This week marked two months since the official opening of The Langlands — a $52 million seven-storey facility with 78 rooms and five eateries and bars.
ILT chief executive Chris Ramsay was stunned by how fast the time has passed.
"I can’t believe that it has been two months already and I was reflecting on it with Alan Dennis, our previous president, the other day and it does feels like a long time ago, but at the same time not that long ago."
He said the feedback and occupation had been better than expected.
While the management team had aimed for 40%-45% occupation during the first few months, about a 60%-70% occupation rate had been achieved on average, he said.
However, a huge challenge was still facing the hotel’s management team — staffing levels.
It had been a struggle to get staff — especially chefs, Mr Ramsay said.
As a result, one of the main restaurants in the hotel, Meld, which would serve an Asian-inspired fusion menu, was not open yet.
"It will be the last piece of the puzzle.
"We probably don’t have quite the numbers [of staff], so it would not be open seven days of the week ... So we sort of figure we will open it for three to four days a week to get the property operating."
The Langlands executive manager Bryan Townley was also pleased.
"It has been only two months, but it feels like we’ve been established for longer. The processes are in place; the team is gelling together.
"We’ve started to build that clientele coming through, and we are seeing some regular faces, which we really appreciate."
Mr Ramsay said the aim of the hotel was to be different and to create a new experience for people in hotels.
"We feel that the Langlands is exactly what Invercargill needed and at this stage everyone from Invercargill who has been coming and testing the bar and restaurants are telling us that.
"So we are over the moon about how it is going."
