New Look James Cook Hotel Under New Management

The James Cook Hotel in Wellington will become the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor on 1 April, announce the hotel’s owners, Hotel Grand Central Limited, today. The rebranding is to be coupled with a $3.2 million facelift over the next 12 months.

The rebranding follows a decision by the established owners to manage the hotel through their own Wellington-based management company, Grand Central Management (NZ) Limited. Hotel Grand Central Limited has owned the James Cook for the last six years, and the staff are employed directly by the group.

Traditionally a long-term property investor in Wellington, Hotel Grand Central Limited is now well placed to capitalise on growth in tourism to the city.

“While not the most auspicious of dates to be taking over management of the hotel, the opportunity arose with the previous management contract expiring at midnight on 31 March,” said Mark Lind, Regional General Manager – New Zealand.

“We will now be able to transfer the benefits of a national chain of hotels to our customers, with hotel representation in each of the main centres Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. We will be retaining our 3½ star status, but enhancing the guest experience and product, continuing to deliver a warm and friendly environment to our guests at the hotel.”

The James Cook will be the fourth New Zealand hotel to be branded under the Hotel Grand Chancellor brand. The group already has two hotels, one at Auckland airport and one in Christchurch, and has recently announced it will be taking over management of the Sudima Hotel Grand Chancellor at Christchurch airport, for the owners Hind Properties Limited, on Thursday 4 April.

The refurbishment of the iconic James Cook will begin immediately. It will include a new look lobby and exterior façade; a new café and bar; newly fitted corridors; revamps to conference areas; an upgrade of Whitby’s restaurant and a $1.5 million soft furnishings refit of the guest rooms. Wellington based architects, Catalyst Consulting have been appointed to undertake the refurbishment and manage a seamless transition with minimal disruption to guests.

“Some of the additional features will include a new café and bar in the lobby, which will offer an alternate dining venue within the hotel to guests and the Wellington public both,” said Mark Lind. “We will also be building a dedicated airline crew lounge, and a new business centre situated beside the lobby.”

Other changes will include a new loyalty programme for existing and new customers of the hotel, and a transfer to the Lexington booking system.

“We will be honouring current loyalty programmes of course. However, we will be looking at ways we can improve the service to our regular customers, through a new loyalty system and a more focused guest history structure.”

An interim booking system has been set-up during the transfer to the Lexington booking system. Reservations can be made by calling the group’s freephone number 0800 2 SLEEP (0800 27 53 37) or calling the hotel directly on ++64-4-495 0279 or by fax ++64-4-499 9800. Bookings may also be made via the group’s websites www.grandchancellor.com or www.jamescookhotel.com .

About Hotel Grand Central Limited

Hotel Grand Central Limited owns and operates hotels and properties throughout Asia and Australasia. Incorporated on 13 June 1968, the company listed on the Singapore Exchange in 1978.

Within Asia the group operates under the Hotel Grand Central and Hotel Grand Continental Brand and Hotel Grand Chancellor in Australasia. The founding hotel, the Hotel Grand Central, Singapore is centrally located at Cavenagh Road and Kramat Lane, off Orchard Road. The Group, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Grand Central Enterprises (Penang) and its associated companies, Grand Central Enterprises Berhad (listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) and Grand Central Enterprises (Jahore) owns and operates, or has equity interests in 12 hotels throughout Malaysia. The group also manages the Hotel Grand Olympic in Kuala Lumpur, a 173-room hotel owned by the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

In Australia and New Zealand the group owns, operates, or has equity interests through its management companies. Wholly owned subsidiary Grand Central Management (Australia) Pty Ltd manages or operates four hotels in Australia, while Grand Central Management (NZ) Limited has carried out both hotel and property operations in New Zealand since 1993.

