Champagne breakfast starts Cup and Show Day at Crowne Plaza Christchurch in style

by October 18, 2017

Media Release from Crowne Plaza Christchurch Crowne Plaza Christchurch has partnered with fabulous Bollinger Champagne for one of the most glamorous and highly-anticipated social events on Canterbury’s calendar. Crowne Plaza’s Cup Day Bollinger Breakfast on November 14 promises to be a delicious way to get the prestigious Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup Day off to a racing start. The…

As it’s the new hotel’s first Cup Day event, it’s promising to pull out all the stops, with ‘whispers’ of a decadent chocolate fountain to delight guests.

Lovers of fashion, fascinators, food and fun will be well catered-for, with the gourmet food spread featuring continental and full breakfast options and a ‘cooked-to-order’ egg station.

There will be something to fill everyone’s appetite from bliss balls to pretzel hot- smoked salmon sliders and a Belgian waffle station, meaning guests will have no trouble fueling up for the day’s action. They can also try new breakfast items including a classic kiwi bacon and egg pie.

Cup Day is considered to be Australasia’s most prominent harness racing event, drawing crowds from all over the country.

Crowne Plaza Christchurch General Manager Reinier Eulink said he couldn’t wait to see Market Place buzzing with colour and laughter.

“Cup Day drew over 20,000 people last year so it’s not only a favourite in the hearts and minds of locals but attracts crowds from all around the country,” he said.

“With Cup Week on the calendar it’s great news not only for our hotel but for the region’s tourism industry.

“We have some fantastic partners lined up our event and we’re looking forward to it really kicking off our summer season with a bang!”

Tickets for Crowne Plaza’s Cup Day Bollinger Breakfast are $75 per person. The event starts at 10am and coaches leave at midday, just in time to catch some of the first races.

The ever-fabulous Canterbury Cup Week will also mark the launch of Crowne Plaza’s delightful High Tea experience. Hosted in Social Wine Bar, groups can enjoy a three-tier assortment of high tea classics such as finger sandwiches, macarons, mini salmon quiches and a glass of bubbles. Dining in the fresh, contemporary downstairs space is a very reasonable $38 per person.

Executive Chef Mirco Turtschi has been busy refining the details of the Bollinger breakfast and High Tea packages.

“This is Crowne Plaza’s first Cup Day in our new premises so we’re excited to showcase what we do with some stunning gourmet breakfast canapés and summer fruits for the breakfast,” he said.

“Our High Teas will be the cherry on the cake, so to speak, and with the fresh seasonal produce that comes with the warmer summer months we’re very much looking forward to inviting guests to sample that taste of summer.”

Social Wine Bar seating for High Tea is limited and tickets for the Cup Day Bollinger Breakfast event are sure to be in hot demand. Bookings are essential by contacting [email protected] or calling (03) 741 2810.

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1) Enjoy a delightful High Tea experience at Crowne Plaza Christchurch’s sophisticated Social Wine Bar

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Heli Tours Queenstown gaining its mark on sustainable tourism practice

by October 18, 2017

Media Release from Heli Tours Queenstown Queenstown commercial scenic flight provider Heli Tours Queenstown is celebrating after being recognized as one of the highest-quality, safe and sustainable tourism businesses in the country. Heli Tours Queenstown is the only private and locally-owned helicopter company flying from the resort town, owned and operated by proud South Islanders…

Businesses are assessed on four key sectors — health and safety, sustainable and environmentally friendly practice, social hospitality and the economic operations of the company.

Following the intense evaluation, businesses can be awarded bronze, silver or gold.

Heli Tours Queenstown has been operating in Queenstown for seven years, and Mr Mitchell said they were delighted with the Silver award.

“Qualmark Silver enables us to benchmark our business against other tourism operators throughout the country and continually strive to be the best,” he said.

“When visitors see that Qualmark branding they know that operation is safe, delivers a fantastic customer experience and customer service, and is reliable. They know they’re in good hands.”

“The whole accreditation process makes you look at your business from the outside in, and now we have the assessors report we know we can fine tune it with some very small improvements that can make all the difference.”

Mr Mitchell said he believed a Qualmark accreditation helped secure a long-term sustainable position for the tourism industry by protecting what made New Zealand unique and desired.

The couple say they love to showcase and inspire visitors with their extensive knowledge of, and passion for, their beautiful ‘backyard’.

Currently operating three helicopters, Heli Tours Queenstown has the widest range of landing concessions available to any Queenstown-based helicopter businesses, after being granted an historic 18-year permit multi-conservancy concession for heli landings just two years after setting up in business.

It was the first of its kind permitted by the Department of Conservation and enables the company to make the most of a range of options for helicopter landings throughout Otago, Southland and Canterbury for recreation or tourism activities.

It’s scenic flights and activities on offer include alpine snow and glacier landings, Milford and Dusky Sound trips, wine tours, high and low-adrenaline adventures, relaxing scenic spa and picnic activities, and personalised custom tours.

“More and more of our guests, no matter what country they’re from or their background, want the ‘new luxury’ of an authentic, genuine experience, really engaging with locals and learning about the area,” said Katherine Mitchell.

“That can be anything from seeing the family farm, escaping the crowds, to meeting a winemaker or going for a hike.

“They don’t have to be big trips, but we know we’ve done our job when they leave feeling like they’ve made a friend.”

Heli Tours Queenstown operates from its base at Queenstown International Airport.

