Ramada Suites Albany has officially opened on Auckland’s North Shore, with demand already outstripping expectations.

The 66-room property is Wyndham Hotel Group’s fifth new opening in New Zealand in just over two years and is the first major accommodation development for the North Shore region in more than six years.

Despite welcoming its first guests just weeks ago, the anticipated demand from the region’s thriving local business and leisure market has already begun, with occupancy regularly exceeding 80 per cent during the week.

Ramada Suites Albany was full during the recent World Masters games and its proximity to sporting venues like QBE North Harbour Stadium and swimming, tennis and hockey centres makes it ideal for sports groups.

The property has also already earned an excellent reputation online, with a rating of nine out of 10 from a sizeable group of reviewers on booking.com and a four-and-a-half star rating on TripAdvisor. Reviewers praised the location and attentiveness of the 10 staff.

“Ramada Suites Albany represents our strategic efforts to expand our presence in key, high growth areas like the North Shore region and our expectations about the bright future for tourism in Auckland,” said Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director of Wyndham Hotel Group South East Asia and Pacific Rim.

“New Zealand’s travel and tourism industry is aspiring to be worth NZ$41 billion by 2025 and high quality accommodation from properties like Ramada Suites Albany will be necessary to achieve that.”

Ramada Suites Albany offers a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments equipped with cooking and laundry facilities. Guests also have access to free Wi-Fi, onsite parking, Coffee Club and gym facility. The hotel can also cater for boardroom-style meetings.

“We have a rapidly growing business scene in the North Shore region so were even receiving calls before we opened hoping we would open earlier,” said General Manager Jacqui Cheal.

“Our advanced bookings extend to events in Auckland as far away as March in 2018.”

The property is conveniently located across the road from Albany Bus Station’s Park ‘n’ Ride, meaning guests can easily access the city’s public transport network. It is also walking distance from Westfield Albany, North Shore QBE Stadium and Massey University – some of the region’s key attractions.

James Wilkinson

Editor-In-Chief, Hotel Management