Naumi Hotels, the Singapore-based design hotel group, is excited to launch Naumi Auckland Airport as its first location in New Zealand, as part of wider expansion plans in Australasia and internationally. Set to officially open on 1st February 2018, Naumi Auckland Airport has been designed to exude a contemporary vibe, with bold accents of colour and playful details at every turn.A game-changer in the surrounding area and in Auckland as a whole, Naumi Auckland Airport brings a refuge from the predictable and joins Naumi Hotel Singapore and Naumi Liora Singapore as the third property by the award-winning group. Located in the airport precinct, south of the city centre and just minutes from the international and domestic airports, the hotel offers a perfect stylish stopover for leisure and business travellers. With 193 spacious rooms and suites offering private patios and balconies, an outdoor swimming pool, a perfectly manicured English garden, restaurant and bar, fully-equipped gym and over 500 sqm of conference and meeting space, the property offers all the signature Naumi comforts with the idiosyncratic design and personalised, authentic service the brand is known for. For those with time to explore, the hotel is near New Zealand’s famous winery, Villa Maria Wine Estate, as well as the historic Otuataua Stonefields Reserve and Mangere Mountain.
Philosophy & Design
The hotel theme pays homage to New Zealand’s native Tui bird, and has been realised by award winning Auckland-based design practices Material Creative (interior designers) and Ellery Muir & Associates (architect), who were commissioned by Naumi Hotels to create a hotel that is unexpected, with elements to surprise and delight its guests. Breaking the mould of the traditional boutique hotel experience through a balance of functionality, art and design, Naumi Auckland Airport offers a truly immersive experience.
Mr Gaurang Jhunjhnuwala, CEO of Naumi Hotels Australia and New Zealand shares, “Naumi Hotels is anything but a cookie-cutter hotel brand, moving away from the sterile and the impersonal by offering micro, bespoke experiences for every guest.”
On arrival into the hotel and its double-height lobby, a 24-carat gold leaf textured wall greets guests as they check-in. Commissioned and made by the NY Art Department (NZ), the piece of art represents the feathered nape of the Tui bird and took 6 months to create. A total of 95 gold discs hand-painted with feathers adorn the lounge area, which has been designed with rich layering of emerald greens, jewel blues and magenta pops, mimicking the shimmering Tui tones. Beyond the reception area, the bar and restaurant form the heart of the hotel and make a similar bold design statement. A light feature reading “ruffle your tail feathers” sits above the bar, inviting guests to socialise, while oversize armchairs, textured rugs and striking chandeliers imbue a sense of the dramatic.
Art plays a central role at Naumi Auckland Airport, with an impressive gallery of works embellishing the hotel from the entrance through to each and every guest room. Featured artists include Belynda Henry, an Australian-based artist and winner of the NSW Wynne prize, who has been commissioned to capture the natural landscape of Auckland with multi-sensory pieces showcased in the hotel lobby and New Zealand-based designer Judi Bagust whose whimsical signature brush strokes are reminiscent of the particular song of the tui bird and compliment the landscapes.
Gaurang further adds, “The hotel is designed to create ‘sweet spots’ that are aesthetically pleasing and mentally stimulating, through the unexpected and a sense of theatre.”
The team at the hotel, known as Naumi “Gurus”, have been personally styled by retailers Topshop and Zara according to their individual look and taste, rather than conforming to the standard idea of a hotel uniform. Naumi Gurus are on hand throughout a guest’s stay to ensure every preference is met.
Rooms and Suites
The 193 guest rooms come in four variations – Habitat, Oasis, Blush and designer themed suites, each designed in colour palettes again evoking the multi-coloured iridescent sheen of the Tui bird’s feathers. Natural earth tones, rich materials and crisp white linen combine with these tones to create a warm yet contemporary feeling. Designed to maximise space, the guest rooms offer customised 5-layer bedding, brass accents, and sultry mood lighting. Belynda Henry’s landscape-inspired designs have here been translated into colourful rugs which adorn every room, adding vibrancy and a further element of interest enabling guests to interact with the art in a tactile way. The wooden panelling detail present in all rooms is an ode to the nesting nature of the tui birds, realigned in a honey comb pattern.
Rooms have a total of 10 power points that allow guests the flexibility to power their requisite gadgets, and free no bandwidth restriction fibre-optic wifi, in built bed-side USB Slots and 50” Smart LED TVs with Netflix streaming come as standard. Bathrooms feature premium SOAK superfood skincare products, and are lined with tiles in a Herringbone pattern inspired by the Tui’s feathers, using coloured grouting in fuchsia pink, aqua teal, nautical blue or cherry red, adding to the sense of play. Complimentary mini-bars and yoga mats are further thoughtful touches guests will enjoy.
Two further designer-inspired Suites offer a luxurious way to appreciate design, reflecting the group’s love of art and fashion (Naumi Singapore has Andy Warhol and Coco Chanel-inspired suites). The Ziggy Suite is inspired by the classic chevron and striped Missoni design, with a six-person neon orange lit bar, pool table and outdoor dining area, Kartell Stools, Jardan Sofas, customised rugs and original vintage artwork, whilst the Dotty Suite is inspired by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama known for her brightly coloured conceptual pieces. Naumi is the sponsor for Auckland Art Gallery’s Obliteration Room by Yayoi Kusama Project, which is running from December 2017 – 2nd April 2018.
Dining & Imbibing
Paksa, meaning “wing of a bird” in Sanskrit, is the restaurant and bar forming the beating heart of the hotel. Led by executive-chef Luke Bottner, Paksa offers a menu of Asian-fusion and classic dishes, with something for everyone and for any occasion. Think healthy bento box lunches, Hawkes Bay lamb rack or Waitoa chicken breast and seasonal vegetables for supper and soon-to-be legendary ice cream sundaes for pudding. All accompanied by a great choice of local beers, wines and spirits, not to mention delicious cocktails and mocktails. In-room dining is also available through Paksa for hotel guests, 24/7.
Meetings & Events
With over 500 sqm of meeting space, Naumi Auckland Airport sets the new bar for meetings and events in Auckland. With names such as Razzle-Dazzle, Oomph and Zing, the far-from-corporate meeting rooms can be dressed for serious business, formal events or fun spaces for more relaxed events. The pool-side Marquee or Naumi Gardens add the option of meetings outdoors amongst the fresh air and flowers. The hotel offers the “Naumilicious” menu for meetings and events, including fun choices such as the Barbie and Ken BBQ Buffet and plenty of both healthy and indulgent options.
Naumi Hotels will be opening additional properties in Sydney on George Street (2019) and other cities in Australia and New Zealand to be announced shortly.
Nightly rates at Naumi Auckland Airport start from NZ$350 (approx. £178) based on two adults sharing a Habitat Room on a room-only basis.
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