EXCLUSIVE: Invercargill-based businessman Geoff Thomson has purchased the Menzies Building off Pascoe Properties, with plans to build a 4.5 star hotel in the city centre.

In an exclusive interview, Thomson told whatsoninvers.nz he planned to convert the old building and former council buildings in lower Esk Street into a 150-room hotel to complement what he already had in Dunedin, Christchurch and Te Anau.

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Thomson owns the Distinction Hotel brand that has accommodation all over the country – right up to Whangarei, and the new hotel will become the second 4.5 star facility in the city, following the ILT Langlands Hotel currently under construction.

View looking towards the ILT Langland Hotel site and new city block development from the 6th floor of the Menzies building. Photo: whastoninvers.nz

Born in Invercargill, Thomson has operated the Distinction hotels from the city for over 20 years, and is looking forward to having a new hotel in the town.

“Once developed it will bring our total number of rooms to just over 1600 spread over 16 properties.

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“It will be a huge advantage to Invercargill with more accommodation to help those tourist products,” he said.

His company transformed the old Post Office in Dunedin into an elegant 4.5 star luxury hotel, in the Warehouse Precinct in the heart of the city.

The 11-storey Distinction Christchurch has 180 rooms while the Luxmore Hotel Te Anau has 300 rooms over two properties.

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Thomson said he had been in negotiations with Pascoe Properties for some time, and the new Invercargill Distinction Hotel had become a strategic part of his business plan, “and the last leg of the puzzle.”

“We have the ability to help grow the Invercargill economy,” he said.

While not disclosing how much he paid for the Menzies building or the estimated cost of the new hotel, he said they will be spending “a lot of money” to convert the existing premises.

Lower Esk Street in derelict state opposite the Menzies building, purchased from ICC by Thomson. Photo: whatsoninvers.nz

“I was either going to build new or do a conversion like Dunedin, but as the options were limited by the availability of suitable land, I was fortunate that the Menzies building came available with a great location and once stripped will be easily converted.”

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Thomson takes over ownership of the Menzies Building in February 2022 to give existing tenants time to move out.

whatsoninvers.nz founder Mike Sanford said it was great to see another local businessman investing in our great city.

“Council has finally offloaded those buildings that have been left derelict for years.”

Invercargill railway station now owned by Nelson based Pascoe Properties from HWR Property.

Property sources in Invercargill have also confirmed to that Pascoe Properties have purchased the Invercargill Railway Station from HWR Properties.

EXCLUSIVE: Major Player Secures Menzies Building For New 4.5 Star Hotel

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