The five-star Horizon Hotel will open in late 2019, bringing 303 new high-end rooms to the city centre, uniquely connecting delegates via an air bridge over Hobson Street to three city centre blocks across the NZICC and SKYCITY Auckland’s entertainment precinct. It will also be located directly above a new retail and dining laneway that will connect Nelson and Hobson Streets, and adjacent to Federal Street’s award-winning restaurants and bars.

Brad Burnett, General Manager of SKYCITY Hotels and Tower, says Horizon Hotel will play an integral role in meeting the demand for room nights in Auckland, and already has bookings for 2020 in line with major conference bookings at the NZICC.

“With such a buoyant tourism market and a huge pipeline of events coming to Auckland, including the opening of the NZICC, Horizon Hotel is well positioned to play an important role in supporting the city’s growth. It’s exciting to be at the forefront of that and we can’t wait to welcome both local and international visitors to Horizon Hotel.

“Along with its physical connection to the NZICC, the name ‘Horizon Hotel’ connects our guests to the purpose of their stay, as many of them will be here to expand their horizons through the knowledge and connections made during their conference,” says Mr Burnett.

Architect Gordon Moller, who designed the hotel in association with Warren & Mahoney, agrees saying: “the design of the hotel emanated from the opportunity to expand the horizons of the site by curving the building to maximise the views from all guest rooms.

“Together with this, the enhanced light experience when perceiving a horizon is represented in the extraordinary curved glass facades of the hotel that feature 300 glass fins that capture the clear marine light of the Auckland isthmus.

“The interiors of Horizon Hotel continue this theme with grand public spaces featuring natural stones, marbles and timbers, with the horizon-like curves of the guest room environments creating a unique and special experience.”

Horizon Hotel will feature floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the spectacular views out to the Hauraki Gulf and Waitemata Harbour and over central Auckland, and modern rooms designed with New Zealand-inspired materials and colours. Guests will enjoy outstanding facilities including a gym, keyless entry and a signature restaurant, lobby bar and cafe, and relaxing internal courtyard.

Standard rooms will be approximately 32sqm, with 64sqm suites available that offer interconnecting twin rooms. While conference group bookings have already been made for 2020, Horizon Hotel will open for bookings later this year.