SO Sofitel opens doors in Auckland

Auckland has debuted its first SO Sofitel property in the central business district. It will also be a neighbour to the revitalised Britomart precinct and waterfront. SO Sofitel is a luxury brand that focuses on lifestyle and design; this is apparent in the properties’ bold and fun colours, unusual room themes, and customised staff uniforms.

Auckland’s status as the business event hub of New Zealand may mean plenty of business-centric hotels but aside from Naumi Hotel, the city is yet to see a millennial-focused luxury brand at this scale.

“We’ve heard from locals that they are excited to have a rebellious luxury-lifestyle hotel opening in their city," said Stephen Gould, general manager of SO Sofitel. “Auckland has an abundance of natural beauty, plays host to the South Pacific’s vibrant art, music, design and foodie scene and is high on the bucket list of many travellers.”

The property has a meetings space – titled The Vault – with four function rooms that can be configured into theatre, ballroom, and banquet settings with a maximum capacity of 100. 

“The former home of New Zealand’s gold reserve has provided a unique inspiration for the dedicated meeting floor which is aptly named The Vault,” said Gould. “Gold and mineral inspired décor with luxurious finishes run throughout the four meeting rooms.”

Playing on a volcanic theme, guests can choose their room design style from Vapour, Liquid and Solid.  floor has been dedicated to Penthouse Suites, each enjoying their own exclusive style; SO Lofty features a Caldera theme and SO VIP, an Exposure theme. 

On top of that, the property will be close to the impending New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), what will be the biggest event space in the country and the second biggest between Australia and New Zealand.

One of the main draws of the property will likely be the rooftop bar with views of the harbour, an outdoor terrace and private booths. There’ll also be a French-inspired restaurant on the 15th floor with more views of the harbour and a walk-in wine cellar.