An $80 million Novotel development is coming to Christchurch Airport in response to record passenger growth.
Christchurch Airport is building the hotel, which includes 200 rooms and will be 4.5 stars, on the airport campus near the main terminal.
It will be designed by Warren and Mahoney Architects.
Airport chief executive Malcolm Johns says the airport will invest around $80 million in land and improvements for the hotel development.
It's the second hotel on the airport campus and is a direct response to airline and passenger demand for increased short-term airport accommodation, he says.
"Many of our new Asian flights arrive in the evening, bringing visitors who have been flying for 12 hours or more," Mr Malcolm says.
"They want to rest before beginning their exploration of the South Island and expect to be able to do that near the airport."
New airline capacities have added around 800,000 extra seats each year at Christchurch.
"Latest estimates from Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism suggest that Christchurch currently has about 800 hotel rooms fewer than what is needed to serve current tourism levels, let alone future growth," Mr Malcolm says.
"Our airline partners see the lack of new hotel accommodation as a big risk to them adding in any more services," he says.
Mr Johns says more budget accommodation will also soon be available at the $10 million JUCY Snooze backpacker the airport is also building.
He says that will offer 280 beds and open in November this year.
"[2016] will see the airport handle an all-time record 6.3 million passengers that's 800,000 up on the post-quake low point of 5.5 million and 300,000 up on the previous all-time record of 6 million," Mr Malcolm says.
The hotel will open in late 2017.
Newshub.
