CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND Officials overseeing the city’s recovery from a February earthquake have concluded that the 142-key Copthorne Hotel Christchurch City should be demolished as soon as possible.
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels confirms that the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has recommended razing the hotel. A demolition date has not been set.
M&C operates two other hotels within the cordon area of Christchurch, where access and free movement are restricted due to a plethora of unstable structures resulting from the 6.3-magnitude earthquake on February 22. Millennium Hotel Christchurch and Copthorne Hotel Christchurch Central remain closed but have not been recommended for demolition.
Millennium Hotel Christchurch is tentatively targeting May 2012 for reopening; the 179-key property sites about 100 m from Hotel Grand Chancellor, which is also set for impending demolition.
The hotel group was unable to accept future reservations at Millennium Hotel Christchurch until May 2012.
Copthorne Hotel Christchurch Central could remain closed through 2012.
A fourth M&C hotel in Christchurch—Copthorne Hotel Commodore Christchurch Airport—is fully operational.