Impressive Facade Unveiled for Invercargill's New Distinction Hotel

Invercargill’s new Distinction Hotel will add another string to the bow of the local economy, owner Geoff Thomson said.

The concept plans for the 4.5 star hotel show an impressive facade, and project manager Hayden Rankin of Project South said work on the internal strip out of the old Menzies Building was now complete.
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People would start to see the external demolition taking place over the next few weeks, and the foundations for the ground floor taking shape.

The project team has also started the construction of a new additional internal lift shaft.

Artist impression of the Invercargill’s new Distinction Hotel. View from Lower Esk street. Photo: Supplied

Geoff Thomson said it was important to him to have another hotel in Invercargill, “and we can influence a reasonable amount of tourism that we haven’t had here.”

He used the aphorism ‘a rising tide lifts all ships,’ to demonstrate how his company could improve the accommodation standard in the city, alongside the already successful ILT Langlands Hotel.

Its all go on site as the old Menzies building, soon to be the Distinction Hotel. Photo: whatsoninvers.nz

The Langlands has a strong food and beverage service, whilst Distinction Hotel will focus more on its impressive suite of rooms, he said.

“We still need to have extra rooms in town and this one right adjacent to the CBD is in the prime location.”

As well as being reclad, additional staff accommodation and a car park will be built opposite to the old Menzies Building it in the old Southland Frozen Meats building.

Artist impression of the Invercargill’s new Distinction Hotel. Looking East, lower Esk street on left. Photo: Supplied

Allwin – that was involved with the new HWR Tower is involved with the facade design, using the same system as HW Richardson’s new building, but with a different finish.

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

“It’s an interesting project because it’s not a new build. We’re working around the different elements of the past and adding/altering to bring the building up to meet the new building codes,” Hayden said.