From Left: Brett Russell, Ben Bridge, Mayor Phil Mauger and Richard Crawford.
Mainland Capital and Russell Property Group have announced today they have signed a hotel management agreement with Marriott International, Inc. to operate the iconic Noah’s Hotel redevelopment in Christchurch, under the Sheraton Hotels and Resorts brand.
The announcement was made public by the Mayor of Christchurch, Phil Mauger at the 2025 AHICE Aotearoa conference this afternoon.
The Sheraton Christchurch is scheduled to open in mid-2027 and will reimagine the landmark site with bold architecture and vibrant public spaces. The partners said the $150-plus million project will reinforce Christchurch’s status as a world-class destination for leisure and business travel.
Located beside Te Pae Convention Centre and fronting the Avon River, the development will deliver premium accommodation to the city centre. Mainland Capital Director Ben Bridge said partnering with a globally recognised brand validated the project vision and Christchurch’s emergence as a visitor destination.
240 Premium Rooms
Russell Property Group Managing Director Brett Russell noted that their long-standing relationship with Marriott was built on trust and a shared commitment to excellence, and said the hotel would become a cornerstone of the local hospitality sector.
Ross Steele, General Manager of Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, currently hosting the AHICE Aotearoa 2025 conference, said having a new international-standard five-star Sheraton hotel right next door would be a game changer for the city’s future convention offering.
He said the convention centre had led New Zealand’s re-entry into the international convention market, and that the 2027 opening of the Sheraton would take Christchurch “to the next level.”
The 14-storey Sheraton Christchurch property will offer 240 premium rooms and suites, a signature restaurant, rooftop bar, club lounge, event spaces and a wellness-focused fitness centre. It is being developed with Dalman Architects and Nic Graham & Associates Interior Design Studio, designed to reflect both international standards and Christchurch’s unique character.
Marriott International’s Vice President of Hotel Development for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, Richard Crawford, said the project strengthened Sheraton’s regional presence and would play a key role in revitalising the city’s CBD.
Strong Partnerships
Brett Russell, Managing Director of Russell Property Group, emphasised the value of strong partnerships in delivering successful developments.
“Our long-standing relationship with Marriott International has been built on trust and a shared commitment to excellence. With their operational expertise behind this flagship property, we’re confident Sheraton Christchurch will become a cornerstone of the local hospitality landscape and deliver substantial economic benefits to the Canterbury region.”
The hotel is owned by Emmons Developments New Zealand Limited a consortium of NZ equity investors, led by a joint venture between Mainland Capital and Russell Property Group. Heading up the development are Ben Bridge of Mainland Capital and Brett Russell of Russell Property Group.
Third Marriott NZ
Established in 1937, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is the most global brand in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, with nearly 430 hotels in over 70 countries. As the first international hotel brand to enter many destinations worldwide, Sheraton has long been recognised as a symbol of hospitality excellence and a timeless space where people and communities come together.
This will be Marriott International’s third hotel in New Zealand, joining the JW Marriott and Four Points by Sheraton properties in Auckland.