Wyndham Hotel Group and New Zealand developer Safari Group have announced plans to open an 85-room Ramada Suites in Manukau, Auckland, with construction expected to start this month for a mid 2019 completion.
The NZ$25 million development, managed by Marsden Asset Management, will offer studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, each with a fully equipped laundry and kitchen.
Ramada Manukau will provide convenient lodging for travellers attending events and sporting matches at the adjacent multi-purpose Vodafone Events Centre.
Its ideal location is within walking distance of Manukau’s growing central business district, Westfield Manukau and Vector Wero Whitewater Park, while also offering easy access to both Auckland Airport and the Auckland CBD.
“The rising need for quality hotels and trusted brand names in Auckland has created growth opportunities for hoteliers here,” said Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director, Wyndham Hotel Group South East Asia and Pacific Rim. “We currently have two hotels open in Auckland and a further two under development. The fast-growing demand makes this city an important strategic market for our expansion in the South Pacific.”
He continued, “Auckland’s tourism potential is not constrained to its CBD – areas to the north and south, like Manukau, have seen growing business and leisure interest. Our recently opened Ramada Suites Albany, located north of the city, has achieved outstanding occupancy figures since opening, and we expect Ramada Manukau to make a similar impression in the south.”
In 2014, New Zealand’s tourism industry launched Tourism 2025 – a roadmap to build tourism revenue by six per cent a year to reach $41 billion by 2025 – but growth has so far outstripped those predictions. New premium lodging is now essential – particularly in Auckland, where industry experts predict a persisting shortage.
Vodafone Events Centre Chief Executive Officer Richard Jeffery said the hotel’s location will benefit both Wyndham Hotel Group and the centre. “We expect that the presence of quality accommodation like Ramada Manukau next to our conference centre and water park will help the area attract even higher-profile events as our region grows.”
Safari Group Director Robert Neil said investor interest in Ramada Manukau’s serviced hotel apartments is strong thanks to the success of the company’s existing Ramada hotels.
“We have now collaborated with Wyndham Hotel Group for three years and know its globally recognised and trusted Ramada brand is a significant draw for investors seeking out mixed hotel and residential projects,” he said.