New Wellington hotel with a French accent

As an unashamed Francophile, I am a fan of the Sofitel brand. I like to be greeted with a cheerful "bonjour" and enjoy the little French touches you find in Sofitel properties. 

Opening soon, the new Sofitel Wellington will be the third Sofitel hotel in New Zealand, joining its award-winning sister hotels Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour and Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa - both of which I have stayed at and enjoyed.

Sofitel’s brand-new 129-room, 14-storey hotel is located between Wellington landmarks ‘The Beehive’ and the Botanical Gardens. 

Guests are promised "beautifully-appointed rooms and suites in vintage gold and bronze tones with indulgent rain showers, complimentary wifi internet for multiple devices, Smart TVs with Bluetooth, a So Fit gymnasium and state of the art technology across three meeting and event venues" when it opens on July 1.

Floral frescos will enliven the Jardin Grill, Sofitel’s on-site restaurant, while the blurb says "guests can bask around outdoor fire pit in the sheltered al fresco courtyard".  

There will also be a lounge and bar, The Green Room (below).
  

Chris Sedgwick, senior vice-president AccorHotels New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia (what a ridiculous mouthful), said: “Sofitel Wellington is a strategic addition to our New Zealand hotel network and will play a key role in further elevating Wellington’s international profile and attractiveness as a key leisure and business destination.

“We are confident that Sofitel’s strong branding in the luxury market will appeal and cater to a range of domestic and international travellers seeking personalised and high-end hospitality in the capital. 

"It’s been a decade since a hotel of this quality and status has opened in Wellington and we are delighted to welcome Sofitel Wellington to the AccorHotels luxury portfolio in July.”

Sofitel Wellington is now bookable on accorhotels.com and sofitel.com for stays from July 1, 2016. Room rates will start from $NZD 225 per room per night - but you might need to be quick to snap them up.