OTS Blog

(This page is of comments from Tim Nicholls, the Owner/Designer of Hotel Off The Square).

What a turmoil life becomes following a natural disaster and changes to come for many years in the future. Today, the 6th June, is the Queens Birthday Holiday in New Zealand and it has been an opportunity to take stock of things in ‘this zone’ that we live in.

The shock force of the 22nd Feb EQ was the worst experienced by any city in the World ever, and the costs are presently second of all time, but looking like being the most cost ever for any city. For our guests who experienced this major event, you were certainly experiencing major history.

We had a swarm of earthquakes today, the worst since the 22nd Feb one. Most powerful was 6.3. We are OK with these, but hope not to a 7 or 8. It is going to take a long time to demolish the buildings that have to come down in central city. We have a long process of re building then onwards.

I am very thankful for the comments that I have received from around the World. Hotel Off The Square touched many peoples hearts and a touch of Zen, nice staff, comfortable and unique fit out, has provided difference for people in their travels.

Last week the  national Sunday Star Times out of Auckland, carried a page of letters from people describing their best or worst hotel experiences Worldwide. Off The Square appeared there and with thanks to A Lowe from Auckland, this letter is repeated below.

“My favourite hotel is Hotel Off The Square in central Christchurch (NB: the hotel is closed due to the February earthquake).  I LOVE this hotel. It has soul and character. Each time I’ve been there I’ve stayed in a different room, each with its own shape and layout but universal was the comfort, warmth and something I haven’t experienced in any other hotel, a sense of peace. The people who work there are all friendly and helpful. I hope they and their families are OK following the earthquake and that in time they will be able to reopen this wonderful hotel.”

Thank you A Lowe, where ever you are. I always worked to create and design a hotel that can ‘march to a different beat’ and the comment of ‘peace’ and the sense of finding something different fits with the many comments I have had from people around the globe.

I can tell you that we are all safe, albeit a little more than just shaken. We are thankful that no one was hurt. Some wardrobes were tipped over, the heritage frontage of the Mayfair part of the hotel fell into the street and enough back into the hotel to create major damage. We had just finished repairing this frontage the day before the 22nd EQ and the scaffold all fell down. Everyone safe, thank you.

This Mayfair part, (it was painted red and was above the French St Germain restaurant), was used for the present Queen Elizabeth II when she visited Christchurch in 1954. As a young queen, this was the venue for the city reception. This quarter of the hotel was an old wooden structure and will be demolished and re built, so history will go with it.

The rest of the hotel has with stood all the quakes and apart from things being thrown around the rooms and general areas, the structure is new, by eight years, (with heritage frontage strengthened), and has no structural damage.

The area around the hotel along Worcester Street from the ChCh Press building and then along Manchester Street in our block will all be demolished, so a lot of work is needed before an icon city arises. How long to opening? …how long is a piece of string… watch the space.

Business wise we were stymied for months, as computers were all unavailable, as the hotel is in the Red Zone of central Christchurch. we now have some very limited access, short visits, with security, and have some access to business records, although not all has survived. Insurance assessors have now started with visits and, although it will take time, business matters will be able to be managed. In Earthquake zone, the situation is just worse than people realise until they see for themselves, and things will not happen quickly. Some people took a while to realise the scale of all this, but I have to say that nearly all folks have been understanding and helpful. Thank you. we all need it and will do so onwards. we are doing our best.

So, to stop here on a positive note, thanks to A Lowe. We will work on towards creating a HIP, cool, uber chic, New York comes to town with a Kiwi touch, peacefulness and a unique place to stay.

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These following comments go back to the period after the first earthquake of September 4th.

We are back to normal operating with the hotel. The after tremors of the earth moving are pretty much gone. Everyone is feeling better and not concerned. Thankfully the earth is settling. There are fenced off areas around downtown that will be of interest to visitors. Mostly the city is OK and getting on with routine business. There are concerts in town, restaurants are open, as usual and the warmth of Spring is starting to show through with fine scents of flowers and buds  bursting out. From now on it will be all good. Christchurch is just fine to visit.

