For more than a century the Hermitage has been renowned for superior accommodation and dining at the base of the Southern Alps in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.
During 2002 the owners Tourism Milford Limited completed a $20 million re-development and refurbishment project. The significant features included 60 new rooms of a deluxe standard each 34 square metres with spectacular views of Mount Cook. The public areas were rebuilt including a new foyer, glass lifts, a remodelled coffee shop and an expanded restaurant.
Development at the Hermitage is ongoing, the hotel is currently in the planning and design phase to introduce a new visitors centre facility. The plans will extend the existing hotel complex to include a museum, interpretation and audio visual theatre facility as well as improved cafe, bar and retailing amenities.
The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre will enjoy a spectacular location with floor-to-ceiling views, the museum will have a strong focus on the history of climbing in the region as well as transport, flora, fauna, geology and the history of the Hermitage Hotel itself.
With the great Sir Edmund Hillary as patron and namesake the 2,500 square metre addition will be a state-of-the-art facility featuring high quality, informative and exciting audio-visual presentations on the unique historical and cultural aspects of the Mount Cook region.
The proposal is currently going through the consent stage with the Department of Conservation. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2007 with the centre to be completed and operational by October 2007.
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