Collection by TFE Hotels

In the two years since opening on 1 October 2020, The Hotel Britomart has been locally and internationally recognised as a sustainable hospitality success story, winning more than 20 awards for design, architecture, hospitality and sustainability. More than 180,000 people have visited the hotel, its sustainable seafood restaurant kingi and its event spaces, The Libraries, since its opening date.

“We opened our doors two years ago with international borders closed but with strong support from New Zealanders travelling in-between lockdowns,” says General Manager, Clinton Farley. “Today we’re delighted to welcome the world as well, to experience our New Zealand manaakitanga [hospitality]. At our second birthday, I’m extremely proud of what of what our team has achieved. All of them are industry experts, focused on delivering genuine, personalised, curated guest experiences.”

The Hotel Britomart is Aotearoa’s first 5-Green Star hotel, earning the certification from the New Zealand Green Building Council through a careful dedication to using eco-friendly materials, creating healthy interior environments, using minimal resources and managing waste well. In the 2021 year, the hotel was New Zealand’s most awarded, taking home 21 awards, including: — 5 Gold Pins at the Best Design Awards — 3 Property Industry awards — 3 NZIA Architecture awards — 2 NZ Hospitality awards, including Most Sustainable Business — Inclusion on the 2021 Conde Nast international Hot List The opening of The Libraries, in March 2021, was an early milestone.

“There are very few event spaces like The Libraries in Aotearoa – beautifully refurbished heritage spaces that are a celebration of New Zealand art, craftsmanship and design, where world-class food and wine can be enjoyed,” says Clinton.

The release of the hotel’s first Sustainability Report in July 2022 has also been a proud marker in the hotel’s sustainability journey. “We are serious about our sustainability and the report gives the big picture of our ongoing efforts to prioritise people and the planet,” says Clinton. “Every little bit adds up – for example, by choosing recycled PET for the duvet and pillow inners, and mattress toppers and protectors, alongside the organic cotton linen for our hotel beds, more than 36,500 plastic bottles were diverted from landfill.

“Most of all, we’re proud to be New Zealand owned and operated, and to be contributing members of the Britomart downtown community.”

Celebratory thank-you offers for all guests to celebrate and thank guests for two years of support, The Hotel Britomart has two great month-long birthday offers.

For direct bookings, The Hotel Britomart offers 20% off stays of two nights or more until March 2023 with promo code 2BDay, and 20% off accommodation vouchers for the month of October when using the code BDAY22. Terms and conditions apply. They also have an online Spin the Wheel pop-up that gives direct booking guests a chance to add complimentary upgrades to their stay, like breakfast at kingi, late checkout or a bottle of champagne.

New season, new menu: Spring has arrived at kingi, with some beautiful new-season menu refreshes. As the ground warms up, kingi’s menu is full of new season produce; fresh peas and asparagus, and crisp radishes to dunk into a cylinder of herb-rolled fresh cheese.

New seafood additions to the menu include a raw trevally oka in coconut yoghurt, with mango and chilli, created by chef de cuisine Wallace Mua from his Samoan heritage, and delicate butterflied boquerones (fresh anchovies) with stracciatella, spring peas and preserved lemon. The yellow-belly flounder gets a new treatment, pan-fried with almonds, citrus and capers, and there’s a refreshed wine menu that hints at the fun months ahead.

What’s in a name: The Hotel Britomart (name cannot be shortened)
High-resolution images: Download here.
Website: https://thehotelbritomart.com/
Sustainability: https://thehotelbritomart.com/sustainable/

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Rochelle Gray, Head of Marketing
+64 9 300 9595 ext 7105 / [email protected]

About The Hotel Britomart
Located in downtown waterfront Auckland’s Britomart precinct. The Hotel Britomart has 99 guest rooms and five luxurious Landing Suites that offer an oasis of calm in the centre of the city. Designed by Cheshire Architects, it is New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel, certified by the NZ Green Building Council. Find out more at thehotelbritomart.com.

About kingi
kingi (short for kingfish) is a restaurant that offers fresh, locally sourced food in thoughtful, approachable ways. Located just steps from The Hotel Britomart lobby on the ground floor of the heritage Masonic Building (which has been refurbished as part of The Hotel Britomart project), kingi introduces guests at the hotel to the city, and welcomes Aucklanders with an easy-going warmth that tells them it’s their place too. Open for everything from early-morning coffee to drinks, snacks, aperitifs, and fuller plates at night, kingi also offers The Hotel Britomart guests selected items as a room service menu throughout the day.

