SO FAR, SO GOOD

The city of Auckland has all the bustling excitement of a cosmopolitan hub with none of the overcrowded frenzy, and the SO Auckland sits at the very heart of it all.

- CHARMIAN LEONG

Most don’t consider Auckland a destination so much as a landing point from which to begin a tour through all the scenic deliciousness that lies south of it. But the sleepy city is starting to rouse, driven by construction demand from all sectors. As of September last year, there were 140 cranes at work in New Zealand, and Auckland was home to 90 of them. Malls, residences, and office buildings are preparing for the anticipated 3.8 million arrivals expected to come by 2025, based on a Euromonitor International survey.

And really, there’s little not to like about Auckland. Just like the demeanours of Aucklanders, the weather and wine is somehow always pleasing, and the city’s compact size makes getting around a breeze. Accor Hotels has picked up on this, which is why they chose to open their first Pacific SO hotel in Auckland, instead of Sydney or Melbourne.