Sheraton Hotels & Resorts to make Christchurch debut
Scheduled to open in 2027, the new-build Sheraton Christchurch will feature 240 premium guest rooms and suites.
Marriott International has signed an agreement with Emmons Developments New Zealand Limited to bring its Sheraton Hotels & Resorts brand to Christchurch, marking the first Sheraton in the city and Marriott’s debut in the South Island hub.
Scheduled to open in 2027, the new-build Sheraton Christchurch will feature 240 premium guest rooms and suites, a signature restaurant, rooftop bar, meeting spaces, a club lounge, and a fitness centre. Positioned in the heart of the revitalised CBD, adjacent to Te Pae Convention Centre, it is set to become a flagship property for both business and leisure travellers.
Richard Crawford, Marriott International’s Vice President of Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, said Sheraton is the company’s most prolific brand in the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific region, with 10 existing hotels and resorts.
“With its prime location and hi-tech facilities, Sheraton Christchurch will be the centrepiece of the exciting reinvigoration of Christchurch’s CBD,” he said, adding the project responds to the city’s need for more internationally recognised accommodation and will help elevate its appeal as a must-visit destination.
The development is owned by Emmons Developments New Zealand Limited, led by Brett Russell of Russell Property Group and Ben Bridge of Mainland Capital, and will be built on the former site of the city’s landmark Noah’s Hotel, which opened in the 1970s.
Ben Bridge described the deal as “a strong endorsement of the development itself” and a sign of growing confidence in Christchurch’s future. “This collaboration will make an important contribution to the CBD’s riverside precinct and provide a significant boost to Christchurch’s tourism and hospitality offering,” he said.
Brett Russell added that the project builds on a successful relationship with Marriott. “We see successful, long-term partnerships as a key to success. We’ve worked with Marriott International as a hotel operator across several properties and are confident this appointment will further boost the hotel’s ability to be a key economic contributor to both Christchurch and the region,” he said.
Tristan Cooper, Marriott International’s Director of Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, noted that before the pandemic, New Zealand was one of Asia Pacific’s highest-performing destinations. “From experience, we know that new hotels with global cachet have the power to create new travel demand, and we feel confident that will be the case with Sheraton Christchurch,” he said.
Established in 1937, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is the most global brand in Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio, with nearly 430 hotels across 70 countries. The Christchurch property will join JW Marriott Auckland and Four Points by Sheraton Auckland as Marriott International’s third hotel in New Zealand.
