Accor backs New Zealand’s business travel rebound with new hotel openings in Auckland and Hamilton

• November 4, 2025
• 

  

  

  

Accor is signalling renewed confidence in New Zealand’s visitor economy with a fresh wave of investments that leans heavily into design-led urban stays and a stronger platform for major events

The group has expanded its network to 49 hotels and more than 6,200 rooms nationwide with the addition of TRIBE Auckland Fort Street and JO&JOE Auckland, both in the CBD and owned by long-time local partner CP Group. The growth momentum continues into 2026 with Pullman Hamilton, a 191-key premium property that will deepen the brand’s presence in the Waikato region.

New brands sharpen Auckland’s appeal for corporate and bleisure travellers

For business travellers who increasingly expect “lobby-as-laptop” functionality, TRIBE Auckland Fort Street is pitched squarely at the design-conscious, value-focused end of the corporate market. The brand which is already present across Australia, Asia and Europe brings bold interiors, flexible lounge spaces, communal tables and tucked-away nooks designed for working between meetings, informal one-to-ones or post-conference debriefs. Sienna, the hotel’s So-Cal inspired restaurant, sits at the heart of the property with a menu built around shareable plates well suited to client hosting and team dinners without leaving the precinct.

Around the corner, JO&JOE Auckland marks the brand’s first opening in Asia Pacific, bringing a hybrid hostel–hotel concept to Fort Street. With 75 dorm-style and private rooms delivering 293 beds, a rooftop bar and social spaces, the property targets younger, social travellers but there is a clear group and SME opportunity too. For corporates running training, sales rallies or project teams on a tighter budget, JO&JOE offers central-city, community-centric accommodation that sits comfortably alongside Accor’s traditional hotel inventory.

The twin openings broaden the accommodation ladder in downtown Auckland from lifestyle hostel through to premium and luxury giving travel managers more scope to segment by traveller profile, trip purpose and budget while staying within a single network and loyalty ecosystem.

Hamilton steps up as a secondary conference and corporate hub

Accor’s pipeline extends beyond Auckland. In 2026, Pullman Hamilton will open with 191 rooms, joining existing Novotel and ibis properties in the city. The move coincides with the resumption of international flights to Hamilton after a 13-year hiatus, positioning the Waikato as a more compelling option for regional conferences, agribusiness events and corporate project work that needs a premium, globally recognised hotel flag.

Accor reports that New Zealand hotel occupancy for the remainder of 2025 is tracking 1.5% higher year-on-year, with Queenstown a standout beneficiary of a 13% increase in Australian arrivals and steady growth in both small and large meetings. Auckland occupancy has also improved, although it continues to move in line with the city’s events calendar, particularly sport and major concerts.