Distinction Hotel Invercargill On Track for 2024 Opening

Plans for Invercargill’s second new big 4.5 star hotel is progressing well.

Structural plans for the new Distinction Hotel have been approved for building consent, and the project is on track to be completed in the second to third quarter of 2024.

Project manager Hayden Rankin, of Project South, said the facade design has all but been finalised, and the contract awarded to Allwin – that has been involved with the new HWR Tower.

He said they were using the same facade system as the HWR Tower in terms of the windows, cladding and insulation – being a pre-finished unit, but with a different architectural finish.

Invercargill-based businessman Geoff Thomson owns Distinction Hotels all over New Zealand including Dunedin and Te Anau, and the new Invercargill hotel will feature 150 guest rooms.

The old Menzies Building in Esk Street West is being reclad, with additional floors being added. The former Southland Frozen Meats building is being converted into staff accommodation.

Hayden said Peter Excell Building is undertaking the earthquake strengthening work which is about 60% complete and Amalgamated Builders will be carrying out the additional structural work for the additional floors and Façade.

That will allow Allwin to come in and apply the new facade before the internal fitout begins.

“It’s an interesting project because it’s not a new building.  We’re working around the different structural elements of the past and bringing them up to the current building codes.”

The carpark building design is almost finalised as well, which means they will be able to get in and demolish the old buildings in the next few months.