After 20 years Gerry Hill and Sally James (pictured above) have reluctantly put their iconic business The Great Ponsonby Arthotel located at 30 Ponsonby Terrace, on the market as Gerry has ongoing health issues.
"We knew the potential of tourism, value and quality must be at every level. We don’t do beige so our interior colours and art represent the Pacific. We have filled the hotel with our treasured tribal rugs, family furniture, art and tapa cloths collected over many years. The courtyard is based on Sally’s recollection of the yard at Frida Kahlo’s house in Mexico City. The main emphasis though is Kiwi. There is a large Maori carving on a gate and many of the windows have Pacific Island designs sandblasted onto them.
"We were so proud when we opened the doors in 1996. The whole community came to the opening and the youngest girl in the street cut the ribbon. We had lifted the bar by having all rooms with ensuites, Sky TV, internet in every room, bath robes, de-mist mirrors, opening windows and mosquito screens. Guests can make plunger coffee and herbal tea in their rooms and we were gay-friendly right from the start. It’s hard to believe that this was not the norm back then.
"Our breakfasts are legendary. We use our own herbs and fruit when we can, always free -range eggs, fair trade coffee and tea. There is a library of Kiwi film, music and books. There was nothing like this anywhere in Auckland and perhaps only half a dozen other properties of this standard in New Zealand. As technology advanced, we embraced it and our guests appreciate this too.
"We believe that there should be a standard for all accommodation and we were part of a group responsible for getting Qualmark established. We are all very proud of our Qualmark Enviro Gold award. Sustainability is important.
"Our Qualmark four and a half star grading for accommodation reflects the work we and our crew have put in and the service we provide. There are many local young people who are the best damn cleaners in the city and many are also great little cooks.
"There is luxury in the detail; leather couches, tiles and paintings by local artists John Papas, Jeanie and Andrew Van Der Puten. The Great Ponsonby Arthotel is very well respected and is rated so by guide books and magazines in many languages. We are also brochured by agents across the globe.
"We love Ponsonby and are proud ambassadors of Ponsonby and Auckland. We have hosted around 800,000 guests giving them a real Ponsonby experience. Along the way we have made many friends who come back, and we visit them too."