Hilton Hotels has decided to open a second property in the New Zealand resort town of Taupo as it will take over management of a 113 unit that is already located there. This is the second property for the hotel chain, which opened its first in Auckland’s PrincesWharf in 2001. The company’s move to open new properties in New Zealand is good news for the tourism industry, which has struggled so far in 2009.
Guest nights in March of 2009 were down 11 percent from a year earlier with 3.2 million stays. International visitors made up 1.6 million of those nights, which is also 11 percent lower than in 2008.
Hilton is taking over the Terraces Hotel in Taupo, which originally opened in 1889. The company plans to renovate the facility and add another 36 rooms. Taupo Mayor Rick Cooper was excited to see Hilton move into the town: “To have a truly global brand like Hilton in our destination will help to introduce Taupo to a wider audience.” Taupo is on the shores of LakeTaupo in the center of New Zealand’s NorthIsland.
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