Media Centre
News and Updates
Welcome to the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor's Media Centre, where you can view all our latest press releases. Keep your finger on the pulse for live updates on promotions and news by following us on key social media channels; Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor joins Living Wage movement
Wellington’s iconic James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor is joining the movement to pay the living wage to all their employees, one of the first non MIQ hotels in New Zealand to do so. From Wednesday 14 July 2021 the hotel will pay a Living Wage of $22.75 an hour to its employees (The current Living Wage sits at $22.10 moving to $22.75 on 01 September 2021). The majority of the hotel’s 140 staff will receive a pay increase and it is anticipated that the increase in wages will attract new staff particularly in housekeeping and food and beverage areas.
8 July 2021, View Media release
Winning 2020 Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice Award
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor has won the 2020 Tripadvisor Traveller's Choice award, placing us in the top 10% of hotels around the globe. A big thank you goes to all our guests who gave us positive feedback, and of course to our fabulous team as well. James Cook Hotel team appreciate all your support and will continue to provide the best service and experience to our guests going forward.
21 August 2020
Winning the ACC Workplace Safety Award 2019
James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor won the ACC Workplace Safety Award at the Wellington Gold Awards 2019. The hotel recognises the importance of ensuring staff have a safe and supportive workplace and believes that this is one of the components that has contributed to a number of long-service employees. Over a quarter of the staff are qualified first aiders, subsidised flu shots are offered to everyone and nutritious meals are provided on staff breaks. The James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor is known as a great workplace and strives to be a leader for supporting careers in tourism.
02 August 2019, View media release
100% Vegetarian Lunch and Dinner Menu for 10 days at Sojourn Café Wellington
The concept of delivering a complete Lunch and Dinner vegetarian menu for ten days was established
to focus on fresh, sustainable produce and tasteful combinations. Designed to share, each item on the menu highlights a different vegetable, enriched with harmonising ingredients. Priced between $8 - $12, selected dishes are also vegan and gluten-free. View media release.
Wellington’s iconic James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor has confirmed a $10 million plus refurbishment of the hotel’s Lambton Wing, inclusive of 200 rooms and suites, plus the Executive Club Lounge. Renovations will commence this month and are expected to run into 2019. The refurbishment will be managed in stages, starting from the top floors of the hotel, and will include a complete re-fit of the bathrooms, bedrooms and furnishings. Download our hotel factsheet.
17 August 2018, View Media Release
Executive Housekeeper, Environmental Manager and Matriarch of the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor Retires
Executive Housekeeper, Denise Thornton, retires this Friday after 44 years at the central Wellington Hotel. Commencing on the front desk in 1974, Denise remembers her first day at the ‘Jimmy Cook’ with nervous excitement, honoured to be working at one of the first international hotels to grace the capital. Fast-forwarding to present day, Denise has managed the Housekeeping department since 1986 and has been pivotal in developing the sustainable and collaborative culture at the Hotel.
21 March 2018, View Media Release
Sarah Croskery Appointed Director of Sales & Marketing
Sarah Croskery has been appointed Director of Sales and Marketing (DOSM) for the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor and Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland City, replacing Judy Chen who moves to the Tourism Export Council of New Zealand.
19 September 2017, View Media Release
Lending Support to Wellington Pollution Awareness
The James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor is proud to support ‘New Zealand’s Worth Loving’ (NZWL) Wellington Pollution Awareness Mural and Clean-up Day. NZWL aims to challenge, communicate and educate people on environmental issues.
12 September 2017, View Media Release
Jessica Taylor Wins Young Tourism Export Councils Award
Congratulations to Jessica Taylor, Marketing & Communications Executive at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, for winning the Young Tourism Export Council of New Zealand’s (Young TEC) Rising Star Award. The award recognises the efforts and contribution to the development of New Zealand’s tourism industry by a Young TEC member under the age of 30 years.
17 August 2017, View Media Release
Judy Chen Wins Senior Hotel Executive of the Year
Congratulations to Hotel Grand Chancellor’s Judy Chen, Director of Sales & Marketing for Wellington and Auckland, and Senior Hotel Executive of Year for 2017. Attended by over 320 hotel professionals in Auckland, the New Zealand Hotel Awards celebrate the best in the industry. Judy acknowledged winning the esteemed award as a ‘career highlight’.
21 July 2017, View Media Release
New Zealand Hotel Awards 2017 Finalists Announced
Two staff members from the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor have been selected as finalists at the 2017 New Zealand Hotel Awards in Auckland next month. Congratulations to Judy Chen, Director of Sales and Marketing for Hotel Grand Chancellor’s two New Zealand properties (Wellington and Auckland) and Naomi Oh, Food and Beverage Supervisor at Whitby's Restaurant & Bar.
28 June 2017, View Media Release
45 Years with the James Cook Hotel
In 1972 the country’s population was under 3 million, New Zealand Rowing Eight won Gold at the Munich Olympics and Dorothy (Dot) Collis commenced her career at the soon to be opened James Cook Hotel in Wellington. As one of New Zealand’s longest serving Hotel Employee’s, it is with great sadness we announce that Dot is moving to the next chapter of her life in February 2017.
31 January 2017, View Media Release
Reflecting on a Sustainable 2016
Our social and environmental sustainability program has continued to go from strength to strength in 2016. This will be the eighth year since we first gained third party environmental accreditation under the international EarthCheck program, and Qualmark. It’s exciting to see the actions we’ve progressed during that time making a lasting difference.
23 December 2016, View Media Release
Executive Team Digs in at Mangarara Station
The executive team at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor have recently completed their yearly trip to Mangarara Station, successfully planting additional trees to adorn the 100 metre long driveway entrance to the eco-lodge.
29 July 2016, View Media Release
Financial Controller Wins at 2016 Hotel Awards
Congratulations to Kamlesh Kumar, Financial Controller at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor and the New Zealand Hotel Administration Employee of the Year for 2016.
03 June 2016, View Media Release
Hotel Supports I Love Fiji Cyclone Relief Concert
Recognising the importance of the fundraiser for those devastated by the cyclone in February 2016, the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor has donated 23 room nights, plus breakfast for the top New Zealand Pacific artists performing on the at the Relief Concert.
18 May 2016, View Media Release
Earthquake strengthening complete, achieving 100% NBS Rating
The seismic project was divided into stages to strengthen the building and achieve 100% NBS, which included the carpark walls, the Terrace Wing and the sheer walls around the hotel’s lift core. The hotel appreciates the patience of their guests during this time and are happy to advise that all areas are now fully operational.
29 March 2016, View Media Release