NEW TOURIST HOTELS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27794, 20 October 1955, Page 7

NEW TOURIST HOTELS

THREE PLANNED IN AUCKLAND PROVINCE BUSINESSMEN SEEK AID FROM GOVERNMENT ’ (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 19. A plan to build in the Auckland Province three high-class highway hotels at a cost of several hundred thousand pounds has been submitted to the Minister in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts (Mr E. H. Halstead) by a group of New Zealand businessmen. One is proposed for*, the Great South road, Auckland, another for Rotorua, and the third near the Huka Falls, Taupo. An effort will be made to have them completed in time for the 1956 Christmas tourist traffic. It is predicted that these three highway hotels will be only a start in a chain of similar hotels in other parts of the North and South Islands. Each hotel, it is suggested, should have about 60 beds for guests. The plan has been prepared by the consulting division, of the Fletcher Construction Company, Ltd., for Mr H. D. Coxhead, of Timaru, general manager of the New Zealand Travel Service, Ltd.; Mr H. R. Wigley, man-aging-director of the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company. Ltd.; and the New Zealand Travel and Holidays Association. Government help is sought in finding half the money. The chain of hotels is intended to provide for travellers who want, and are prepared to pay for, standard acommodation.

The designers of the plan say that at Rotorua and Taupo geothermal steam will be used for heating, and possibly cooking. It is suggested that there be a private bathroom to each bedroom, central heating throughout the hotels, attractive siting of the buildings, recreational facilities, adequate parking for cars, high-quality meals any time of the day or evening, and drinking facilities.