Wellington to get first five-star hotel

The Wellington Parkroyal will soon be transformed into the capital city's first five-star hotel, according to a report in today's Evening Post newspaper.

The new owners, international hotel operator Bass Hotels and Resorts (BHL), plan to rename the 223-room hotel the Hotel Inter-Continental in July and will spend $10 million upgrading it and the Christchurch Parkroyal.

Operations vice-president for Bass NZ Peter Christian told the Evening Post the changes were part of a plan to raise the international profile of the hotel.

Mr Christian said the Parkroyal brand was not well known overseas.

But, the report said Inter-Continental was widely recognised as a five-star hotel brand.