Escape to Picton Wins National Award

Escape to Picton Wins National Award

WHAT THE PAPERS SAID Marlborough Express By Jo Gilbert – The Marlborough Express 06/10/2009 An “extreme transformation” from empty old restaurant and jazz club to luxury boutique hotel brought Escape to Picton one of the country’s top hospitality awards, its owner says. The boutique hotel, restaurant and bar in Wellington St won the best new/redeveloped accommodation hotel award at the Hospitality Association of New Zealand’s 2009 excellence awards in Taupo last Thursday. Owner Juliearna (JJ) Kavanagh said the renovations took about 16 months to complete and had transformed the hotel. “A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it and I guess the judges were impressed by the standard of it, as it’s just so unbelievable comparing start to finish.” The hotel’s three suites each have their own character and decor, she said, with the three-room premium Modern Suite, the French-style Formal Suite and the “romantic hide-away” Sea Room. Led by head chef Jason Mitchelmore, the hotel’s restaurant serves lunches on Fridays and weekends, and dinner seven days a week. From October 24 it will be open all day, seven days a week, for the summer. The former BNZ bank building was last known as The Old Vault, a restaurant and jazz club, before Mrs Kavanagh bought the hotel and began renovating in April 2007. The restaurant opened for four months from February 2008 before the whole premises officially opened in August 2008. The 10-strong staff, which grows to between 18 and 20 in summer, had an ethos of going the extra mile for its guests, Mrs Kavanagh said. “Our emphasis is that we do everything we can...
Escape to Picton Nominated for a Peoples Choice Award

Escape to Picton Nominated for a Peoples Choice Award

> Following on from Winning the Hospitality Association of New Zealand’s (HANZ) Best Redeveloped Hotel Accommodation of 2009. ESCAPE TO PICTON BOUTIQUE HOTEL has been nominated in the 2010 Corporate Events Guide People’s Choice Awards, under the category of ‘Best Nationwide HOTELS. NOMINEE: ESCAPE TO PICTON BOUTIQUE HOTEL CATEGORY: BEST NATIONWIDE HOTELS VOTING DATES: 21st Feb 2010 – 1st Oct 2010 Click here to Vote for us The Corporate Events Guide’s People’s Choice Awards are the most prestigious accolades to win in the New Zealand conference and events industry. 2009 winners were decided by the votes of more than 13,000 people connected in some way to conference and events in New...