| I wanted to see the Hilton Auckland after their suite | | | | officially opened by the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, in |
| refurbishment, and it was well worth the visit. The | | | | June 2001 and is situated on the northeast corner of |
| popular Bow Suites, so named because they are | | | | Princes Wharf. There are 160 deluxe rooms and six |
| shaped like the bow of a ship, overlooking the | | | | suites. Not a "small" hotel, but it does have the feel |
| Waitemata Harbour, have had quite the face lift. | | | | of a boutique hotel. In 2005 it was named the Top |
| The interior, designed by Catherine Stormont of | | | | New Zealand CBD Hotel of the Year. |
| HBO&EMTD, is contemporary in feel, blending in with | | | | White Restaurant, and Bellini, the lobby lounge bar, |
| the overall design of the hotel which has been | | | | have been created by Dan Kwan of Tribeca, the |
| dubbed the "New Hilton" in its embrace of sleek lines | | | | design firm based in Singapore. His intent was to |
| and minimalist decor, interspersed with traditional | | | | provide an environment that would be a white |
| Mauri artistic accents. There is a sense of being in the | | | | canvas for Executive Chef Bernard Bernabe to paint |
| Presidential cabin of a luxury international cruise liner, | | | | his culinary palate, and to be a minimalist setting for |
| and its proximity in the harbor, with cruise ships | | | | the hues of blue and green of the bay reflecting |
| arriving and departing below your terrace, adds to | | | | through the floor to ceiling windows. |
| that feeling. | | | | Bernard Bernabe, even the name is a mouthful, was |
| Furnishings and fabrics are muted tones, "decked" out | | | | born in the Philippines. His family immigrated to New |
| with Italian leather furniture. The Presidential suite has | | | | Zealand when he was nine years old. Now, at the ripe |
| two plasma televisions, dining for four, a work desk | | | | age of 28, he was the driving force behind the |
| and credenza, a chaise and side table over looking | | | | award winning team when white was honored with |
| the wrap around deck, wrap around couch with | | | | the Restaurant of the Year award in 2004. |
| chaise angle, an outdoor lounge area and eating area, | | | | General Manager, John Ingram is a soft-spoken gentle |
| huge bathroom with separate bath, rain shower, and | | | | man with a lot to say. He treated me to details |
| toilet, floor to ceiling glass doors with water views | | | | about the local cultural community and life in |
| from every single angle, electronic shades, and wispy | | | | Auckland, as well as his the importance for the global |
| white transparent curtains to mute the suns raise, | | | | hospitality community to see this Hilton in its rightful |
| but allow in the reflections of the sea. | | | | light, a "new Hilton" as he called it. With 160 deluxe |
| The artists' glass sculpture and vases that graced my | | | | rooms and six suites, one can hardly call this a |
| room, included locals Simon Kaan, Graham Fletcher, | | | | boutique hotel, yet I agree with him that it has that |
| and Heather Straka. Part of the upgrade included the | | | | feel. Staff is very professional and ingratiating, food is |
| concept that every space should have a touch of | | | | superb, and the atmosphere modern and light. |
| authenticity. Amenities have also been upgraded to | | | | My favorite feature of the hotel is a glass-fronted |
| the Crabtree & Evelyn "la Source" range, an | | | | swimming pool that juts out in such a way that with |
| improvement over past choices. | | | | goggles under water, you have the illusion of |
| Hilton Auckland stands 300 meters from the city | | | | swimming out to sea. |
| center adjacent to the Viaduct Harbor. It was | | | | |