$90,000 spent on hotel refits

By Warren Gamble

Apec organisers have spent $90,000 revamping Auckland hotel suites to meet the requirements of world leaders.

The Government's Apec Taskforce insists that taxpayers' money has not been spent pandering to overseas leaders, but on "functionality and security."

The Weekend Herald revealed on Saturday that the taskforce paid to upgrade a Sheraton Hotel suite for Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.

China's President Jiang Zemin had been given the hotel's Royal Suite and the makeover to turn Mr Obuchi's less grand executive suite into the Imperial Suite was considered appropriate for a Prime Minister.

Hotel industry insiders said that providing suites of equal status for the two leaders was a factor in the revamp, a suggestion denied by Apec organisers.

Taskforce spokesman Peter Parussini said last night that the $90,000 had been spent on modifications at seven Auckland hotels.

It was clear early on that Auckland did not have enough suites up to international standards, he said.

In some cases, interconnecting doors had been put in to create bigger suites, allowing leaders to host meetings, or for security reasons.

In other cases, bathrooms had been installed and extra furnishings hired, such as boardroom tables.

Some delegations had requested more improvements, which they had paid for, and some of the hotels had also met part of the costs.

Mr Parussini would not comment on information that US President Bill Clinton's suite at the Stamford Plaza had a new kitchen installed so that his own chefs could prepare meals in-house.