Earthquake

Mon 13th September

The hotel opens this day, again. On Sunday the sun and people in the street made it all feel more normal again. We will re organise ourselves and be keen to welcome our guests.  The hotel building is very safe. There was no structural damage. In fact, it is quite an oasis of calm in the central city, surrounded by big buildings that moved around a lot. There have been very few small after shakes that are noticeable, so the city is fine to visit and we all would welcome your trade and company:) The city is intact and it will be an interesting visit as the effects are noticeable all around the central city area. Everything is being handled well and it will be business, as you would expect, with added dimensions.

Last year I was biking around Manhattan, New York in this week and on Sept 9th was around ground zero.  This year an earthquake in Christchurch, but we must remember that loss of people hasn’t been a factor here, so , in the main, our prior preparations have held us in good stead.

See you soon, please.

Sat 10th 11pm

The cordon is somewhat removed. Things change by the hour. Things are getting better, yet not ideal.

To facilitate staff recuperation from the Earthquakes and other considerations, I have decided to open the hotel on Monday 13th Sept at 12 noon.

Guests due Sat and Sun will be offered accommodation in the Quest Apartments Cathedral Junction.

When we open, we will be the small low level boutique oasis amongst tall buildings in central Christchurch.  For unique travelers, an ultra boutique and unique galleria hotel. You will be made welcome!

Sat 10th.

The cordon was going to be lifted today at 5am. It has been extended, will be reviewed hourly and the may be lifted today. I was about the hotel area last night and as they are demolishing buildings in the area they had it well cordoned off. Some street lights were out, there was a poor atmosphere.

With the cordon lifted, people, shops, etc it will become nice again. The hotel can feel good, but we feel for guests in that environment, despite that it is interesting.

Aftershakes are small and manageable. That side of it is OK.

Off The Square had no damage, bar wine glasses, some sculpture.

We are keen to have guests back with us, so just a little more time. Probably Sunday or Monday.

Tim

Update 11.20am Wednesday,8th Sept 2010.

Due to new aftershocks this morning, access around the vicinity of the central city hotels has been restricted by civil defence authorities and therefore we have temporarily closed the hotel today. Please log into our website for further updates or telephone 3749980 or 0272449045.

Earthquake2pm Tuesday 7th September All is well. The hotel staff have been busy and we are operational. An engineer has been through and there is no major damage. A safe building, now green stickered.No more shakes for quite a few hours now, so we will get a little more relaxed.The area around us has quite a few Police lines protecting people from any bits of masonry that might fall down. The icon ChCh Press building was taped off and they have had a crane in taking off the upper turret on the front corner. That is now complete, so the authorities are taking all care to provide protection.The city will start to come back into normalcy now and tomorrow (Wed), they say that the barriers to inner city will be taken down. They are letting hotel guests, taxi’s, buses into the area. The best access to Off The Square at present  is from Gloucester Street. Drive though the atrium or walk in from Gloucester street. This is where we are presently entering and leaving the basement car park.Christchurch is open! Albeit, with a touch of interest. We look forward to seeing you at Hotel Off The Square. Welcome from the staff. You can ring the hotel, usual number, 03 3749980 or e mail me (the owner Tim Nicholls), at tim@offthesquare.com1.38pm MondayThe hotel WILL REOPEN TUESDAY 7th AT 12 NOON. All is fine. The building is unaffected and rubble in areas from a fire nearby removed. All is safe.Access to the central city is controlled, but cabs and buses are allowed in. The best access is from the northern entrance to Cathedral Square around into Worcester Street. TV crews have taken over the Worcester St entrance from Manchester St. It is actually a lovely sunny day See you tomorrow on… Cell 0 27 2449045 for information.Tim.email tim@offthesquare.com9.47am MondayWe have not re opened the hotel yet. Once we closed because of nearby fire we have not been allowed back into the central city. Owners are apparently allowed back in and I will assess the situation later in the morning. Our building is OK. I want to consider guest comfort in the area and staffing matters.There are other hotels open in the area and nearby the cordon who have restuarant food. I will assess other eateries and so on.Tel me on Cell 027 2449045 for update or watch this space. I expect to add here towards midday.Thank you from a rattled ChCh population.

