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New $100m Hamilton CBD Pullman hotel on the way

Tuesday, 18 June 2024

The planned Pullman Hamilton hotel is scheduled to open in 2026. Pictured is an artist’s impression of what the tower will be turned into.
The planned Pullman Hamilton hotel is scheduled to open in 2026. Pictured is an artist’s impression of what the tower will be turned into.

A $100 million Pullman hotel development has been unveiled for Hamilton’s CBD, with work underway and an expected 2026 opening.

The 191-bed hotel over 13 levels will involve a retro-fit of the current Mistry Centre, Hamilton’s tallest building at 42-48 Ward St and within the Centre Place shopping area.

The developers are promising something iconic and the mayor expects it to “do great things for our city”.

Two underground levels of parking and three of office and retail space are also planned for the building, completed in 1980 for Government Life and currently leased to various tenants.

At a signing ceremony in Sydney last week for the new hotel are, from left, Steven Lake and Adrian Williams from Accor Pacific and the Mistry Centre’s Pienaar Piso and Sanjil Mistry.
At a signing ceremony in Sydney last week for the new hotel are, from left, Steven Lake and Adrian Williams from Accor Pacific and the Mistry Centre’s Pienaar Piso and Sanjil Mistry.

Saturday’s announcement of the previously under-the-radar hotel scheme comes several months after a conditional plan was revealed by Auckland’s Templeton Group for a 10 storey-plus, four-star hotel costing up to $120 million near Victoria on the River.

The Pullman announcement - on the back of Templeton’s potential scheme and the likes of the regional theatre development - creates even more buzz over the inner city’s future look and feel.

The project developers are local businesspeople Sanjil Mistry and Pienaar Piso who own the Mistry Centre, which they bought four years ago and will continue to own.

The hotel will be operated by New Zealand’s largest hotel operator, Accor, under the premium Pullman hotel brand - the intended star rating wasn’t clear.

Mistry and Piso weren’t available on Friday for an interview but the latter said in a statement the premium hotel would be a “game-changing opportunity” for Hamilton and the surrounding region.

Construction of the Government Life building in Hamilton began in 1977 and was completed in 1980.Hamilton City Libraries HCL_M00217.33
Construction of the Government Life building in Hamilton began in 1977 and was completed in 1980.Hamilton City Libraries HCL_M00217.33

Mistry said his company appreciated the city council’s support for the project and the encouragement from a wide range of interested parties.

“There is plenty of work to be done, and over the coming months there will be visual changes to the building.

“Mistry Centre will be an iconic building for Hamilton. Our commitment to Hamilton in revitalising the building is something we are very proud of,” Mistry said.

Accor Pacific executive Adrian Williams said in the statement: “The international brand recognition of Pullman will aid in attracting tourists and conferences to the city, enhancing its profile on the global stage.”

Pullman Hamilton would cater to a wide range of travellers, including families, couples and business leaders looking for a “world-class stay”.

Tainui Group Holdings jointly owns Centre Place, has worked with Mistry to get the latest Hamilton hotel project off the ground. Pictured is chief executive Chris Joblin.
Tainui Group Holdings jointly owns Centre Place, has worked with Mistry to get the latest Hamilton hotel project off the ground. Pictured is chief executive Chris Joblin.

The local economy would benefit through employment, supplier partnerships and added economic development from increased visitor numbers, Williams added.

Centre Place is jointly owned and operated by Kiwi Property and Tainui Group Holdings (TGH), with Accor running the four existing TGH hotels in Hamilton and Auckland.

Both Kiwi and TGH were “fully supportive” of the new venture.

TGH chief executive Chris Joblin said Hamilton’s recently announced status as the fastest growing city in New Zealand was a positive signal for the development of another quality hotel in the city.

The Mistry Centre, in middle of this shot taken from the Claudelands Bridge, is set to be the site of a new 13-storey Pullman hotel as part of a $100 million redevelopment.
The Mistry Centre, in middle of this shot taken from the Claudelands Bridge, is set to be the site of a new 13-storey Pullman hotel as part of a $100 million redevelopment.

“We are pleased to have worked with Mistry Centre on leasing and ownership matters at Centre Place to enable this development to go ahead,” Joblin said.

“As New Zealand’s fastest growing city we can expect to see demand for services across the city increase, especially from tourism.”

Mayor Paula Southgate said she’s “very pleased” over the Mistry Centre revamp, noting it would help refresh the Centre Place complex.

“It’s in one of our main shopping centres, you can’t get better than that…it’s going to do great things for our city.”

She said studies showed Hamilton needed another 595 extra hotel rooms and serviced apartments by 2033, which the Pullman would only go part way to filling.

Therefore the Pullman shouldn’t clash with what’s expected to be a similarly sized Templeton development, Southgate felt.

Mayor Paula Southgate and economic development committee chairperson Ewan Wilson earlier this year announcing a possible new hotel from Auckland’s Templeton Group on Victoria St - Southgate sees plenty of room for both Pullman and Templeton given demand for extra beds in Hamilton.
Mayor Paula Southgate and economic development committee chairperson Ewan Wilson earlier this year announcing a possible new hotel from Auckland’s Templeton Group on Victoria St - Southgate sees plenty of room for both Pullman and Templeton given demand for extra beds in Hamilton.

“This is a really good step on the route” to the 595 target, she said, but clearly more than two new hotels would be needed to reach it.

Southgate noted the Pullman was due to come on stream within a year of the regional theatre’s scheduled completion in 2025.

“We just see the city taking a whole new shape with the theatre and new hotel developments.”

Southgate had been aware of the Mistry plans since becoming mayor, with the city council working behind the scenes with the developers on progressing things.

She was pleased the Pullman would create more than 100 jobs.

PAUA architects principal architect Antanas Procuta said he wasn’t sure who designed the Mistry Centre but recalled it won an award around 1980.

“It was quite a beautiful building when first constructed. It was remarkable,” he said, noting its two towers and interesting roof line.

The Hamilton City Libraries website says the building was opened in 1981 by former Government minister Derek Quigley.

Sanjil Mistry’s LinkedIn profile also lists him as a director of Pragma Group, which has a variety of business interests, including commercial and residential property development and rentals.

Piso’s profile describes him as “a confident, motivated, and experienced project management manager with a strong track record of delivering results”.

Pullman Hamilton by the numbers