Meet the Manager KEVIN BRODIEN AUCKLAND CITY HOTEL

Kevin Brodien moved to New Zealand from Tahiti initially to Study. Whilst working hard to complete his degree in IT, Brodien started to work at the Auckland City Hotel as a porter. Thirteen years later, and after working his way up the ladder, Brodien is now the General Manager of what he calls the 'Beautiful Gem'.

The Auckland City Hotel is located on Hobson Street in the city's central business district. It has been described as a peaceful sanctuary, ideally located in the heart of the city's entertainment and urban districts.

"The Auckland City Hotel is nothing compared to what it used to be 13 years ago. We have built the brand to what is now an internationally regarded location," said Brodien.

Since the hotel gained the covered top ten spot on TripAdvisor, Brodien added that he hopes to one day make the top five. In order to maintain hotel standards, the Auckland City Hotel is currently undergoing a refurbishment process to improve the look of guests' suites and rooms. With 150 rooms to complete, there has been a lot of work put into creating the ideal space for the modern traveller.

Some new updates in the hotel include headboards, wallpaper, side table lamps, and LED lighting features. Brodien plans to follow the refurbishment with an in-depth staff training course across all departments, adding that the hotel prides itself on its level of service and the standards it maintains.

The hotel's in-house Vie Lounge and Eatery prepares quality New Zealand gourmet food. With an impressive ambience and setting, Vie Lounge and Eatery have ranged the menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Brodien also pointed out the Fond(ou) Cafe, which is located in the hotel's lobby. The rustic design of the cafe is complete with the dulcet tones of French music, which partners with the French pastries and coffee it roasts.

The Auckland City Hotel was the first location in the city to adopt the self-check-in kiosk at reception, which Brodein said allowed a smooth transition for guests, reducing the waiting time for checking in and checking out. The Auckland City Hotel is currently experiencing staff shortages with new immigration regulations for skilled workers, but Brodien added that the issues can only be addressed at the top. He said that, on the other hand, New Zealand is still an expensive destination to travel to. Still, with major overseas markets able to travel again, he believed that there would be an upcoming boost to the industry.

Brodien said that the service that the Auckland City Hotel sets it apart from others.

"Primarily, our customer service and the reputation we have is reflected by our guests on travel platforms online. If you look at all the other hotels around us, you will see bigger brands. For a small independent hotel like us to be ranked alongside them is like David fighting Goliath."