FOUR STAR: Selina Zhang (left) and Alex Leu (right) talk to architect Roger Willard about the plans for a new hotel. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
FOUR STAR: Selina Zhang (left) and Alex Leu (right) talk to architect Roger Willard about the plans for a new hotel. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Hotel could be open for trade year from now
- Four-star rating - 100 rooms - 30 new jobs
Plans have been unveiled for a new multi-million-dollar four-star hotel in Rotorua, which developers say will bring about 30 jobs to the city and attract more tourists.
The proposed hotel, on empty land at Koutu, will have 100 rooms and include a swimming pool, restaurant and tennis courts as part of the development.
It is being developed jointly by Rotoruacouple Alex Leu and Selina Zhang with two other investors - one based in Auckland and one in China.
The project is going through the resource consent process because the area in Bennetts Rd is zoned residential.
Ms Zhang said they were still working on costings for the hotel but it would be in the "multi-million-dollar" range. If resourceconsent goes through, it could be opened within a year.
It is one of several new accommodation facilities planned for Rotorua. Pukeroa Oruawhata plans to develop a five-star hotel and spa at Rotorua's Lakefront, and has also announced it is converting the old Lakehouse into a 250-bed upmarket spa hostel. Meanwhile, the Ramada Lakeside Resort and Spa is planned for nearby Whittaker Rd.
Site of the proposed four-star hotel on Bennetts Road Photo/Ben Fraser
A former tour guide, Mr Leu believed the hotel would attract many people and they hoped to market it to international and domestic tourists.
They would also market it in China and for tour groups, particularly Asian tour groups, which would be a key because of the growth in the Asian market, he said.
"We think visitors should stop [in Rotorua] longer."
Ms Zhang said while they had been considering building a hotel for "many, many years" it had been difficult to find a suitable spot.
"It is hard, especially close to town, to find a land size that is big enough."
She said they hoped to employ local people.
"We know there are people looking for jobs. We think Rotorua needs a bigger hotel [like this]."
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick said the news was fantastic.
"It's great because we are aware we need more beds, this is just fantastic for us and clever positioning I think, because it's close to Kuirau Park, close to the heart of the city and so we're seeing a lot more commercial activity around the edges. That's clever."
Mrs Chadwick said they had been aware investors were considering the project for some time.
"Sometimes it takes two years from when investors are looking around until they push the go button."
Destination Rotorua chief executive Mark Rawson said it was a positive sign significant new investors, as well as others already operating in the Rotorua space, were seeing Rotorua as a serious visitor destination for future investment.
"The good thing about the proposed new accommodation developments is that each project aims to cater for a distinct market segment, all of which are showing reasonable growth.
"Growth in accommodation capacity is one of the key contributing factors that will help Rotorua achieve its goal of doubling the value of the visitor sector to $1 billion by 2030.
"This would have a significant impact on the local economy as the visitor sector is Rotorua's largest employer," Mr Rawson said.