Owned and Operated Hotels
as at March 3, 2001

Hotel Name
Location No. of Rooms
Owned No. of Rooms
Managed No. of Rooms
Total
Hotel Grand Chancellor Melbourne, Australia 160 160 160
Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, Australia 234 234 234
Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane, Australia 180 180 180
Hotel Grand Chancellor Perth, Australia 278 278 278
Total for Australia 852 852 852

Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland Airport, New Zealand 194 194 194
Hotel Grand Chancellor Christchurch, New Zealand 173 173 173
Sudima Hotel Grand Chancellor Christchurch Airport, New Zealand 0 156 156
James Cook Centra Hotel* Wellington, New Zealand 260 0 260
Copthorne Plimmer Hotel ** Wellington, New Zealand 90 0 90
Total for New Zealand 717 523 873

Hotel Grand Central Singapore 390 390 390
Total for Singapore 390 390 390

Hotel Grand Continental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 324 324 324
Hotel Grand Central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 139 139 139
Hotel Grand Continental Kedah, Malaysia 120 120 120
Hotel Grand Continental Penang, Malaysia 200 200 200
Hotel Grand Crystal Alor Star, Kedah, Malaysia 155 155 155
Hotel Grand Continental*** Johor Bahru, Malaysia 285 285 285
Hotel Grand Continental Melaka, Malaysia 147 147 147
Citiview Hotel Kuantan, Malaysia 0 90 90
Hotel Grand Continental Langkawi, Malaysia 199 199 199
Hotel Grand Continental**** Kuantan, Malaysia 208 208 208
Hotel Grand Continental Kuching, Malaysia 192 192 192
Hotel Grand Continental Terengganu, Malaysia 176 176 176
Hotel Grand Olympic***** Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 0 173 173
Total for Malaysia 2145 2408 2408

Grand Total
All Countries
4104
4173
4523
* - James Cook Centra Hotel managed by Bass Hotels & Resorts
** - Copthorne Plimmer Towers Hotel leased to CDL Hotels
*** - Joint venture property (office tower and hotel tower)
**** - In addition, property has 35 units of serviced apartments
***** - Hotel Grand Olympic, Kuala Lumpur, a 173-room hotel owned by the Olympic Council of Malaysia

About Grand Central Management (NZ) Limited

Grand Central Management (NZ) Limited (GCMNZ) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hotel Grand Central Limited, with the principal office based in Wellington.

It manages the group’s property and hotel portfolio in New Zealand.

GCMNZ manages the group’s wholly owned hotels Hotel Grand Chancellor – Auckland Airport, Hotel Grand Chancellor – Christchurch, and from 1 April the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor. It also manages the Sudima Hotel Grand Chancellor on behalf of Hind Properties Limited.

The group has several investment properties in New Zealand. Grand Central Management (NZ) Limited undertakes all day-to-day management and maintenance of the various properties:

Building
Description Net Lettable
Area (sqm)
Grand Central Building
Wellington, New Zealand A 11-storey office building with 13 car park spaces 4,492
Grand Plimmer Tower
Boulcott Street, Wellington, New Zealand An 8-storey podium block comprising retail, hotel lobby and outlet, office tower lobby and 650 car park spaces. Erected above the podium block is a 20-storey office tower and a 12-storey hotel tower with 95 hotel rooms and suites 23,321
Lambton House
160 Lambton Quay, Wellington, New Zealand A 14-storey office building with 27 car park spaces 10,248
Wang House
195-201 Willis Street, Wellington, New Zealand The property consists of a 9-level building comprising a basement level with 28 car parks, a ground level showroom, and 7 levels of offices 5,129
James Cook Arcade
& Mini Office Tower
Lambton Quay, New Zealand A 7 storey office tower and retail arcade with 429 car park spaces 2,247
Greenock House
Lambton Quay, Wellington A 13 storey office tower, with retail components on Lambton Quay and The Terrace. 6,196
Grand Central Building
Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand A 12 level building comprising retail and office components with 49 car park spaces 9,895

Total Net Lettable SQM
61,528

(end)

For further information:
Mark Lind
Regional General Manager – New Zealand
Tel: 04 473 8607
mark.lind@grandcentral.co.nz

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