T.H.C. to set up Chch hotel?

Press, 19 December 1986, Page 1

T.H.C. to set up Chch hotel?

By

TESSA WARD

The Tourist Hotel Corporation may establish a hotel in Christchurch, according to the corporation’s chief executive, Mr Michael Hoy.

A T.H.C. hotel in Christchurch of between 150 and 200 rooms was capable of providing about 150 new on-site jobs as well as generating jobs throughout the rest of the city, he said. “Christchurch is obviously the gateway to the South Island, helped by the upgrading of its airsport facilities,” Mr Hoy said. “A T.H.C. hotel in Christchurch would therefore help us to promote a package tour, using T.H.C. hotels one end of the country to the other. “We have already had a few nibbles and will look for the hotel offer that has the most potential for successful development,” Mr Hoy said. The corporation’s optimism about New Zealand’s tourist industry during the last two years, and its expansion programme, had paid off, Mr Hoy said. A $3O million T.H.C. hotel with 158 rooms was under construction in Queenstown, he said. “We have also bought, subject to Commerce Commission approval, the 58-room Remarkables Resort 1 Hotel. With a hotel in Christchurch, there will be eight T.H.C. hotels in the South Island and nine in the North Island.

“We are also seeking a management contract for downtown Auckland.” The chairman of the T.H.C., Mr Bob Stannard, said in his annual report yesterday that the establishment of T.H.C. hotels in Christchurch, Queenstown, and Auckland would help offset difficulties faced by existing hotels because of seasonal factors.

The Planning Tribunal had halted progress to- 1 wards establishing a 200room hotel at Queenstown. Notice of appeal against this decision had been lodged with the High Court.

The corporation wanted to extend the Hermitage Hotel at Mount Cook with a new 45-room to 50-room wing, Mr Stannard said. The timing of this had yet to be decided.