Tim Nicholls

3pm SundayThings have been difficult. The curfew has been continued. We have not been able to get access to the central city to re open the hotel. The police have been quite firm. I think we may not be able to open tonight. There has been comment that the extreme winds forecast could dislodge glass from buildings down on to people. We accept we need to take guidance from the authorities. The day has not brought the opportunities to move to normalcy as we expected.We will help you with accommodation. Please ring Cell 027 2449045.Updates here as we get info.Thank you.9.26am SundayOne day on from the big shake. The central city was curfewed last night, but is open this morning and we are getting back to normal.Hotel Off The Square is fine and we will  have staff about from 10.30ish and formally have the muffins and coffee ready from 12 Noon. We are then open for at least another eight years! Wow, what a day for all. Some a sleepness night. Especially for kids. I went to the three shelters last night with food and numbers are increasing there. It was good to see kids and old folk being able to find a lttle calm there in a stressful day.The city and Hotel Off The Square are OPEN for business today and evrything runs as normal. You may visit a city that has changed some, and that will be intyeresting, but it is a city that is open and getting on. So come and stay with us and expect no problems.This is Tim Nicholls the Owner/Designer of HOTS. Probably see you around the hotel to say hi!As an aside. I was on the front page of The Press/www.stuff.co.nz, of the day of the quake talking about not price gourging room nights at the World Rugby Cup, here in one year’s time. We realeased rooms for this over this last week, so for key times, get those bookings now! Tickets from the official site, and I believe House of Travel.here’s to an earthquake free day. Any little shuuders have been small this morning, so that should be no problem to you.11.53pmThe  Sunday downtown will be nicer tomorrow and HOTS will open at midday.  It will be nice to see you check ins. It will be interesting for you. Lots of action took place right outside OTS.Quakes haves lessened and all is fine. Services are on . A controlled access downtown is in place. Lots of police.Lieza will be Duty Manager Sunday. The first re opening. We have never closed in eight years.Quite a day!Contact Tim on Cell 027 2449045. I am the owner/designer.The best……6.20pm Sat Earthquake There has been a fire in a neighbouring building. The hotel is closed. A lot of smoke around. We will assess opening for Sunday night on Sunday morning.For accommodation, Heritage and Millenium are operating, just into the Square.You can ring Tim Cell 027 2449045 for information.Trust you understand.Updates will appear here. it’s all Kiwi owned, designed and operated. We continue to be unique and boutique, have clear core values for our guests and their experience at HOTS. Amongst the tall hotels of Christchurch we are a great little oasis!Nice thing is that 15% discount now applies for our guests to our very good French St Germain restaurant, right by reception. Also the Indian restaurant Raj Mahal, just nearby will give 15% discount on dine in and 10% on take a ways. All good!Tuesday 10thBookings today for The Angel Fund people for later in the year. We like being reasonable and adding where we can to the good work that people do. The hotel is a nice unique home when traveling. We get really good comments every day about that, so talk with either of the two Tim’s if you have something special that deserves special consideration.Monday 9thAppeared on the front page of the Press newspaper this morning (oh that picture), commenting with several others about the Rugby Walk roading system set up to enable people to walk to the Stadium for the Ruby Test between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies. I was positive about the arrangement as it brought an air of oasis calm to the city and cars came second. I do think there are some teething problems to sort, so that residents can get access where reasonable and business people who need access need to be helped. I heard of a DJ who couldn’t get near the venue with all his gear. Otherwise, as a trial before the World Rugby Cup next year in September and October, it all went pretty swell!Saturday 7thThe ChCh Press has taken a phot and wants comment from me about how well the game arrangements work, thinking of the World Rugby Cup next year. I will walk the WALK and get some vibe on what’s going on. See you in Twisted Hop in Poplar Lane!Party evening at  L1-1 Bedford Row (.30pm on. THE MAKING OF THE MAKING. The artist, the muse, the photographer. An art scene thing. If you want difference check it out. Could just be down your ally…And there’s the game. The best to the best. See you in the Press.Friday 6th AugustCity feels good with the rugby tomorrow. Absolutely delighted that the roads around the route to the rugby stadium will be closed. I’m sure the locals and hotel guests etc will get in and out. It will signal that the city can be a peoples place, just as long as there is parking available, according to Prof Chris Kissling, urban geographer and transport man. Chris was about the hotel last week and we both are enthusiastic about possible developments for inner city ChCh. This is a great start. Pavement for the people!!Hotel did book out for Sat night, but there can be cancellations , so call, and we try to help find other space available. Our staff guest relationship works really well to handle those things at Hotel Off The Square. No hotel pretentiousness, marble foyer here, just unique and boutique and homely and club like. (oops we do pretend to be somewhat Soho/West Village like New York. New Yorkers often concur. So be it).Wed August 4th 2010Wandered over to the Heritage  Hotel to talk with fellow hotel operator, an seemingly older fellow wearing hat and work out gear, getting himself up the stairs, wet and sweaty. Thought he should go first but beckoned me on “least I hold you up”, he said. I passed and realising it was Graeme Henry just back from the gym, made sure I held the door open for him. Hail Graeme, All Black Coach!IT IS A RUGBY WEEK AND ALL THAT ENTAILS. COOL. We have just one small standard economy room left, but sometimes we get a cancellation, missed planes etc, so do ask. We always like to help, however we can.Nice people in the hotel. A family from Brisbane. Son studies urban geography, just like me a ways back! Used to be an academic, taught twelve subjects, eclectic, just like the hotel!! Off The Square has really good guests. Independent solo travellers, professional couples, artistic people (welcome back art extraordinaire Tony and muse), and business travelers and many more. we are blessed and lucky to have such a group of people to share our home like and cluby hotel.Dave who has stayed in the hotel for a bit lately says, HOTS is for ‘the young at heart!” Bit of a mix, he said, of an art gallery, gentleman’s club, childrens fun park (the kids need to experience our bunk room with stairs and a queen bed for mum and dad, and if you take a second room we will give it to you for $25.00. Treat the teenagers!!!!!!!!) and colours and form of New York, of course!I keep hearing good things about Maori TV. Try their movies.Timmy N

