October's Accommodation Award goes to...

Plaza International

This site has a consistently polished feel and makes good use of iconography and images. QTVR (Quicktime VR) has been utilised to provide 360 degree panoramas of many of the hotel's amenities including the foyer, restaurants, bars, and guest rooms. QTVR is well explained and a link is included to download the free software/viewer. The use of this technology benefits the site by providing a more unique user experience and also gives visitor's a much better idea of the interior of the hotel. Although the navigation doesn't use frames, the site is still quite easy to get around. An enquiry form, hosted on a secure server, allows guests to make reservations however, it omits to mention whether prices are in New Zealand dollars (could be confusing for some international visitors). There's some information about the surrounding region but a little more information here would again be of benefit to international visitors. Perhaps even outward links to sites about the surrounding attractions. Despite our suggestions, this is a great site and sets a good example to other accommodation providers. Quicktime VR provides a great way to illustrate NZ's tourism product and is something we hope to see a lot more of.

© 1998 Discover New Zealand Magazine