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Crowne Plaza Auckland – all business, mostly

by October 16, 2017

Media Release from Crowne Plaza Auckland New Zealand’s leading business hotel, Crowne Plaza Auckland, is helping guests ‘switch off’ from the daily grind. Located in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, the award-winning hotel has launched three new packages – Mostly Energised, Mostly Inspired and Mostly Social – to ensure downtime is as productive as work…

Stay active in the city with a Mostly Inspired Package, aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, runners, or the health conscious who want to achieve fitness goals or enjoy a slower-paced scenic walk.

This fantastic package saves guests up to $55 and includes a night’s accommodation for two and a ‘refuel breakfast’ at Aria Restaurant to get the day off to the perfect start.

Thoughtful extras include a personalised Yeti cooling towel (when wet it cools up to 15° below outdoor temperature), an Auckland running map and a bottle of New Zealand’s finest spring water.

A Mostly Energised Package is available for those who need to recharge the batteries.

The package includes a $50 voucher for a treatment of choice at the award-winning Bliss Reflexology & Massage Spa, a rejuvenating night’s stay for two with late check out, the obligatory spring water and a healthy buffet breakfast for two at Aria Restaurant.

The Mostly Social Package is the perfect weekend escape for girlfriends or couples hitting the city for a shopping trip, theatre experience, sports game or an overdue catch up with friends.

This deal is available on all room types and combines accommodation, breakfast for two at Aria Restaurant, a premium bottle of New Zealand wine, parking and late checkout, with savings up to $90.

Crowne Plaza Auckland General Manager Tim Pollock said these unique packages had been created to live true to our new brand tagline “we’re all business, mostly”.

“Our guests seek innovative experiences and we’re providing the perfect base where they can feel productive, connected, rested and restored,” he said.

“Our city has so much to offer and in people’s time-pressured lives a glass of New Zealand pinot, or a run along the waterfront is just as important as the daily grind.”

All packages are subject to booking availability and must be booked one day in advance.

For bookings or more information go to crowneplaza.nz/auckland_mostly.

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1/ Crowne Plaza Auckland is the perfect base for a weekend escape

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New Crowne Plaza Christchurch blazing a trail for business success in revitalised city centre

by October 13, 2017

Media Release from Crowne Plaza Christchurch Just three months since opening, Crowne Plaza Christchurch is setting a benchmark for business success. The hotel opened to great fanfare as the city records record growth from its visitor economy, the CBD has come alive with the opening of retail centres such as The Crossing and in all…

The tourism boost looks unlikely to slow down anytime soon.

Latest Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) figures show Christchurch hotel occupancy for September has increased almost 5% on the same time last year. Other industry reporting also highlights this trend with stronger year-on-year demand for CBD hotels in the 4.5 to 5-star market.

ChristchurchNZ Convention Bureau and Industry Partnership Manager Caroline Blanchfield said visitor spending was increasing year on year, injecting millions of dollars into the local economy.

“The amount of money being spent by visitors in the last 12 months has exceeded pre-earthquake levels, with visitors spending $2224 million in Christchurch and $3472 million in Canterbury in the year up until August 2017, based on Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment figures,” she said.

Ms Blanchfield said it was good to see hotels such as Crowne Plaza opening in the city and doing so well.

“Increasing numbers of visitors are coming to Christchurch as the city continues to emerge, with new bars, restaurants and retail shops opening weekly. It is fantastic to have a range of accommodation providers on board to meet different visitor needs.”

While many new buildings have opened or are about to open in the CBD, construction work continues apace. Yet to come are developments on Colombo Street, smaller rebuilds on Cashel Street, The Terrace, EntX Entertainment Centre and the Victoria Square renovation – all within walking distance of the hotel.

“We’re looking forward to some of these additional commercial projects being completed in the next six to 12 months and the flow-on effect of increasing numbers of visitors and office workers to the city,” said General Manager Reinier Eulink.

Forward demand is very strong especially in the leisure market with guests booking well into 2018.

The hotel’s internal ‘Guest Love’ customer satisfaction survey currently ranks Crowne Plaza Christchurch in the Number One spot for Crowne Plaza hotels throughout Australasia.

“This confirms the hotel is succeeding in delivering consistently great guest experiences and building lifetime relationships with guests,” said Reinier.

The hotel is also booked well in advance for special events coming to the city.

Within those first few weeks of opening, Crowne Plaza Christchurch has already hosted Emirates Team New Zealand, Highlanders and Chiefs rugby teams and corporate groups from Tourism Industry Aotearoa.

It is hosting teams visiting the city for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup starting on January 19 and being played at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval. Both semi-finals will be played in Christchurch on January 29 and 30.

Crowne Plaza Christchurch is also experiencing strong bookings for the month-long Golden Oldies Sports Celebration starting on April 1 2018.

“The city is attracting increasing numbers of international events and we’re delighted to host participants and spectators,” said Reinier.

The hotel is experiencing strong demand for meetings and conferences, with its event spaces proving a major drawcard for the property. With four flexible spaces on offer, the hotel has been a popular addition to the Christchurch market and was also invited to host the welcome event for the Convene South tradeshow in September, introducing the hotel to more than 100 event planners.

The names of the meeting spaces connect the hotel to the early history of Victoria Square and previous hotel owners. The larger Golden Fleece room accommodates up to 150 people and the smaller Ellis, Gartner and Oram rooms are designed to be used individually or combined to cater for larger numbers.

One of the city’s first hotels, The Golden Fleece, once occupied the site of the new Crowne Plaza.

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1/ Crowne Plaza Christchurch is experiencing strong demand for meetings and conferences at the hotel

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