The first hotel to resume business in Christchurch's earthquake-hit central business district has been officially opened by Prime Minister John Key.
The Ibis Hotel in Hereford Street has undergone major remedial work since the February 2011 quake, including the renovation of all 155 rooms and public areas, as well as structural strengthening to meet the city's new building code.
Mr Key told guests on Thursday that an open hotel tells the world that the city is open for business.
He says hotels will provide the lynchpin to the city's tourism industry.
"So the opening of a hotel like this is doing two things. One, it's lifting capacity but it's also hopefully sending a big message that by having somewhere to stay, Christchurch is open for business in terms of tourism."
Mr Key says Christchurch has only half the hotel beds it had before the series of quakes.
The hotel's owner, Accor, says the hotel will be a major benefit to business travellers and officials involved in the inner-city rebuild, giving easier access to buildings and offices around the city centre.
It has undergone major remedial work, including the renovation of all 155 rooms and public areas, as well as structural strengthening to meet the city's new building code.
Accor also hopes the reopened hotel will encourage other hotel owners to get their buildings operating.
The Ibis is expected to employ up to 50 people.
