Hotel Check in: Welcome to windy Wellington Intercontinental Hotel
The Intercontinental Wellington, New Zealand
LOCATION
Wellington, New Zealand
RATING
5 Stars
TREND
Tradition
MAPPING
Hospitality, Food & Beverage, Front Office, Housekeeping
Windy Wellington!
I’m in my happy place when I can check into a hotel, relax and escape the realities of the world. I love to observe what’s going on around me, sometimes that can be really interesting and sometimes amusing. In this “Check In” I want to introduce to you the Wellington Intercontinental. It’s in a medium rise building clad in reflective glass windows and it gives off the vibe of an inner-city office building. That feeling continues through the lobby with its brown marble, timber panelling and stone features. This hotel is pitched as a 5-star hotel however I get the impression that, like many 5-star hotels this hotel is competing against the likes of Airbnb and Stayz. That pressure causes hotels to reduce costs and service standards to remain financially viable. In the case of the Wellington Intercontinental the hotel appears to be holding on to the traditional values and standards, so let’s take a look and check in …..
WELLINGTON INTERCONTINENTAL
2 Grey Street
Wellington, 6011
New Zealand
Ph: (64) 4 472 272
Web: www.ihg.com
The arrival
As I entered the hotel the concierge was instantly recognisable on the right. The staff were formally dressed in black and wore jackets. I noticed the concierge wearing his Les Clefs d’Or badge, a true sign of his professionalism and commitment to his profession. It was quite busy and it was interesting to see all the parts in operation. The doorman was greeting guests and opening doors. A porter was loading a bird cage trolley and guests were seeking advice at the concierge desk. I waited my turn and asked for the best place to get a coffee in Wellington!
On check in the reception staff were welcoming, I noticed the receptionist had tattoos on her fingers and arms and I reflect on how personal choices are tolerated these days. In the past, the display of tattoos would be a taboo and frowned upon.
The check in process was swift, the registration slip was presented for me to review my personal details. The room, rate and number of nights was reconfirmed and a pre-authorisation was taken on my card. The Wellington Intercontinental is a member of the IHG One Rewards and the Intercontinental Ambassador loyalty programs. The receptionist was diligent in recognising my IHG status and explained the benefits associated with the stay. Once the room keys were programmed I was directed to the elevators and set off to level 7 and room 716.
In room facilities
In the corner of the room there was a spacious desk, lamp and a large flat screen television that commanded the wall opposite the bed and displayed a welcome message. The television was my access point to view my room account, messages, movies and streaming.
On the bedside table there was an information card promoting IHG’s Clean promise “Clean means clean”. Hotels appear to have continued to promote their clean credentials and messaging post covid. It was nice to see a note book and pen return, as hotels had removed these as a health precaution at the height of the pandemic.
The bathroom was visible through a large glass window, this was a nice touch as it let in natural light flow through from the bay window. There was a well-stocked mini bar including, red and white wine, pringles, chocolate, spirits, juice and soft drinks. There was a plentiful supply of tea and also a pod coffee machine. There were nine pods which was quite generous.
Bathroom and amenities
The bathroom was spacious and provided all the amenities expected. One of the best features of this bathroom is the large walk-in shower that boasted a flexible shower head, as well as a rain shower. There were plenty of towels, bathrobes and hair dryer, and a generous assortment of bathroom amenities were provided, including a shaver and dental kit. Underneath the amenity tray was a secret drawer that held general amenities such as a nail file, cotton buds and a shower cap. This bathroom also came equiped with a light brown face washer specifically for removing make up. Toiletries were the Bal d’Afrique range by BYREDO, the hotel used refillable bottles rather than miniature giveaways.
Looking back through the bathroom window to the bedroom gave a sense of space in the bathroom and natural light. There was also a pull-down blind for privacy.
Food and beverage choices
Two Grey
The name signifies the address of the hotel, the restaurant sat on the corner of Grey and Featherstone. The hotel promoted this restaurant as a social hub in the heart of the city. It’s informal and offered an all-day menu catering from breakfast with barista coffee, through to lunch and dinner, with the menu covering a comprehensive range of meals and snacks. The venue also provided a dedicated menu that listed all the gluten free and plant based meals available across all meal periods. Two Grey also had a bar offering local craft beers and wine list laden with New Zealand wines. They embraced and encouraged the “meeting place in the city” concept and the décor of the restaurant lended itself to this vibe. There were high tables with stools that were good for milling around with friends. There were nice tables by the window where you could watch city life pass you by.
GPO Restaurant
So often the mystery in a name lies with the location. The hotel was built on the site of the original post office, hence GPO. The restaurant is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, with service starting at 5:00 PM. GPO is the more upmarket of the two restaurant offerings. There was not a strict dress code, but they recommend smart casual attire. The cuisine was influenced by Southern Europe and the Mediterranean. They offered smaller plates as well as larger dishes that included hand rolled pastas, pasture raised meats and they were proud of their seafood that was ethically sourced from the local waters of Aotearoa.
The Lobby Lounge
Situated directly opposite the reception desk, the Lobby Lounge was a focal point of the hotel. The lounge was open plan with large floor to ceiling windows facing out to the entrance. There were a range of comfortable high back bench seats and lounge chairs. There was a relaxed feel in the bar, the carpet makes it calm and the fire place provides a sense of warmth. The bar is open every day and offers a snack menu with sandwiches, cheese, and fires. They had an extensive range of spirits and whiskeys with a number of boutique brands. The Lobby Lounge Menu uniquely displayed maps that clearly showed the region of where each whiskey originated from. The Lounge is also the home of the Intercontinental's High Tea Experience. The high tea includes sweet and savoury treats and a comprehensive selection of teas.
Stephen's Take
Unit of Competency Mapping
Please note; the purpose of this article is to introduce current hospitality trends. The content broadly applies to the units of competency listed. It is not intended that all content in this article maps directly to all performance evidence and knowledge evidence in the unit of competency.
Teacher Resources
For further information please take advantage of the following documents and website links!
Wellington Intercontinental Lounge Menu
Wellington Intercontinental Lounge High Tea Experience
Wellington Intercontinental Grey Breakfast Menu
Wellington Intercontinental Grey Lunch and Dinner Menu
Wellington Intercontinental Grey Dietary Options Menu
Wellington Intercontinental and Events Brochure
Article and photos original by Stephen Duncan