Latest Update: 14th May 2011
Earlier this week we were given a short window of access to enter the hotel and retrieve bags and items from rooms along with records. Items were removed from all rooms and are now being filed and stored. The next stage will be to contact guests with regards to returning these items.
Christchurch City Center is still off limits, with the cordons now closing in closer to the center. The hotel still remains in the “Red Zone”. At this time there is no understanding when the hotel will be open for business.
Update: 16th April
All reports are of a very badly damaged city. More areas around the Red Zone are being opened up. Haven’t heard from officials that we can enter, but we have now heard of a scheme to help hoteliers. With the appropriate sign off from engineers to allow safe entry, we apparently could get access sooner. The program to remove food waste was trialled and a new approach worked on. Unfortunately there was a big earthquake last night, the biggest since Feb 22nd and this may hold matters up again. We are close to Easter, so that coul figure. Hopefully not to long now.
Update: 8th April
Hello. It is April 8th and the situation has not changed at all. There is apparently further planning to arrange for access to hotels in the earthquake Red Zone, but no official information has come as to when this will be. We await that. It is frustrating, but the situation is truly a disaster zone and it has been apparent that some don’t comprehend what that means.
We have no access to computer records, there is no power there, no office, no staff, no access for insurers to start assessment work and so on. We do our best to give helpful information, but we just can’t operate in any form at present. There is information that part of the front of the building was damaged and this quarter will need to be rebuilt. Again, until we have access we can’t do any engineering assessment. All very difficult!
Thank you for your understanding. We don’t have a chain office elsewhere or anything of the like. Major and big issues first and then on from there. As previously noted, we are in the interim closed. We will advise guests as soon as we have access and can arrange with you for retrieval. It is going to take time to assess when the hotel can re open. Any change will be immediately notified on this website.
Update: 29th March
As at Tuesday March 29th, the situation has not changed. We still have no access and the arranging of getting guest goods back, is still a way forward. We will advise, as soon as something happens.
The hotel remains unaccessable as at Sat 19th March. Messages are best
left at e mail address <tim@offthesquare.com> Apologies.
Update: 8th of March
Hello everyone. Tim Nicholls owner of Off the Square here.
It is Tuesday the 8th of March and we are just surfacing. No power, water off, lots of problems in our homes. Now getting back to services.
Staff are all safe. The hotel is in the Red Zone and we are not allowed anywhere near there. The have started letting people in to the outer areas of the downtown cut off area, but all is too dangerous for our area, as yet.
We cannot retrieve bags , computers and so on. We will communicate at the earliest, once we know. For now the hotel is closed and not operating. The circumstance of that is going to run on for a long time. Who knows, at present, whether, even the biggest part of the hotel, which is again OK, it can be operated in the shorter term.
Disaster Zone
It is a disaster zone. We are in the process of getting telephone re direction. Maybe a day or two. You can contact by writing to Off The Square, Box 13196, Christchurch. More urgent communications can be sent to me at e mail;
tim@offthesquare.com
As I write a police helicopter is overhead. The area is still a disaster area and it is going to be a long grind to get our city back on its feet. I appreciate your understanding.
end 2.35pm March 8th
Christchurch City Closed
Hotel off the square is closed due to the earthquake, and will not be opening in the near future.
Rescue teams are sweeping the central city and the lockdown may not be lifted until the end of the week.
As such, if you can avoid coming to Christchurch, please do! Accommodation is extremely limited as the rescue effort increases in size.Guests that are trying to get out of Christchurch should contact their embassy’s as police will not let anyone into the building to collect luggage or passports.Bags and passports will be held at the hotel until we can get them out and sent to guests.
Our sincerest apologizes and hope that all guest and staff are safe. Our website will be updated as more information comes to light.
February 23rd 2011, 5pm
Earthquake in Christchurch
A 6.3 Earthquake has hit 10km South East of Christchurch city, at a depth of 5km at 12.55pm today. As a result, the city is in a state of shock with vast damage to the City Centre. A state of emergency has been called, with the central city being cordoned off. We will post updates as they happen.
Hopefully everyone reading this is safe along with your loved ones.
Website Feedback
Welcome to our New Website. My name is Vincent Baker and i have recently joint the Off The Square team to aid in the ever growing marketing front. As such, we have recently updated our site and would love your feed back, so please vote on our poll in the side bar, and feel free to leave a comment.
Thank you for your time
Airport Transfers
You can pre-arrange your airport transport with us prior to arrival. When making a booking through our website, please indicate “Airport Transfer In or Out” and your Flight Number in the comments box.
Pick up from Christchurch Airport $45.
