Wellington building plans set to increase visitor accomodation

Hotel building and expansion in Wellington is set to increase visitor capacity by as much as 25 per cent in the next few years.

Leading the rush are plans to build a 170-room Holiday Inn opposite Wellington Railway Station. It is due to open next year, as is the 113-unit expansion of the Museum Hotel.

A proposed Hilton Hotel at Queens Wharf will add another 135 rooms.

Other proposals include a 298-bed hostel in Cambridge Tce planned by international hotel management group Accor.

Positively Wellington Tourism head Tim Cossar said the proposals would mean an increase in capacity of about 25 per cent. New attractions would be needed to draw a comparable growth in visitor numbers.