Amninderpal Singh reminded himself to stay calm as a robber pressed a knife to his throat and demanded to be let into the Castlecliff Hotel.
The masked man, described as around 6ft (1.83 metres), Maori, and aged 30-35, appeared as Mr Singh left work for the evening on Monday.
Owner Mr Singh had just locked the hotel's back doors and was heading towards his car when the robber appeared.
"I thought he was a customer," Mr Singh said. "I smiled ... and then I see his face and it was covered and he had a knife, and he put the knife on my neck."
The man ordered Mr Singh to unlock the doors, then forced him to take about $3000 out of a safe and put it in a bag.