About Collection by TFE Hotels
The Hotel Britomart is an affiliate of TFE Hotels under the Collection by TFE Hotels brand. The Collection by TFE Hotels represents beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design, customised service and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra. The Hotel Britomart embodies these concepts while remaining proudly a product of its unique location.

AUCKLAND: New Zealand’s only 5 Green Star hotel is preparing to welcome international guests for the very first time.

With New Zealand’s border re-opening to the world, The Hotel Britomart – which opened in October 2020 and has won a slew of awards since, including a place on Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s Hot List of the world’s best new hotels as well as “good egg” by National Geographic Traveller Magazine. The hotel is excited to finally be able to showcase its unique offering to an international audience.

“Covid restrictions have meant we haven’t been able to welcome international guests until now,” says The Hotel Britomart General Manager, Clinton Farley. “In that time we’ve had phenomenal support from Auckland locals and New Zealand travellers, so it’s exciting to be able to share The Hotel Britomart experience and the delights of the Britomart neighbourhood with guests from other countries soon too.”

Since The Hotel Britomart opened, there have been significant developments in Auckland’s downtown waterfront area, with the reinvention of Quay Street as a pedestrian and cycle-friendly boulevard (the perfect place to put The Hotel Britomart’s complimentary-use bicycles through their paces) and the opening of Commercial Bay, a new development with more than 100 high-end stores and restaurants just a block from the hotel. Nearby, the city’s revamped ferry terminal allows easy connections with the globally renowned beaches, restaurants and vineyards of Waiheke Island and the many other attractions of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf.

To celebrate the return of international guests, The Hotel Britomart is offering a range of special packages and experiences:

Stay Green: Guests can book The Hotel Britomart’s Stay Green package and contribute to offsetting their carbon footprint. For every booking received, the hotel plants a native tree at its sister property, The Landing, in the Bay of Islands. The package includes an overnight stay and a leisurely lunch in kingi, The Hotel Britomart’s restaurant with a focus on sustainably sourced ingredients. Each booking also receives a gift (valued at $160) that celebrates the talents of local artisans such as pottery by Rachel Carter, 100 percent zero-waste blankets from Mavis and Osborn and much more.

The Landing Wines X The Hotel Britomart Dinner: Meet the winemaking team from The Landing Wines – produced at The Hotel Britomart’s sister property, The Landing – and enjoy an evening as you sample the 2021 vintage, paired with perfectly matched produce from The Hotel Britomart culinary team. The event takes place on the 9th June, bookings are essential.

Dine in kingi: Visit kingi, The Hotel Britomart’s restaurant, which was recently awarded two hats in the Cuisine Good Food Awards. Enjoy a two-course lunch celebrating locally sourced and caught seafood and learn about the fishermen and women and their sustainable fishing practices, while enjoying a glass of kingi’s house wine.

To book any of the above offerings please visit https://thehotelbritomart.com/celebrating-sustainability/ .

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What’s in a name: The Hotel Britomart (name cannot be shortened)
Website: https://thehotelbritomart.com/
Sustainability: https://thehotelbritomart.com/sustainable/

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Tim Feibel, Marketing Manager
+64 21 572 747 / [email protected]

kingi, the Britomart restaurant with a focus on sustainable seafood and the best fresh New Zealand produce, is celebrating the new year with a two-hat rating and the expansion of its expert culinary team.

Last night, kingi, at The Hotel Britomart was awarded Best Hotel Restaurant in New Zealand’s Cuisine Good Food Awards, as well as gaining a coveted two-hat rating with an overall score of 17/20.

“It’s great to have a high-quality seafood restaurant in the heart of old Auckland that walks the talk without compromise when it comes to sustainability and ethical fishing,” the award’s judges noted in their citation.

Co-founder Tom Hishon (centre) is now working with kingi’s new Chef de Cuisine, Uelese Mua (right), to deliver kingi’s unique all-day offerings. Tom continues to drive the creative direction and menu concepts for the restaurant, with Uelese executing that vision for the restaurant each day.

Uelese’s arrival coincides with the hiring of Andrew Lautenbach, the new Head Chef for The Hotel Britomart, part of the Collection by TFE Hotels, who is responsible for overseeing the hotel’s overall food offerings including The Libraries, the private function spaces in the heritage Masonic Building above kingi that are also part of The Hotel Britomart.