Drop off to Christchurch Airport $35.
$5.00 of the fare will be donated to our ‘Open Hand’ charitable fund – to those who are needy.
GLBT Friendly
At Off The Square we welcome gay and lesbian guests. In addition to offering bedding configuration without attitude, our staff at reception are happy to provide information on local GLBT venues, organisations and support groups.
Hotel History
The Hotel is part of the Cathedral Junction project originated by John Britten, New Zealand’s famous motorcycle innovator.
Comprising 38 rooms in a new boutique hotel style referred to as HIP (Highly Individually Placed), the hotel has been designed and developed to introduce a new hotel form for travellers in New Zealand. It provides elegance, simplicity, design and ambiance to a heritage part of the city.
Aimed at premium tourist and business travellers, it attracts North American, European, Asian and Australian travellers who want to stay in a luxury boutique hotel. New Zealander’s find that it also caters for those wanting a new style hotel experience. The variety of room styles suit the needs of business people, independent women travellers, those keen on art and design or sensual chic. The impression is a Pacific theme of soft new-age modernism.
In the high-design age, Off The Square provides a stylish alternative to hotels reflecting sameness. The nature of the building set-up on the first two levels of the three buildings facing on to Worcester street, provides for some lavish historical revivalism. Off The Square reflects a big name in design and fashion in the city and follows the distinctive style of HIP hotels.
It has been said that HIP hotels are a must for business people, busy people at leisure, style conscious armchair travellers, trendsetting designers and architects.
The Christchurch trams pass through the atrium at the lower level of the hotel.
The design and finishing was carried out by Kiwi designer Timothy Nicholls, who also owns the hotel. It is a truly Kiwi inspired development to be experienced. Enjoy your stay.
Mates Rates
It’s MATES RATES for you. Ask our friendly staff for the best rate of the day. Telephone 64-3-3749980 or 0800 633 843. This is the best way of getting to great deals, to get to know the staff and get connected with the NZ version of New York comes to town .Try us now.
The Staff
We have a lively group of staff to look after you at the Hotel.
Sue’s great with lots of great comments about her looking after people. Glen’s really good for travel/hiking info or to help you select an excellent restaurant. Umedha and Neil are part of our sizeable Sri Lankan contingent; very professional and good guys. Nihal, adds to the Sri Lankan group and is our Business Manager. During the weekends, Lieza and Siobhan are there to keep you well informed with local advice. Tim N (the owner) and Tim D (the General Manager) are local ‘boys’, Cantabrians for sure, and pretty well travelled internationally.
Location
Hotel Off the Square is on Worcester Street, 200 metres from the Christchurch Cathedral.
The location is in the heart of Christchurch close to most activities and shopping centres and a convenient gateway to all parts of the beautiful South Island of New Zealand.
The Off The Square Experience
Hotel Off The Square styles itself on difference, somewhat reflective of the boutique and unique hotel form that has evolved from the work of Ian Shrager and Phillipe Starke in the New York development scene.
Is it Soho/West Village? Well certainly closer to that urbane canvas than to the stereotyped and formulaic forms that are so often the New Zealand offering. Is Off The square the only urban chic New Zealand hotel/Lodge in the main urban centres? Many similar establishments are rural in location, such as represented in the New Zealand Chic book available at reception.
If there is to be a great hotel experience then the place needs to inspire thought, altered perpspective and create the right nuances, such that the guest will leave feeling different about themselves. That is the art of hoteliere development as I see it.
It is an acquired taste, truly that which you need, to appreciate the hotel form to the utmost at hotel Off The Square. Like good wine, the connoisseur is better placed to appreciate it. It is rare when expectations of standard form hotels are not met and the guest needs a more standard experience.
For the Off The Square experience, the design thrust is simplicity, pared down excellence, elegant form, and inner city urban chic. This is promoted with good location (trams pass through the building – quietly), the rooms are all different in dimension, due to structural arrangements for tramway easement.
There is a distinct colour toning, with a Spring green the latest colour in upgrading. The furniture was designed with simplicity and modular, to enable so many different room types to be managed. The bed for example, is firmly padded with the hotel name stenciled into the bed leg and with underspace to accentuate higher studs and carpet lines.
The art perspective of the hotel equates to an art gallery feel, from the icon piece ‘Lovers of the Diaspora’ of award winning artist Paul Jackson, to South Korean Min Kim to numerous local student artists. This is a plus for guests at Off The Square. New art arrives around every five months. We like providing ambience for guests to enjoy. Like the famous Chelsea New York, there is a certain Zen of place and form that calls on the difference.
