SO/ Auckland has taken home four honours at the 2025 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, cementing its position among the region’s leading luxury hotels.
The property won Best City Hotel – Oceania, Best Conference Venue Hotel – Oceania, Best Business Hotel – Oceania, and Best Activity Hotel – Global.
General Manager Zac Lumsden described the wins as “a true reflection of our entire team’s dedication to excellence,” noting the awards span some of the industry’s most competitive categories.
The Best City Hotel – Oceania award recognises SO/ Auckland’s integration of Auckland’s urban vibrancy into its guest experience. From the HI-SO Rooftop Bar’s panoramic harbour views to Harbour Society restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, the property emphasises a sense of place.
In-room features include bathtubs in every guestroom—an uncommon amenity in the market—alongside open-plan layouts, king beds, spacious desks, and custom minibars. Recent upgrades have further enhanced the guest experience, with a renewed focus on service touches and refreshed in-room offerings to suit both business and leisure travellers.
The Best Business Hotel – Oceania accolade highlights SO/ Auckland’s strategy to elevate corporate travel. Amenities such as the Club Signature executive lounge with twice-daily refreshments, a dedicated Guest Relations Manager, and in-room dining that mirrors the Harbour Society menu aim to make work trips “functional, energising and inspiring,” says Lumsden.
Reserve Bank Heritage
Recognition as Best Conference Venue Hotel – Oceania follows a renewed focus on the property’s event facilities—and its history. The building once housed the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and held the nation’s largest gold bullion, a story now heroed in the hotel’s branding. Gold detailing features throughout, and in late 2024, the Treasury Suite was renamed to reflect its heritage.
The Treasury Suite, now also available for intimate cocktail parties, and the Social Club Terrace—overlooking the heritage buildings of Customs Street—are part of a strategy to “swing open the doors” on some of the hotel’s best-kept event space secrets. They join the Waitematā Private Dining Room, the sky-high Wine Cellar, and the modular conference facilities known as The Vault, which can be reconfigured for a variety of functions. Creative events have included wearable art shows weaving through restaurant spaces and art galleries built into meeting rooms.
Lifestyle and Wellness Amenities
The Best Activity Hotel – Global award reflects the breadth of SO/ Auckland’s leisure offering. Facilities include the HI-SO rooftop cocktail bar, Harbour Society restaurant, MIXO lobby bar, Javalab café, and SO/ Spa—located in the building’s former gold vault and offering treatments priced by time rather than service type. Guests also have access to a sauna, jacuzzi, gym, and heated indoor pool.
“These awards give us momentum to keep innovating in Auckland’s luxury sector,” says Lumsden.