Accor has opened its third Pullman property in New Zealand, located 100 metres from the entrance to Auckland airport’s international terminal.
Plans for the new-build Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel were first announced back in 2017, with the property originally slated to open in 2019.
The 311-room hotel is situated next to Accor’s existing Novotel Auckland Airport hotel, and was gifted the ‘Te Arikinui’ (meaning ‘Supreme Ariki’ or ‘Supreme Paramount Chief’) part of its name by Maaori King Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.
The property has a three-pointed star shape and was inspired by the design concept ‘Sea to Sky’ and “the journey of adventure and discovery by the people of Tainui waka following their arrival at Manukau Harbour around 1350”.
Features include Te Kaahu restaurant with views of the airport’s runway and Manukau harbour, Kuriri Café and Eatery, a fitness centre and two meeting ninth floor meeting spaces.
Cultural design elements have been carved into the stone and timber panelling, as well as being applied to fabric wall coverings, and the hotel also features locally made iwi-designed bed throws and front office uniforms created by New Zealand fashion designer Kiri Nathan.
Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel is the second hotel to open under the brand in the Australia / New Zealand region in recent months, following the unveiling of Pullman Sydney Penrith.
Pullman hotel and conference centre open in Sydney’s Penrith suburb
Last year Accor announced a renewed push of its Pullman brand, envisaging it to become the global business hotel brand to cater to the post-Covid workforce, the new generation of business travellers, multi-hyphenates (people with multiple different jobs) and digital nomads.
To read more about the brand, see our review of the refurbished Pullman Paris Montparnasse.
Commenting on the news Accor’s Pacific chief operating officer PME, Adrian Williams, said:
“It is incredibly exciting to welcome this architectural landmark to our hotel portfolio. This hotel is a first in its class example of indigenous cultural design.
“We are already seeing strong interest and demand for Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel, offering guests exceptional premium hospitality experiences alongside a stunning fusion of cultural and superior design.”
