Grand Windsor, MGallery by Sofitel was recently recognised at the Boutique Hotel Awards in London, winning the esteemed ‘Best New Hotel’, as well as taking out top honours as Australasia’s Best New Hotel and Australasia’s Most Inspired Design Hotel.
Located in a heritage art deco building on Queen Street that is considered Auckland's first skyscraper, the hotel’s designers used the original 1920s architecture as an aesthetic foundation for its five-star relaunch in June 2017, which was a big selling point for the judges.
“The design was beautiful, elegant, understated and calming. It felt a world away from the hustle and bustle of the central city, it was amazing how you could just step away from it,” they said.
The judges were also impressed by the ‘Kiwi hospitality’ received and use of organic food and wine in the restaurant.
“The chefs can take you on a veritable ‘food tour of New Zealand’ as they use specialities from around the country,” they say in their review.
The Grand Windsor’s win is a great win for the city of Auckland too, giving several of the goals in ATEED’s Destination AKL 2025 strategy a much-needed boost. The award-winning hotel is a good example of a business raising service standards, one which others can aspire to, and it is also promoting New Zealand’s unique food story.
The Boutique Hotel Award winners are nominated and chosen by travel industry experts and travel journalists. More than 300 hotels entered this year's competition.
For more information on the Grand Windsor, please visit hotelgrandwindsor.com