“Now that kingi is a year old, it’s really exciting that we’re able to expand the team and refresh our offerings,” says the restaurant’s co-founder, Tom Hishon. “As well as welcoming Andrew and Uelese on board and winning Best Hotel Restaurant in the Cuisine Good Food Awards, we have a new glass roof on our laneway dining space and fresh seating arrangements in the restaurant – all of which means we have great experiences to offer our guests in 2022.”

Andrew Lautenbach is originally from Hamilton and spent the early part of his career working in the French Alps before returning to Auckland, where he has worked at O’Connell Street Bistro and Hallertau in Riverhead. Classically trained in French cuisine, Andrew has developed his own personal cooking style focused on local and seasonal produce with an uncomplicated and fresh approach.

“I am looking forward to working with the team at The Hotel Britomart as we have the same goals and ethos regarding sustainability and a positive team environment. Creativity is important and working alongside Tom and Uelese at kingi will only make the brand stronger,” Andrew says.

Uelese brings a wealth of experience to his new role, including leadership at several high-end Auckland restaurants – including Euro and Soul – and a six-year stint in France in kitchens in Paris and Marseille. Uelese has Samoan heritage and enjoys bringing Pacific flavours to his cooking.

“I am thrilled to be working at kingi and being able to focus on cooking with sustainably caught fish – and honouring it by reducing food wastage and utilising the entire product,” Uelese says.

“We’re delighted about having Andrew’s experience and expert eye overseeing The Hotel Britomart’s culinary offerings, especially in The Libraries, our exceptional suite of private dining and private function spaces,” says Clinton Farley, General Manager of The Hotel Britomart. “With Andrew and Uelese joining the team, we are extremely excited about the continued evolution of our Food and Beverage offering in the year ahead.”

kingi is open seven days for all-day service including dinner, inviting guests to experience the best of local seafood and produce. Aperitivo Hour offers specialty drinks, wine and beers and flat breads from the woodfire oven, daily between 4-6pm. The spaces available for private functions in The Libraries include the Papuke Room, the Chef’s Library, the Wine Library and The Lounge.

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What’s in a name: kingi (short for kingfish)
Website: https://kingibritomart.com/
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tim Feibel, Marketing Manager
+64 21 572 747 / [email protected]

The Hotel Britomart has picked up three prizes in the Auckland architecture awards. The Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Auckland Branch Awards were announced at a ceremony at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.

The hotel, designed by Cheshire Architects and opened in October, was recognised with awards in three categories: Commercial Architecture; Hospitality; and Interior Architecture. It also won a Resene Colour Award for its interior. The five-person jury described the hotel as “a generous gift to Aucklanders”.

The awards are an annual celebration of Auckland and Northland architecture, a peer-reviewed selection of projects recognised by a jury from the Auckland branch of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.

The five-person jury visited projects in person to choose the winners. “When approaching this building’s deeply thoughtful façade, architecture as a process of crafting – from concept, to thousands of drawings, to the relationships between architect, contractors and clients, to people as occupants – feels magical,” the jury noted in its award citation.

“This complex upgrade of the historic Buckland Masonic building includes two new rooftop pavilion hotel suites, offices from level 1 to 3, and laneways at ground level to connect with the lively Britomart precinct, but despite all this activity, the bespoke nature of the build makes every piece and part feel meaningful. From its custom door handles to the sight of that façade against the blue Tāmaki Makaurau sky, The Hotel Britomart is a generous gift for Aucklanders.”

The Hotel Britomart was developed and is owned by Cooper and Company, the company responsible for the ongoing regeneration of the Britomart precinct. The project included the construction of a new, brick-clad 10-storey tower as well as the refurbishment of the adjacent heritage Buckland and Masonic Buildings and the creation of a new laneway through them that connects Galway Street and Customs Street East.

“We’re incredibly proud of the hotel and the response from our guests shows how deeply they appreciate Cheshire Architects’ attention to detail and the efforts of our development team and Bracewell Construction,” says The Hotel Britomart’s General Manager, Clinton Farley. “It was designed to be a hotel that feels like a special addition to its neighbourhood and its city, and we’re honoured that the Te Kāhui Whaihanga jury feels we have achieved that.”

