It's celebrities only at $10,000 a night penthouse suite

Bob Geldof, a former guest, is the type of celebrity the hotel wants. Photo / Martin Sykes

Mere money's not enough, only fame will get you a booking.

International stars have already booked a new two-level $10,000-a-night Auckland hotel suite, thought to be the most expensive of its kind.

Pullman Auckland's level 17 presidential penthouse suite 1752 will open early next month and last night it was shown off to the tourism sector.

Rob McIntyre, the hotel's general manager, said the two-level suite was already pre-booked and was not available to the general public.

"Technically it will be the most expensive, although we're saying the most exclusive. You won't be able to hold a 40th birthday party there. The rates will vary but, as an example, if we have an artist with an entourage, they would be able to negotiate on the suite. We're not publicly selling it. It's only for high-end clients."

The suite, valued at about $7.5 million, covers an area of 286sq m, bounded by a further 85sq m of terraced balconies.

Last night, about 550 guests were invited to a travel show there and McIntyre said many would visit the room, which is still a construction site.

"But the views are amazing. The furniture is coming from Italy. It has three bedrooms, five private balconies and four bathrooms."

The lower floor has a kitchen, lounge and king-size bedroom, big living areas with a sweeping staircase to a mezzanine level which has further living spaces and two king suites with opulent bathrooms.

Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels national director Dean Humphries said the Waterloo Quadrant hotel - formerly Hyatt Regency Auckland - was popular with rock bands and high-profile artists because it had such big rooms and was near Vector Arena.

Big stars to stay at the Hyatt included Bob Geldof and INXS, before its lead singer Michael Hutchence died.

Humphries said Prince William stayed in InterContinental Wellington's top suite and predicted Pullman's new suite would attract people in the same league.

Presidential suites in five-star hotels sold for thousands of dollars a night, Humphries said, but he knew of no other inner-city hotel in New Zealand with a $10,000-a-night suite.

The property is at the top of what was known as Hyatt Residences, a project on the corner of Princes St and Waterloo Quadrant which was finished almost a decade ago. But in an unusual twist, the interior was never fitted out so the suite was never occupied as part of the hotel or sold.

Last year, CP Group, owned by the wealthy Pandy family of Auckland, paid just under $60 million for the Hyatt Regency. Accor struck a deal to operate the original hotel and the adjoining high-rise apartments under its Pullman brand.