NZ’s first JW Marriott hotel officially ‘unveiled’ in Auckland
Friday, 16 May 2025
International luxury hotel brand JW Marriott officially opened its first property in New Zealand on Thursday, and it promises guests they will be staying in an 'urban oasis'.
JW Marriott Auckland is on Albert Street in the CBD and is not a new build. It is located in the building that was formerly the Stamford Plaza, and before that the Regent, the city’s first five star hotel when it opened in 1984.
But since the then record $170 million sale of the Stamford Plaza to a consortium, including CP Group, Alvarium Investments and Archipelago Capita, in 2022, it has undergone an extensive $35 million makeover.
That has involved a staggered three-stage upgrade, which allowed the hotel to operate after the initial stage, and saw the opening of its flagship restaurant, Trivet, in August last year.
The transformation is now all but completed, with just a second restaurant and day spa still to come, and Marriott International has unveiled its new offering for the autumn season.
At the launch, Marriott International’s vice president of hotel development for Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Richard Crawford, said it was the single largest hotel investment in New Zealand’s history.
The company had 48 hotels across 19 brands in the Australia-Pacific region, but only two hotels in New Zealand, and JW Marriott Auckland was the first of the brand in the country, he said.
“In terms of presence to date that’s a bit of a fail, but we plan to up our presence here as we have lots of international members who want to come to New Zealand.
“In 2019 New Zealand was one of only three countries in the world to have 80% occupancy across its hotels, and we believe the local sector can return to those lofty heights.”
The new hotel would bring JW Marriott’s distinctive and refined brand of luxury to Auckland, and would do a lot to lift the global profile of Auckland as a travel destination, Crawford said.
Designed by renowned Singaporean architecture firm O37, the revamped hotel has 271 rooms and 15 suites that start from 36m² in size, and have views over the city to the Sky Tower or across the Waitematā Harbour.
All the rooms, including the top-tier 133m² Presidential Suite, have been refurbished, and the expansive ground floor lobby completely remodelled. The lobby also now features a cocktail bar, Forum, that is open to the public.
A wellness centre - with a heated indoor pool with harbour views, a spa, a sauna, and a gym with cutting edge Technogym equipment - has been opened. Spa treatment and massage rooms will be added to the mix next year.
JW Marriott Auckland general manager Girish Talreja told The Post that wellness was a big focus for the hotel, and for the brand’s vision of mindful luxury.
“Our goal is to connect the dots for our guests and provide a sanctuary where they can eat, relax, recharge, and create lasting memories.
“We want the hotel to be a haven, an urban oasis which showcases the best of Auckland’s hospitality, and revitalises guests’ spirits.”
That was why the hotel would function as a one stop shop with two restaurants, a bar, wellbeing options and an executive lounge, he said.
It was also why nature has been brought inside the hotel, with features such as a living moss wall in the foyer, a plant wall inspired by the Waitākere Ranges behind reception, and a herb garden and rescue bee hives on the rooftop.
“We want to provide an escape from urban landscape and encourage a sense of calm.”
The hotel had a solid first quarter, with occupancy rates up 20% on the same time last year, but he was excited to officially launch the revamped hotel, and to get the word about it out, Talreja said.
“Marriott International has 9300 hotels in 142 countries, and 30 hotel brands, but there are just 140 JW Marriott hotels.
“That is less than 2% of the company’s hotel mix, so Auckland was selected to offer a more exclusive brand and that’s attractive to many guests.”
But the hotel’s transformation was not yet completed, he added. It will be launching its contemporary Japanese-inspired teppanyaki house in September, and its day spa in 2026.
The hotel also has an executive lounge for Marriott Bonvoy members, six large scale function rooms, and a range of curated spaces for events such as weddings.
Speaking at the launch, Tourism NZ chief executive René de Monchy said the tourism industry had ambitions to grow, and was working to do so.
“The industry is heading into a golden age, and this hotel will be at the centre of it in Auckland.
“Having a hotel with a reputation for five star luxury makes the choice to come here easier for international travellers.”