HEY, WE ARE ACCEPTING ALL LOYALTY CARDS, SO JUST ASK AND GET THE BEST DEAL GOING!!!

Fri 30th JulyWatched the rugby match Canterbury vs Hawkes Bay from the V Base Councilors box. Few people there, lots of food. Was seated between Mayor Bob Parker and Deputy Mayor Norm Withers. Bit of singing going on with those two. Whose song for whose policy! Norm has always been an enthusiast for Off The square since early days of trying to diffuse the boy racer mentality. We reminisced about an occasion at OTS with the late Cr Graham Congdon. Lots of good chatter, good folks, but not enough people for all that food. radio Works, you should have invited some worthy citizens to eat that ham, as there was no one there! I guess all will change for the test next week, but then I want to be out in the real atmosphere. Hope it’s not too Wintry!(A week before).Well, we did and we liked him. All the character of a true Kiwi taking on the World with values, ideals and very pro active. Some hotel guests were surprised and intrigued to meet and hear the story of his whale protest in the southern Antarctic ocean and incarceration in Japan. He attended the Eco festival that was on in ChCh. All in all he came across as a pretty decent guy.Paul Jackson of Studio Fairview Sydney has been staying in house again. Paul has several times won the Archibald prize and this last year won the Packers Award for his entry. Now, that’s the ‘guys’ on the floor and isn’t that good! He is the artist of Lovers of the Diaspora, an icon painting of his that we own at Hotel Off The Square.******************************************************************************Could be that we have a international celebrity in house. Pete Bethune, whaler extraordinaire, Japan experienced, was it work or pleasure Pete? Pete joins us for a get to know you Off The Square Happy Hour, 5.30 to 6.30pm Friday 23rd July. Come along. Other happening matters; The Broadway music and dinner at the Octagon on now and through the next week is excellent. Liked it. Warm great entertainment. Tim Mark’s sculture work is on display all through the hotel. He’s overseas for a bit doing sculpture commissions. Check for great food discounts for our guests. Like 20 to 25%, and includes drinks at one fine dining place. We are surrounded by great food. We feel and the hotel looks like Soho New York. Come say hello!