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Accor deal reopens luxury waterfront hotel

Sunday 18 September 2011, 4:16PM

By Pead PR

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AUCKLAND

Global hotel operator Accor is taking over management of the five star Hotel Viaduct Harbour.

The hotel opens under Accor management as Hotel Lighter Quay on Monday, September 26 in time for the business end of the Rugby World Cup.

Hotel Lighter Quay joins Accor’s MGallery collection of 45 memorable boutique and upscale hotels world-wide.

The unit title hotel has of recent months been the subject of dispute between the majority of room owners and the owner of the bar, restaurant and other facilities.

The room owners cancelled their leases after the former management company was placed in receivership. After failing to reach agreement with the then receivers, the accommodation owners eventually opened their own hotel in July under the name Hotel Viaduct Harbour.

Graham Wilkinson, the representative for the majority of owners says the room owners have been successfully running the “no frills” hotel operation on the prime waterfront site ever since without the bar, restaurant and other facilities.

He says the management contract with Accor is a big step forward in securing a positive future for room owners and bringing the hotel back to Auckland.

“Accor is a highly experienced operator managing more than 4,200 hotels world-wide and is the largest operator in New Zealand with a portfolio of 9 international brands.

“The company has plans to include a residents’ private lounge with guest access to food and beverage services. However, access to the bar and restaurant facilities retained by the current receivers will depend on future negotiations between them and the room owners.

“We are re-branding the property Hotel Lighter Quay and bringing it into the MGallery fold of memorable boutique hotels.

“The location of Hotel Lighter Quay is sensational and the rooms truly excellent, the biggest factors for most guests. It is a true five star property that any hotel company would be proud to manage. We will be offering five star service in a five star location.”

Mr Wilkinson says an offer of binding arbitration to the receivers is still on the table but has been continually rebuffed by the receivers.

“The room owners are delighted to have their asset managed by Accor and to have the confidence of a return on their investments. By their actions the room owners have shown they will not accept an arbitrary and unfair outcome which deprives them of a fair share of total hotel income.

“And our thanks are due to Accor and Paul Richardson – Paul and his team have worked hard to get the hotel operational as thousands of overseas tourists arrive in Auckland wanting quality accommodation. It’s just great to see the hotel being brought back to the status it deserves.”