Wallace Development Company Ltd, one of the biggest developers in the lower North Island, will construct the hotel, estimated to cost $8 million, which will be operated by Quest Apartment Hotels – NZ.

Wallace Development Company managing director Jonathan Wallace says a lot of time and resource has been invested in bringing this proposal to fruition, in partnership with Quest Apartment Hotels NZ & Fiji.

“We’re very proud to bring this unique development to Hastings that will be a key piece of quality infrastructure in the city centre.”

With more than 30 years’ experience in commercial property development, he says bringing this kind of proposal to fruition had been aided by the key account service offered by Hastings District Council.

“Having one point of contact with the council has allowed us to work through our due diligence processes to move this project forward to this stage.”

The largest provider of serviced apartment style accommodation in New Zealand, the Hastings build is one of a number being added to Quest’s portfolio of 34 hotels across New Zealand and Fiji.

Quest group general manager Adrian Turner says that with a new property due to open in August this year and up to six more to open in 2020, Quest is the ideal company to be positioning itself in Hastings and supporting the local growth in the corporate market.

The prospect of establishing a new hotel in the Hastings CBD has been a long-term aspiration for the council, and Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says it is really exciting to finally be able to announce this development.

“The council has been working to get a hotel into the central city for 10 years, and I need to acknowledge the work of previous councils who have helped with this journey.”

“It is a massive progressive step for the city to be able to facilitate Wallace Development Company to make it happen.

“This will help increase economic activity and attract leisure and corporate visitors to our district to enjoy our tourism, hospitality and business offerings.

“With our Opera House, Municipal Building and Plaza redevelopment envisaged to become a national leader in terms of entertainment, culture and the arts, and the other plans to revitalise the CBD it is vital we have the infrastructure in place to accommodate the visitors this will bring.”

Along with the redeveloped Opera House arts precinct, the council’s city centre strategy includes creating shared office arrangements, café-style business and an incubator for new business start-ups bringing more people to the city centre to do business and socialise.

Mrs Hazlehurst says this hotel would complement these offerings with quality accommodation in both peak and shoulder tourism seasons. It will also put Hastings on the map as a corporate conference destination, she says.

“This will all bring more activity and people to the city centre, making it a cohesive, dynamic environment to socialise and do business.

The project would be a key catalyst to facilitate sustainable economic growth and create jobs and business opportunities at the same time as adding to the vibrancy of the city centre, she added.

The timeline for the project is to have the hotel open later next year, following the re-opening of the Opera House and Plaza.

Related Reading:

New Zealand Hotel Industry Conference to focus on future growth

Overseas guests boost South Island accommodation

New Zealand records strong growth from China amid moderating visitor arrival growth

New Zealand visitor spend outpacing arrival numbers