The person/staff relationship is pretty good at the hotel. Guests often mention this aspect, so knowing about that is trying just that!
Historically the hotel develops, a lot. After five years of full operation where is a new livery being put in place, the first of super new cyclone like glass installation behind the heritage frontage has taken place and due to a new ‘lining up of the planets’ we feel that despite recessional talk, this hotel offering is truly flying! The Summer past sees our place in the top handful of city hotels. New Off The Square forms have been planned for development in Thailand and other parts of New Zealand. It’s one of those hotels that should be placed in your experience collection. Boutique. Unique and Off The Square!
Timothy Nicholls
Designer
SPECIAL MEMBER DISCOUNTS
We are pleased to offer special discounts for members of Corporate Organisations such as, NZIM, NZ Law Society, Engineering Institutes, Accounting Institutes, Medical Institutes, Federated Farmers, etc. Please contact 0800 633 843 to ascertain your discount level. Membership card needs to be sighted at the time of Check-in.
* Members of Federated Farmers are eligible for a 10% discount off the rate of the day.
* We also accept the ‘CARDLINK’ Card in addition to the other credit cards listed in the booking button.
Call our friendly staff on 0800 633 843 or book online to secure your booking !!!!
Our front desk crew aims to make the difference!
MATES RATES
It’s MATES RATES for you. Ask our friendly staff for the best rate of the day. Telephone 64-3-3749980 or 0800 633 843
This is the greatest way of getting to the best deals, get to know staff and get connected with the NZ version of New York comes to town .
Try us now.
Wedding and Honeymoon Special
We offer a highly individualised hotel experience to the newly married, especially for those who are seeking a hotel that redefines design, ambiance and a diversion away from the standard hotel experience.
Our Bridal Package offers a superior room providing the perfect space for a Bride to prepare for her Wedding and to spend an amazing Honeymoon night in the garden city. Contact our reception staff for information. Includes breakfast and a bottle of bubbly.
Wedding Guest Special
The central locale of the Hotel makes it perfect for your out-of-town guests who wish to experience the best of Christchurch during this special time. We can also negotiate a special rate for your guests with discounts up to 20%.
Metro Gold Cinema Next Door
The Metro Gold Cinema Complex next door, houses 3 private 16 seat cinemas with 3 daily shows. For Reservations Call 377 5705 or ask our friendly staff for more information and updates on films.
Airport Transfers
Transfers from the Christchurch Airport to the Hotel can be arranged for guests. Just inform us when making the booking or type in your flight details and ETA in the comments box in the online booking form. The cost of an arrival transfer is NZ $ 45. If you are traveling together with a group or carrying lots of baggage that wouldn’t fit into a car, let us know the details so we can book an appropriate vehicle for your transfer. (The prices may vary accordingly)
Departure transfers from the hotel to the airport are available as well. Just enquire from our friendly staff to prearrange your transfer and they will save you the hassle.
A departure transfer will cost NZ $ 37.
Dining
The ’Baillies’ Irish Restaurant & Bar just around the corner offer our guests discounts when dining. ‘Bailies’ also offer a cooked breakfast and open from 8.30am till late at night.
The ‘Octagon’ fine dining restaurant opposite the hotel offers a great dining experience within a historic setting for our hotel guests who will be offered special discounts.
St Germain is a top french restaurant located next door to the hotel. Highly recommended and offers discounts to our guests.
Please ask our friendly staff for information about recommended places for dining as the hotel is surrounded by a wide variety of restaurants.
Please ask our friendly staff about the benefits of becoming an Advantage Plus member.
Breakfast at Hotel Off The Square
The hotel provides a Room Service Continental Breakfast or a Boxed Breakfast.
Room service Continental Breakfast is served to the room and includes; Fruit, Cereal, Yoghurt, Toast and Preserves with Tea and Coffee and available from 6.30am – 10.30am. The Breakfast cost $12.50 per person. See our Special Breakfast included packages as well.
Boxed Breakfast consists of, Fruit, Yoghurt, Muffin, Brunch Bar and Juice. The cost is $15 per person and will be delivered to the room. The boxed breakfast is ideal for those guests leaving on an early morning trip.
Senior Citizens Discount
For those Gold Card Holders (65 yrs +) we offer a discount of 15% off our rate of the day. Just make a booking in the normal way and put in the comments “Senior Citizen discount”. On check-in to the hotel you will need to show your Seniors card to activate the discount.
For those outside New Zealand follow the same booking procedure and show your passport on check-in to activate the discount.
Please note that this offer cannot be combined with any other special offers and only applies to bookings made directly through the Off The Square website booking system.