Following the devastating November 2020 floods that plunged the Napier region into a State of Emergency, Scenic Te Pania Hotel on the city’s waterfront will re-open today.
This marks the completion of remedial works to the lower part of the hotel.
“We are on time, ready to go and just cannot wait to welcome our wonderfully loyal guests back," says Scenic Te Pania Hotel general manager, Kerryann Gibbs.
Kerryann says she is humbled by the response she has had from suppliers and regular guests, with many even moving existing bookings to when the hotel would be open again.
“To open on day one with a conference inhouse and the hotel more than half full is testament to the great relationships our team has forged with guests over the years as well as the hotel offering itself.”
During the floods that caused widespread damage to the central city and beyond, the hotel sustained water damage to the lower level which included areas of critical infrastructure such as the kitchen and electrical hubs as well as the restaurant and bar and lower level guest rooms.
Kerryann says new carpet, furnishings and remediated infrastructure has been completed to an excellent level and thanked the team and contractors who made this critical mission possible over the holiday season and during a time when trade services were in such demand throughout the region.
The major contractor to the project was local company, Oak Construction led by Josh Overeem. For Josh, the Te Pania project renewed a significant connection. The now manager, served his apprenticeship on the original construction of the hotel.
"The overall situation in the region made for very challenging times given the massive pull on trade resources across the spectrum and the fact that they were also heading into the traditional holiday season when trade services are scarce anyway," says Josh.
Kerryann says it really was very much a team project and is "beyond proud" of the way everyone working collaboratively to achieve the incredible result that enabled her food and beverage team to serve their very first guest breakfast a few days ahead of schedule.
