Unique Auckland hotel joins world's most exclusive
09 Apr 2009
Auckland’s boutique hotel ‘Mollies’ is one of just 25 prestige establishments around the world to become a new member of exclusive Relais & Châteaux accommodation group.
The discreet, chic hotel in Auckland’s inner city waterside suburb of St Mary’s Bay was chosen from 100 possible candidates, and now joins some of Europe's finest castles and palaces in the Paris-based Relais & Châteaux collection.
Relais & Châteaux has hotel and restaurant members in 56 countries. Other New Zealand members include Kauri Cliffs in Northland, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in Hawkes Bay, and Wanaka’s Whare Kea.
Code of five c’s
Relais & Châteaux has a code of five c's - courtesy, charm, character, calm and cuisine - and Mollies rated with them all, according to Stephane Junca, Relais & Châteaux regional director of developments.
He said Mollies was "unique in the world for the pre-dinner offerings of live music and especially opera" which was just one of the attributes that elevated the hotel above others worldwide.
"I recently came for the very first time in my life to New Zealand. I only stayed in Auckland and discovered with a great pleasure Mollies. It is very much matching with Relais & Châteaux spirit: small and refined, with a very strong involvement of the owners Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald, a home feeling, a very good and personalized service, great cuisine ... and a unique ‘aperopera’, aperitif with opera," Stephane Junca said.
Castles and palaces
Existing Relais & Châteaux members include some of the finest castles, palaces and fortresses of France and the rest of Europe, with histories of royal visits, celebrity accolades and some of the world’s finest haute cuisine.
Owners of Mollies, Frances Wilson and Stephen Fitzgerald, who have lived overseas and travelled extensively, said that selection for membership fulfilled a lifelong ambition.
"We have so often admired the commitment to excellence and the sheer class and style of many of the Relais & Châteaux hotels in Europe and America especially," Frances Wilson said. "Now to be acknowledged in their number is a very great honour indeed."
Elegance and ambiance
The elegance of Mollies, the décor and table settings and the European ambiance of the Venetian-plastered walls was a perfect fit for the style epitomised by Relais & Châteaux, said Junca.
"Mollies is a rare oasis of calm in the middle of a city. The very quiet location in a residential area, is very hard to find in big cities ... if you look at the Relais & Châteaux locations, very few RC hotels are located in cities. Mollies is also uniquely New Zealand, having passed down to Frances Wilson through her mother, after whom the hotel is named," he said.
Loyal following
Mollies general manager Joanna Bourke said international devotees of the Relais & Châteaux group were very loyal and often planned their route entirely following The Guide, of which 800,000 copies were in circulation.
"Offering Relais & Châteaux comfort and style in Auckland will ensure the city attracts overnight stays, as travellers go further to visit the five other members of the association spread throughout the country," Joanna Bourke said.
Mollies is a five-star boutique hotel with 14 suites. The hotel’s awards include:
- ‘Best New Small Hotel in The World’ by Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report Hotel Awards
- 'Hideaways of The Year Award'
- Harper's 'Longtime Favorite Hideaways in The World'
- ‘Best Night Out’ 2008 Metro / Audi Restaurant of the Year Awards.
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