Category: Business Travel

What’s New on the Streets of Christchurch?

Electric Scooters (download the iOS app here)

lime scooters chch nz

Over the next three months, anyone moving around Christchurch will have the chance to pick up an electric scooter from Lime and use it to ride to their next destination.

The location of individual scooter is easy to find on the Lime app, and once you have used the scooter you can take a photo of it at the location you have parked and upload back to the app again, ready for the next user. there are hundreds of scooters all over the city during the trial, so look out for them and enjoy a trying a different way to get around the city for a change! They are for use on footpaths only at this stage, so keep a good eye out for pedestrians and ride safely.

Giant Video Games

space raiders arcade game chch
Space Raiders arcade game High Street Christchurch

One of many awesome Gapfiller initiatives around the central city, the Street Arcade on the corner of High Street and Tuam Street (just across the street from Little High Eatery) has been a highlight for many visitors to the city – and locals alike. For a totally unique experience, head on down for a game with a friend or two – use the human size controllers to play a game of Space Raiders, inspired by the original Space Invaders video arcade game.

Gapfiller say this installation won’t be here for ever, so make sure you get down to High Street and try it out – you won’t regret it!

Kahikatea Common

One of the very newest space filler initiatives to open in the city is Kahikatea Common, part of the South Frame and located between the one way streets of Durham and Montreal. The site includes a roofed area, a community pizza oven available for anyone to use, and a Monarch butterfly hatchery.

Creators of this space hope it will encourage groups to use the area and that the community in general will find it somewhere they can connect with others in the central city. And of course, visitors to the city are most welcome!

Kahikatea Common Christchurch
Kahikatea Common Christchurch

Good Spot car parking

good spot carparking chch

If you are planning to drive into the CBD, you might want to try out a different sort of car parking for your visit. You can of course use any of the brand new parking buildings, or you can support the “good sort” car parks run by the Gapfiller team which has their own volunteer parking attendants happy to hold an umbrella while you pay for your parking, always has a happy greeting to share, and you also know that your parking fees go directly towards supporting community group initiatives.

You can find the two car parks right here (set your GPS):

GOOD SPOT Bedford – 107 Lichfield St, Christchurch
GOOD SPOT Civic – 192 Gloucester St, Christchurch

 

5 Tips for Managing Business Travel in Christchurch

Tip 1: Book an early flight and save on cash.
But you don’t have to drive across town in the early hours, get your car parked for the week (or more) and then get yourself to the check-in on time. Instead, explore the options for “park and fly” and stay the night before and after in accommodation less than 5 minutes from the airport.

If you’re flying out of Christchurch International Airport, Airport Gateway Hotel offers a number of park and fly options, including free parking if you stay the night before and the night after your trip with us. That means you can get the red eye in the morning, and the last flight back at night – sleep with us then get on your way refreshed in the morning.

Tip 2: Stay and Work

Use your accommodation as the hub for your business if you are regularly travelling to look after clients in Christchurch.

Making sure you have access to a practical desk space, great (free) wifi and access to meeting rooms that are conveniently close to the Airport if you have anyone flying in for appointments with you makes your working week so much easier.

It helps when great food and beverage facilities are also onsite, so you can carry on working uninterrupted.

Airport Gateway offers all of the above – and we are delighted to work with our regular business travelling guests to ensure everything meets your requirements – just give us a call, or book online right here on our website.

Tip 3: Use your accommodation as a hub

If you need to see clients all around Canterbury, or even further afield, staying in one location close to the Airport is a great strategy. Christchurch is effectively the centre of the South Island and makes the perfect base, so you can fly to those further away locations and back easily within the day.

Tip 4: Stay put and have your clients come to you

Choose accommodation you can use as a base where you can set up a display of product samples or even a seminar or demonstration and invite customers to book appointments throughout the day when it suits them. You stay put and your clients come to you.

Talk to our reception team about booking our small or large meeting rooms – depending on how much you have to set up. We can also provide catering and drinks for your clients, to ensure everyone is kept happy and well refreshed.

So you can fly or drive into Christchurch, get settled in, get your space set up and then simply walk back to your room once the day is done. If you want to socialise with clients or colleagues at the end of the day, our onsite restaurant and bar is the perfect spot – and you don’t even have to taxi or Uber home after a few drinks!

Tip 5: Make the most of free transfers to and from the Airport

Making the most of facilities available enables you to cut those extra costs when you stay to do business in Christchurch.

Our shuttle will pick you up from the Airport any time day or night, you can do your check-in while in the van and head straight to your room on arrival. Perfect if you are arriving late at night or early in the morning for a day of meetings.

tips for business travel Christchurch