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Auckland is set to welcome the debut of Hotel Indigo in New Zealand, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury & lifestyle portfolio, with the soft opening of 54 rooms from Monday, December 23 – just in time for Christmas.
Taking centre stage on Albert Street in the heart of Auckland’s vibrant midtown, the 225-room Hotel Indigo Auckland is finessing the final elements of its three-year build in anticipation of a full opening in early 2025.
Hotel Indigo Auckland’s dining venues, designed in consultation with leading Australian hospitality design firm Ingram Advisory, are slated to open from March 2025 onwards. A French-inspired bistro (Bistro Saine), café-come-wine bar, and a sophisticated cocktail bar and lounge will transport guests into the chic eateries and bars of New York, London and Paris.
During the soft opening phase from December 23, 2024, to March 2025, hotel guests will enjoy a complimentary taste of the neighbourhood in the lobby, while the team will guide guests to visit the local neighbourhood’s on-trend dining and drinking spots, ensuring a seamless and memorable stay.
Leading the Hotel Indigo Auckland team is general manager Mathew Simister, an experienced hotelier with IHG Hotels & Resorts across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Previously, Mathew spearheaded the opening of Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park and supported the opening of Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort and Spa.
Joining Mathew in the executive team is Alice Scott, appointed as the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. Alice brings a wealth of experience from her most recent role as senior project manager of Event Travel for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. Her expertise spans corporate, leisure, and event services, honed through previous roles at Corporate Traveller, Flight Centre, and CTM.
Hotel Indigo Auckland is delighted to have the culinary talents of top chef Yutak Son at the helm of its dining venues. Born in South Korea and raised in New Zealand, Yutak has honed his cooking dexterity in the kitchens of Sidart, Orphans Kitchen, Black Estate, Daily Bread, and The Shed at Te Motu vineyard on Waiheke Island. Most recently, Yutak was executive head chef for Namu Group’s eateries which include Tobi and Gemmi.
“We are thrilled to be soft opening New Zealand’s first neighbourhood-inspired Hotel Indigo property in Auckland just before the summer holidays, giving guests a taste of what’s to come in 2025,” says Mathew.
“Hotel Indigo Auckland will be the poster child for the culturally rich boutique brand in New Zealand, showcasing the storied past of its heritage motoring site through its design and artworks, to its internationally inspired dining venues.”
Every Hotel Indigo celebrates the unique character and culture of its neighbourhood. For Auckland, this means embracing the rich history of its local area and its roots as a motor house. The hotel has retained its original 1912 heritage-listed façade, once home to Dexter and Crozier car importers known as “The Motor House”. This history is reflected in the hotel’s design, artwork, and amenities, creating a distinct connection to the city’s past while offering a modern, boutique experience.
The boutique hotel occupies 27 floors of a 41-storey tower that also houses exclusive sky residential apartments and jaw-dropping penthouses. As one of Auckland’s tallest buildings, Hotel Indigo Auckland offers breathtaking views of the city skyline and harbour from the majority of its rooms.
Situated with convenient access to the New Zealand International Convention Centre (opening mid-2025), Sky Tower, Sky City Casino, and the bustling precincts of Britomart, Wynyard Quarter, and the Viaduct, Hotel Indigo Auckland offers an ideal base for both business and leisure travellers to stay and play in Auckland.
The opening of Hotel Indigo Auckland marks the fifth Hotel Indigo property in Australasia, joining the global brand’s rapidly expanding portfolio alongside Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders, Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre, Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, and Hotel Indigo Sydney Potts Point.
Hotel Indigo Auckland is a partnership with IHG Hotels and Resorts and Ninety Four Feet, an Australasian family property development, investment, and construction company, based in Melbourne.
