The Novotel Christchurch Airport Hotel is a demonstration of the city’s resilience.
Following earthquakes, a national tragedy, rebuilding issues, and the turbulence of a pandemic, the Novotel at Christchurch Airport is celebrating its first year of uninterrupted guest occupancy, despite opening in 2019.
Novotel Christchurch Airport is a 4.5-star hotel with 200 rooms to its name. Christchurch International Airport Limited owns the hotel, and it is run as a franchise under the management of Hind Management, who is also the operator of New Zealand’s Sudima Hotels.
Occupancy in the hotel has averaged 60 to 70 percent over the past three months, which hotel manager James Wilson cites as being suitable for this time of the year.
“Domestically, we are nearly back up to pre-pandemic visitors, while international is catching up and growing. Conference facilities, in particular, have been busy, and May is looking very strong,” said Wilson.
The hotel’s location attracts business people who need a suitable location close to travel and public transport. The Novotel also has a purpose-built conference area and easy access to the main city centre.
With Emirates restarting its daily A380 Christchurch to Dubai flight via Sydney in March and a new direct flight from Christchurch to San Francisco announced by United Airlines, there is expected to be a major tourism boom for the area. The United service will begin this December, becoming the only service linking the South Island and the United States directly.
Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson said the new service would engage interest from the United States to travel to the South Island.
“The South Island is on Americans’ travel wish list so this new service will supercharge tourism value to New Zealand. American visitors who enter the country through Christchurch Airport spend 42 percent more in New Zealand and stay 33 percent longer,” said Watson.
“Government data suggests the seasonal service is likely to bring in $44 million visitor spend for New Zealand, with $32 million of that in South Island regions.”
Data also indicates that Christchurch Airport's domestic and international passenger numbers are 90 percent and 80 percent, respectively, compared to pre-pandemic figures.
