Christchurch hotels top international survey

Four Christchurch hotels have been judged among the top five New Zealand hotels in an international online travel company's survey.

The Classic Villa in the Garden City tops Expedia Insiders' Select list, with The Heritage Christchurch third, the Millennium Hotel Christchurch fourth and Hotel Grand Chancellor Christchurch fifth.

The Westin Auckland, Lighter Quays, which was the highest ranking New Zealand hotel last year on the list, dropped to second place.

Chateau Beauvallon, near the town of Mont-Tremblant in Quebec, Canada, topped the global list.

Now in its third year, the annual Expedia list represents hotels offered by Expedia globally and those that have been recognised by its travellers for "consistently delivering excellent service, a great overall experience and providing notable value".

The list combines the opinions of hundreds of thousands of Expedia customers and the company's own insights.

Expedia.co.nz marketing manager Louise Crompton said the fact that 10 New Zealand hotels made this year's list - up from only four in 2008 - "confirms our belief that New Zealand offers world-class accommodation and shows that international travellers to our country are impressed by both the quality and value of the hotels they find in our country".

The Classic Villa's global ranking was 28th.

- NZPA