18 Dec 2017
Heritage Christchurch has secured two awards in the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2017 which were announced at a gala event in Zurich in December honouring the world's top luxury properties.
The news came with a bonus for Heritage Christchurch, with not one, but two awards – the winner of the Luxury Heritage Hotel award, Australasia and Oceania region, and the Luxury Historical Hotel, country region.
“We are delighted to have this international recognition, doubly so, winning in two categories this year. We will be celebrating with our hard working team this wonderful achievement,” says Gary Jarvis group operations manager of Heritage Hotel Management.
The World Luxury Hotel Awards are likened to the Oscars for luxury properties world-wide. Heritage Christchurch was the winner of luxury historical hotel award 2016 for the Australasia Oceania region after its very first nomination.
“This is a terrific endorsement for Heritage Christchurch. Guests frequently comment how much they love to stay in such a majestic historic building. We consider ourselves privileged custodians of this enduring heritage property,” adds Gary Jarvis.
Heritage Christchurch is set in the 104-year-old former government building on Cathedral Square. The hotel offers elegant suites in one, two and three bedroom configurations for leisure visitor and business guests.
The Heritage Christchurch building has been recognised in the Canterbury Heritage Awards in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
The building was designed by renowned architect Joseph Clarkson Maddison in an Italian Renaissance Palazzo style. It opened in 1913 and is considered of 'monumental' importance to the city by architecture experts.
For bookings and information call ++64 (0)3 983 4800 or visit www.heritagehotels.co.nz/hotels/heritage-christchurch
ENDS
For media information contact:
Susan Gibson, Group Communications Manager, Heritage Hotel Management Ltd
Email susang@heritagehotels.co.nz
Phone ++64 9 979 7566 or mobile ++ 64 (0)21 855 645
ABOUT HERITAGE AND CITYLIFE HOTELS
Heritage Hotel Management manage a pre-eminent range of four-star-plus properties in New Zealand with convenient CBD CityLife Hotels in Auckland and Wellington, and Heritage Hotels in Auckland, New Plymouth, Nelson, Hanmer Springs, Christchurch and Queenstown. Combined with the growing Heritage Collection, this uniquely New Zealand hotel group has 19 hotels across 15 top New Zealand locations.
HERITAGE CHRISTCHURCH'S OLD GOVERNMENT BUILDING (OGB) HISTORY
The Old Government Building (OGB), home of today's Heritage Christchurch Hotel has a fascinating history of endurance. In the early 1900s, rapid city growth prompted the need for a new government department building for Christchurch.
The site on Cathedral Square was bought in 1908. Joseph Clarkson Maddison (1850-1923), a leading architect of his era was chosen as the architect. Maddison favoured Italianate designs and his Palazzo style OGB building is considered his finest work.
A Canterbury firm, Messrs J and W Jamieson, was appointed building contractor in September 1910. The foundation stone was laid in November 1911 with the Prime Minister and the Mayor in attendance. The building was completed and opened in August 1913 for the cost of £64,380.
Maddison's design required elaborate detailing. The Coat of Arms at the Worchester Street entrance is by Edward Reece and Sons and the magnificent stained-glass windows above the interior grand staircase is credited to Christchurch glass artist Frederick Nash.
600 public servants staff, across many departments, worked in the building to start with. As the city grew, departments moved out until just the Public Works Depart remained, later renamed the Ministry of Works department. Increasing numbers of staff were housed in other newer buildings and by 1989 the building was empty.
The building's fate was up in the air for several years. Public rallies were organised to save the building and petitions presented had thousands of signatures. In July 1991 after much community consultation, the Christchurch City Council purchased the building to find a new use for it, with a hotel chosen as one of the best options.
Integral to the sale to a new owner was the purchaser must maintain the building's heritage architectural elements and conduct extensive earthquake strengthening; the reason the building is still with us today.
The Historic Places category-one-listed building was bought in 1995 by Heritage Hotel Management's parent company with a developer. In 1996 the luxury hotel opened.