The hotel, which contains 99 rooms and five highly crafted Landing Suites, is New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel, certified by the New Zealand Green Building Council.

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What’s in a name: The Hotel Britomart (name cannot be shortened)
Website: https://thehotelbritomart.com/
Images: https://we.tl/t-5X1Mchk99d
The Libraries: https://thehotelbritomart.com/thelibraries/
Background: https://britomart.org/were-building-the-hotel-britomart/
Sustainability: https://britomart.org/about/#sustainability

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jodi Clark
Director of Communications at TFE Hotels
[email protected] | +61 499 900 658

Jessica Crosswell
Communications Account Manager
DARKHORSE
[email protected] | +64 21 115 4018

About The Hotel Britomart:
Located in downtown waterfront Auckland’s Britomart precinct. The Hotel Britomart has 99 guest rooms and five luxurious Landing Suites that offer an oasis of calm in the centre of the city. Designed by Cheshire Architects, it is New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel, certified by the NZ Green Building Council. Find out more at thehotelbritomart.com.

About Collection by TFE Hotels
The Hotel Britomart is part of Collection by TFE Hotels and will be managed by TFE Hotels on behalf of Cooper and Company. Cooper and Company is the asset and development manager for the Britomart Group, which holds a contract for the long-term ownership and development of the Britomart Precinct.

The Collection represents beautiful hotels hallmarked by authenticity and provenance, each designed with individual character and charm. With a collection of properties that encompass striking design and attention to the individual such as The Calile Hotel Brisbane, Melbourne’s The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins and Hotel Kurrajong Canberra. The Hotel Britomart embodies these concepts while remaining proudly a product of its unique location.

The Hotel Britomart is proud to launch The Libraries, a series of one-of-a-kind spaces designated for select private functions. Tucked away on the first floor of the heritage Masonic and Buckland buildings, The Libraries are a succession of elegant spaces crafted for intimate gatherings, private dinners, meetings and more.

Opening May 2021, The Libraries at The Hotel Britomart will also be available for use by guests of The Landing Suites and The Hotel Britomart. Located at the heart of where the iconic masonic building meets the contemporary design of The Hotel Britomart layers of history, art and design are intertwined across four elegant rooms hidden away in the elegance of New Zealand’s first 5 Green Star hotel.

The Libraries deliver a warm, deeply personal and considered hospitality experience within The Hotel Britomart.

A destination unto itself The Libraries connects you to food, wine, people and place in a way no other hosted setting can. The space will feature a series of wine and food experiences hosted by kingi’s Head Chef Tom Hishon and wine expert David Nash.

The Lounge: With artworks by Ralph Hotere and Shane Cotton, and brick walls revealing layers of history, The Lounge allows guests the luxury of sinking into sumptuous banquettes or gathering for conversation around its beautiful bar.

The Chef’s Library: A thoughtful and considered private dining room hosting up to eight guests for sublime meals crafted by executive chef Tom Hishon and paired with exceptional wines to match. The adjacent kitchen allows natural conversation with the chefs as each unforgettable course is served.

The Wine Library: The loft-like Wine Library is lined with high shelves filled with bottles, and lit by a chandelier of hand-crafted glass. Its central kauri table is designed to be the focus of tailored wine tastings or private dinners for up to 12 people with fine wine specialist David Nash.

The Papuke Room: Filled with light and the textures of ancient native timber and century-old brick, the Papuke room is a generous, flexible space that can host seated dinners, cocktail functions, presentations, meetings and gatherings of up to 50 guests.

“The Libraries are an extension of the unique and special offering at The Hotel Britomart and we’re proud to be able to provide a collection of memorable spaces that will make any event unforgettable,” says Hotel General Manager, Clinton Farley.

The Libraries at The Hotel Britomart are available to book from 1 April for a unique and considered experience in the heart of Auckland city.

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What’s in a name: The Hotel Britomart (The name cannot be shortened)
Website: https://thehotelbritomart.com/
Download Images: https://we.tl/t-5X1Mchk99d
The Libraries: https://thehotelbritomart.com/thelibraries/
Background: https://britomart.org/were-building-the-hotel-britomart/
Sustainability: https://britomart.org/about/#sustainability

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kevin Mitchell-Sisler
DARKHORSE
[email protected]

Magdalen Drummond
DARKHORSE
[email protected]

Jodi Clark
Director of Communications at TFE Hotels
+61 499 900 658 / [email protected]