Following a destructive fire last month at Tourism Holdings Ltd (THL)’s campervan depot on Richard Pearse Drive, the company is moving its campervan operations to a replacement base at Auckland Airport in a deal negotiated by Savills.
Savills agents Tom Cooper and William Wallace approached Auckland Airport about 13 Manu Tapu Drive, a property owned by the airport, which they believed would fit THL’s requirements well.
Leasing replacement premises so soon after the fire means disruption to THL’s campervan rental operations is minimised and the business can operate under one roof, Wallace says.
“The property suits THL well for its campervan operations, being located right in the airport precinct. Importantly, it allows the business to continue to be located at a single property, as opposed to splitting operations between two or three smaller premises as may have been the case with the current lack of vacancy in the market.”
Given the extremely scarce availability of industrial property in the area, creating an opportunity with an off-market approach was an excellent outcome for THL, says Cooper.
“There is virtually no vacancy of this size in industrial property in and around the airport precinct, so we’re thrilled to have been able to assist THL in finding suitable replacement premises in an extremely tightly-held market.”
Mark Thomson, Auckland Airport’s GM Property & Commercial, welcomed THL’s move.
“It’s great for Auckland Airport to be able to support a Kiwi business during such a challenging time for tourism. And as the industry recovers, this will be a good base for THL’s campervan operations.”
THL has signed a three-year lease to the property, which includes almost 3,500m2 of warehouse space and 1,216m2 of offices on a large 10,760m2 site.
The three-year term secures the property for THL to operate from while it rebuilds its Richard Pearse Drive site following the fire.
The company’s rental campervan brands include Maui, Britz and Mighty.
Learn more about Savills Commercial Leasing.