A new pod hotel capable of accommodating more than 466 visitors per night is set to open in Auckland’s CBD.
The four storey, 386 bed hotel will have a mixture of pod style accommodation, as well as ensuite rooms and, unlike other hotels in the chain, will also be designed for a specific business niche market.
The new addition to the Jucy Snooze brand is expected to meet about 4% of the estimated 3,000 room shortfall in accommodation in Auckland when it opens at the end of 2019.
Jucy CEO Tim Alpe says while the hotel is primarily designed to meet the needs of budget international tourists they also expect to see a number of conference delegates visiting from overseas; as well as long term commuters from around NZ who may come to the city for work two-three days a week regularly.
“The main target market for Jucy Snooze Auckland will be millennial budget tourists who may travel by themselves, as a couple or part of a larger group. Typically they make a base in Auckland for a few days before leaving to tour the rest of the country.
Founders of Jucy Rentals Tim and Dan Alpe.
“The new pod hotel will have a number of flexible work spaces able to accommodate longer term business travellers. As part of the accommodation package the pod hotel will provide office facilities to this market,” says Alpe.
He says their inner city location on the corner of Cook and Nelson Streets will be within walking distance of the new Skycity Convention Centre and will offer a low cost room alternative for international business travellers attending conferences as well.
Alpe says the concept of a hybrid between accommodation and flexible working space has started to appear overseas and believes it will work in New Zealand.
“We see potential demand from out of town businesses such as startups who need to come to Auckland regularly but can’t justify the cost of establishing a permanent office here.”
“The new Jucy Snooze Auckland will provide a cost effective way to do this and at the same time offer networking opportunities for guests when they utilise the shared space with other like minded companies – including the relocated head office of Jucy itself,” he says.
Alpe says new design elements adapted from learnings in their Christchurch and Queenstown hotels will be added into the Auckland site.
“The Auckland CBD site will feature double pods, more common spaces, as well as our co-working concept which will be called Jucy Share.
“In addition to offering these facilities to our guests, other visitors to the CBD will be able to hire meeting rooms by the hour,” he says.
Alpe says the company is moving towards a ‘journeys based approach’ strategy across it’s portfolio which will see cater for a visitor’s needs more holistically as they travel the country.
He says the new hotel will employ around 30 staff and will be a home to a new retail centre as well as a Miss Lucy’s pizzeria and bar when it opens.
“Our retail, food and beverage offerings will be specifically designed to create an environment for our millennial travellers; it may include a barber, tattoo parlour, clothing and other types of stores popular with this demographic,” says Alpe.
