After sitting dormant for nearly 15 years, one of Christchurch’s most well-known hotels is being reborn as a Sheraton Hotel, part of the Marriot hotel group.
The former Noah’s Hotel on Oxford Terrace, more recently operated as the Rydges, is currently undergoing a $150 million transformation, with plans for 240 rooms, an array of dining options, and the city’s highest rooftop bar.
It’s set to open mid 2027. The hotel will be the first Marriot hotel in the South Island.
Built just over 50 years ago, the hotel played host to royalty and global celebrities during its hey-day, including Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Sir Elton John, The Beach Boys, the Shah of Persia, and even the late Queen Elizabeth II.
After the 2011 earthquakes, the damaged building was stuck in a decade-long insurance dispute that saw it eventually listed on the Christchurch City Council’s ‘dirty thirty’ list of sites slowing down the rebuild.
The property’s now owned by Emmons New Zealand Ltd, a joint venture between Mainland Capital, Russell Property Group, and Lockwood Property Group.
Mainland Capital Director Ben Bridge said the team is thrilled to secure the Sheraton as the hotel operator.
“To bring a brand of that quality to Christchurch is a real statement of belief in the future of the town and the region,” he said.
“First and foremost, it’s going to be a great hotel. But right up there is the fact that the public will get a lot of use out of it – whether that’s a rooftop bar we’ll call Noah’s, in deference to the original hotel, or the food and beverage offering downstairs by the river. We want the public to feel this is their space as well,” he said.
Construction is well underway on the project, with strengthening work almost complete. The designers are already working on ‘mock-up’ rooms.
Bridge said the structure held up well from the quakes, as it was built to a high engineering standard in the 70’s to withstand earthquakes, wind-loads and terror attacks.
“The bones are rock solid, right down to the spiral staircase that used to lead up to the Waitangi room – really solid.”
ChristchurchNZ chief executive Ali Adams said the hotel was much needed, as the city was experiencing high demand for premium rooms.
Last July we had the highest occupancy for hotels in a decade – nearly 70 percent. And that was driven a lot by a new venues, Te Pae especially”. She said occupancy would increase next year after the new stadium Te Kaha opens in April.
“We do need some of the high-end rooms, and to see an icon repurposed like this, and one that is much loved is really exciting for Otautahi.”
