NZ$18.5m hot spring development planned by Wyndham Hotel Group
International hotel chain Wyndham Hotel Group has announced plans to increase its portfolio of properties in New Zealand to include two apartment hotels in Christchurch and Queenstown, as well as a resort and spa in hot
spring town Rotorua.
Auckland-based developer Safari Group has signed franchise agreements for three new Ramada-branded properties to further Wyndham Hotel Group’s strategic efforts to grow the brand throughout the South Pacific and around the globe.
The 68-bedroom and hotel apartment Ramada Lakeside Resort and Spa in Rotorua is in the early stages of development, with plans to open in December 2015. The NZ$18.5m (US$15m, €11m, £9m) development will feature a geothermal health spa, an on-site restaurant and bar, swimming pools and conference facilities.
During the construction phase, as many as 100 people are expected to be employed to work on the project.
This property will be the second Wyndham Hotel Group property in Rotorua, alongside the WorldMark Marama Resort Rotorua.
“As we seek to grow our reputation as a quality destination, the addition of a luxury development of this nature only strengthens our position – particularly with its lakeside location and focus on geothermal health and spa facilities,” said Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick in an interview with local press. Chadwick is currently promoting the city’s hot spring tourism opportunities at the Global Spa and Wellness Summit (GSWS) in Marrakech, Morocco this week.
Developer Rob Neil of Safari Group told local press that work on the project would begin at the end of the year and that the property will be a five-star resort and will fill a hole in Rotorua’s accommodation market.
“Rotorua is a very attractive and well-known destination for both international and domestic visitors, so we see it as a vital link in our expansion plans,” said Barry Robinson, managing director of the Wyndham Hotel Group in the South Pacific. He also said that the hotel group had been working with the developer of the site for more than 18 months already and now all of the consent processes are complete.
The two apartment hotels planned for Christchurch and Queenstown, which do not feature spas, are each scheduled to open by early 2015. The 44-apartment Ramada Suites Christchurch City will offer a mix of studios as well as an on-site café. This development is costing NZ$12.5m (US$10m, €8m, £6m). Construction is also scheduled to start soon on the 54-apartment Ramada Hotel and Suites Remarkable Park in Queenstown, which is costing NZ$25m (US$21m, €16m, £13m). This hotel will offer a restaurant, gym and eight boutique retail stores.
These three new properties join two existing Ramada hotels in New Zealand, located in Paihia and Orewa.
The Wyndham Hotel Group recently announced the addition of Ramada Kooralbyn Resort in Queensland and Ramada Resort Shoal Bay in New South Wales – both in Australia. It also has plans to open Fiji’s first Ramada resort in Nadi Bay.
The Ramada network includes almost 830 hotels in approximately 50 countries. The Wyndham Hotel Group has a portfolio of approximately 7,540 hotels globally.
A.W. Lake reveals plans for mammoth Changbai Mountain Hot Spring Resort
Mayor of hot spring city Rotorua in New Zealand invited to GSWS
Rare hot spring found in Tokyo business district to be ready for 2020 Olympics
GSWS report to include first ever research on the global hot springs market
Radisson Blu to launch in Chongqing mixed development
TV channel operator to launch luxury hot spring resort later this year
Gross Barmen Hot Springs Resort refurbishment in Namibia is almost complete
Greece not capitalising on its thermal spa tourism potential
Rotorua to be developed as South Pacific’s spa and hot spring capital
Spafinder Wellness 365 releases 2014 trends report
Hot spring spa for Banyan Tree resort in China
New Zealand council investigates economic potential of spa sector
FEATURE: New Zealand thermal spa – Pooling resources
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
