$5 million worth of city luxury

Top-of-the range, five-star motel nears completion
By LIN FERGUSON
FINISHING designer touches are being made to Wanganui's new $5 million, five-star Aotea Motel in Victoria Ave.
Owner Sonny Teki said yesterday, that even though he would have been very keen to open for Labour weekend, it just wasn't realistic.
The new 28-room motel with a double spa bath in every unit, is due to open on Monday, November 26, he said.
"We've got to have it absolutely perfect when it opens and it will be."
Bookings were already coming in daily from all over the country, he said.
"It's just amazing. I have to make sure I check the computer at least three times a day because there are always new bookings coming in."
The summer months were filling up fast, he said.
Mr Teki said he saw the need a while ago for a top-of-the-range five-star motel in Wanganui that was totally geared for the corporate market.
"More and more mid-to-top-range customers are coming here and need good accommodation," he said.
Full-scale cooking facilities would not available in these units, Mr Teki said.
"There's no need. There's a microwave, tea, coffee and toast-making facilities. We're in a prime spot here, surrounded by great restaurants, all in a few minutes walking distance."
Even though Mr Teki and his wife will manage the motel for the first few months, he intends to lease it out.
"We'll get it up and running first."
Incorporated into the landscaping design is the use of schist rock on the pillars and walls.
"It's not the real stuff from the deep south though. It's a rock from New Plymouth, which has been treated to look like schist."
Mr Teki believes Wanganui is coming into its own as a destination and is ripe for more tourist-style initatives.
"People need to think about this. This is a wonderful area to start a new tourisim venture and it's getting better."