotorua and users of the hotel.”
To ensure a seamless transition, NZ Hotel Holdings will be working closely with all parties involved.
“Our partners at EVENT are experienced hotel operators with a proven track record as our operating partners at QT Auckland and Rydges Wellington, and we are confident that the transition can occur without disruption to operations and without interruption to an attractive offering for visitors to Rotorua and users of the hotel.”
According to Hishaam Mirza, NZ Super Fund Direct Investment Manager, with EVENT as the new hotel operator for the iconic property, the tourism sector in Rotorua can expect there to be new exciting opportunities.
“This property remains a vital piece of tourism infrastructure, especially now with international tourism returning to New Zealand. We are confident the new operator will fit well with this operation and across the high-quality regional assets in this portfolio.”
