$12m hotel construction set for 2011

Work on a new six-storey $12 million Scenic Hotel Marlborough accommodation block in central Blenheim is expected to start in winter 2011.

Heartland Hotel Marlborough general manager Brett Inkster said the proposed 55-room building would double the hotel's capacity.

It would be constructed on the existing three-and-a-half star hotel's site on the corner of Henry and Alfred Sts, replacing the building containing the foyer, reception, conference rooms and restaurant/bar.

He said the project would see the 54 rooms in the accommodation block behind the main building gutted, remodelled and linked to the new building.

The new four to four-and-a-half star rated hotel, will have 109 air-conditioned rooms, and be known as Scenic Hotel Blenheim.

Scenic Hotel Group properties in the three to three-and-a-half star rating range are known as Heartland Hotels. Those in the four to four-and-a-half star category are branded as Scenic Hotels.

Mr Inkster said the force behind the upgrade was the hotel's management of the Marlborough District Council's convention centre.

In 2007, the hotel agreed to boost bed numbers and upgrade existing rooms as part of its management contract for the centre, at the Combined Clubs of Marlborough on the corner of Alfred and Hutcheson Sts.

As well as the new rooms, the new block would contain the hotel's foyer, reception, conference room and restaurant/bar.

A pool would be built beside the new building.

Pending consents from council, construction of the new building was expected to start in May/June 2011 and take about a year, Mr Inkster said. At its conclusion, remodelling work would begin on the rear accommodation block.

Once complete it would be the largest accommodation hotel in Marlborough, he said.

"It's an exciting development for Marlborough and it confirms the Scenic Hotel Group's commitment to the region, its conference market and the Marlborough Convention Centre," Mr Inkster said.

Although costs were still being confirmed, the project was estimated at $12m, he said.

The project would be finalised and consents applied for in the next 12 to 18 months.

Senior architect Richard Hayman of Christchurch-based firm Jasmax is leading the design.

- The Marlborough Express