$6M plan for Vacation Hotel

Press, 9 October 1982, Page 6

$6M plan for Vacation Hotel

Plans for improvements to Christchurch's Vacation Hotel have been approved in principle, and the multimillion project is expected to start in April or May next year.

i The work was estimated to cost to $6 million and had to be done as soon as possible, said the general manager of Vacation Hotels. Ltd. Mr J. P. Vowles. from Auckland yesterday.

The plans include the addition of spa pools, a gymnasium. a businessman s centre, function rooms, a coffee shop, a restaurant, and guests’ hair-drying room. A swimming pool may also be installed. Mr Vowles said the hotel was on a fine site in Colombo Street, but it was looking "a little bit tired.” It was hoped to create a friendly atmosphere where people had more contact with each other by using the varied facilities.

I The hotel, which was built

for the Commonwealth Games in 1974. can accommodate up to 250 guests.

Mr Vowles said that all the rooms would be improved but it ~ had not yet been decided if more would be added. The plans, which included interior and exterior alterations, were subject to modification. The Christchurch plans are part of a package by Vacation Hotels. Ltd. to improve its New Zealand chain. A $2O-million rebuilding programme for its hotel in Rotorua should be finished by October next year.

Mr Vowles said the facilities would be the same at all hotels, but each would be individual to the region it served.

The company’s managing director, Mr Ho Whye Chung, of Singapore, was ’in Auckland recently to discuss the plans. Vacation Hotels. Ltd. is 67.6 per cent owned by Singapore interests.