AccorHotels is pleased to announce that it will open a new-build Novotel hotel at Christchurch Airport following the signing of an agreement with Christchurch International Airport Ltd.

The 200-room Novotel hotel will be located next to the Christchurch International Terminal and is being designed by Warren and Mahoney Architects, the same team behind the award-winning Novotel Auckland Airport hotel.

Novotel Christchurch Airport will feature a restaurant and bar, function and meeting room facilities.

Senior Vice President Operations for AccorHotels New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia, Chris Sedgwick, said, "AccorHotels is proud to be working with Christchurch Airport to build a new Novotel hotel on the campus.

"The airport's investment in new services and increasing airline capacity suggests that the time is right for a new hotel in the precinct, particularly at a time when growing tourist numbers to New Zealand highlight the need for more accommodation.

"We continue to lead the hotel sector as an airport specialist, and as the largest operator of hotels in airport precincts in the Pacific region, we understand the specific needs of transiting short stay business and leisure travellers."

Christchurch Airport Chief Executive, Malcolm Johns, says the airport will invest $80 million in land and improvements for the hotel development. He says the new hotel will be the second on the airport campus and is a direct response to airline and passenger inquiries for increased short-term airport accommodation.

"Many of our Asian flights arrive in the evening, bringing visitors who have been flying for 12 hours or more. They want to rest before beginning their exploration of the South Island and expect to be able to do that near the airport and all its facilities, including the tourism transport hub.

"Corporate and leisure travellers arrive here on trans-Tasman flights late at night, some around midnight, and leave early in the morning. In both cases, they expect to be able to stay overnight on the airport campus. From the end of next year, many more will be able to do that."

Novotel Christchurch Airport will complement AccorHotels two existing airport hotels in New Zealand – Novotel Auckland Airport and ibis budget Auckland Airport.

Construction of the Novotel hotel will commence in May 2016 with the hotel due to open late 2017.

Novotel Christchurch Airport will be the 9th Novotel branded hotel in New Zealand, and joins a global network of over 450 Novotel's in 61 countries. The hotel will be AccorHotels 34th property in New Zealand.

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