Sheraton Hotels to Debut in New Zealand

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced it has signed an agreement with Emmons Developments New Zealand Limited to bring its globally celebrated Sheraton Hotels & Resorts brand to Christchurch, New Zealand. Expected to open in 2027, the Sheraton Christchurch will also mark Marriott International’s debut in the city.
Located in the heart of Christchurch’s revitalised Central Business District (CBD), adjacent to the Te Pae Convention Centre, the hotel is poised to be the city’s premier accommodation offering. Sheraton Christchurch is expected to feature 240 premium guest rooms and suites, a signature restaurant, a rooftop bar, meeting rooms, a club lounge, and a fitness centre, delivering the brand’s signature blend of modern sophistication and community-focused spaces.
“Sheraton is a global icon and Marriott International’s most prolific brand in the Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific (ANZP) region. It is therefore fitting that Sheraton Christchurch will join 10 existing Sheraton hotels and resorts in our ANZP region, recognising Christchurch’s
status as a premier travel destination for leisure and business travellers,” said Richard Crawford, Marriott International’s Vice President Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific. “With its prime location and hi-tech facilities, Sheraton Christchurch will be the centrepiece of the exciting reinvigoration of Christchurch’s CBD. As a commercial hub, the major gateway for tourism on New Zealand’s South Island, and the main departure point for travel to Antarctica, Christchurch has a need for more internationally recognised accommodation, and we are very confident that the Sheraton brand will help elevate Christchurch’s appeal as a must-visit destination.”
Sheraton Christchurch is slated to be Marriott International’s third hotel in New Zealand, joining JW Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton branded properties in Auckland. The expansion into a new market is in line with the company’s strategy to provide a hospitality offering in every place travellers want to go, at every price point.
Owned by Emmons Developments New Zealand Limited, led by Brett Russell of Russell Property Group and Ben Bridge of Mainland Capital on behalf of multiple investors, the hotel will be built on the site once home to the city’s landmark Noah’s Hotel, which was built in the 1970s.
Mainland Capital Director Ben Bridge said he was delighted that the hotel’s redevelopment had attracted a leading international hotel operator of the quality of Marriott International. “To have a globally respected brand like Sheraton commit to this property is not only a strong endorsement of the development itself, but also a sign of growing confidence in the city’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 added. “We see this as an important step in the city’s ongoing transformation and its positioning as a premier destination for travel, business events and conventions.”
Russell Property Group Managing Director Brett Russell said the Group was pleased to be further strengthening its relationship with Marriott International. “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.
Established in 1937, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is the most global brand in Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of extraordinary brands, with nearly 430 hotels across 70 countries. As the first international hotel brand to enter many destinations worldwide, Sheraton has long been a symbol of hospitality excellence and is recognised as the world’s gathering place, a timeless space where people and communities come together.
“Prior to the pandemic, New Zealand was one of Asia Pacific’s highest performing destinations, and 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. We congratulate Russell Property Group and Mainland Capital for assembling the investors, capital and capability to deliver on their landmark vision for Christchurch city.”” said Tristan Cooper, Marriott International’s Director of Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific.