Openings, Sales and Renovations for April 2009

Coast Chilliwack helps community during a flood

CHILLIWACK, BC—Early in the New Year, the Chilliwack area was hit with heavy snow and heavy rain which caused multiple mud-slides and subsequent flooding in residential areas.
Residents were displaced and a volunteer workforce was brought to the community to aid in the clean-up.
 
That’s when one of the town’s hotels stepped in.

The hotel was then managed by Rhombus Hotels and Resorts and owned by Okabe North America, which had purchased it for $7.3 million. On March 3, Coast Hotels & Resorts announced that it would be taking over management of the 110-room hotel.

“Okabe North America and Coast Hotels & Resorts aided the effort by offering no charge accommodation to all those out of town volunteers in the hotel we had just purchased and had closed to the public for renovations,” said Mark Hope, executive director, brand development for Coast Hotels & Resorts.

“This was coordinated through the city of Chilliwack, and they took us up on the offer by using up to 30 rooms for almost three weeks.”

The hotel is undergoing an extensive $5 million interior and exterior renovation and will open in June 2009 as the Coast Chilliwack Hotel.

Marriott becomes Cascadia

VANCOUVER—The former Marriott Residence Inn extended stay hotel in downtown Vancouver has rebranded as The Cascadia Hotel & Suites (see photo at left). The hotel is located within walking distance of the waterfront, Robson St., Yaletown, the Vancouver Art Gallery and many other Vancouver attractions. It offers a spacious studio suite complete with a fully equipped kitchen, living area and a view of the Vancouver cityscape.

Hotel a major construction project for Saint John, NB

SAINT JOHN, NB—Cyr Holdings Inc. unveiled details last month for Château Saint John, a 112-room boutique hotel currently under construction on Rockland Road. The corporation had identified Saint John when they first decided on expanding Château Hotel & Suites. The boutique hotel concept designed for business travellers will diversify and complete the region’s hotel accommodations offering.

 “Following on the success of Château Hotel & Suites, we are proud to launch this business venture in uptown Saint John. We have chosen Saint John as the location of our new Château Hotel for the vitality of the business community, the city’s historic architecture and port as well as its vibrant cultural life,” said Bernard Cyr, president and CEO of Cyr Holdings Inc.

Château Saint John will feature six presidential suites, a honeymoon suite, two conference rooms, a lounge, and a fitness room. The hotel will have 130 above-and-below ground parking spaces. The seven story development, estimated at approximately $10 million, broke ground last August.

The hotel is being built on the site of the former St. Paul’s Church and will pay tribute to Saint John’s rich history through its décor. The facility will also have amenities for business travellers in mind such as high speed wireless Internet, long-term condo suites and comprehensive facilities for meetings. The hotel will employ 48 people.

The hotel’s grand opening is slated for late August 2009.

Edmonton gets Quality

EDMONTON, ALBERTA —The Quality Inn West Harvest hotel located at 17803-Stony Plain Road NW opened in mid-February. Quality brand hotels have served travellers for 60 years with mid-priced properties that consistently provide guest essentials with friendly service in an accommodating environment.

Formerly the West Harvest Inn, the hotel underwent over $1 million in renovations to convert to a Quality property. Upgrades include new guestroom furniture and bathroom makeovers, including granite countertops, undermount sinks and ceramic floor tiles. Renovations to the property’s five meeting rooms began in June and are ongoing.

Owned by Ellen Remai of PR Developments/Remai Ventures of Saskatoon, and managed by Lillian Pushor, the hotel is a 159-room, smoke free property. Guests can enjoy a variety of room types including business/executive suites, king, queen and Jacuzzi suites, or family extended-stay suites. Other property highlights include a fitness room, business centre, and meeting and banquet space.

Grainfield’s restaurant is also located on site, featuring Prime Rib Friday and Saturday evenings, Saturday Breakfast Buffet and Sunday Brunch. Rates begin at $99, plus couples/romance packages and shopping spree packages are available. The Quality hotel is only a short four minute drive to West Edmonton Mall and 10 minutes from downtown Edmonton.

Toronto’s first LEED hotel

TORONTO—The new Hilton Garden Inn & Conference Toronto Airport has been designed and built with special attention to energy efficiency, water conservation and environmental health. The hotel has applied to be Toronto’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Hotel- which distinguishes building projects that have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by meeting higher performance standards in environmental responsibility.

The 224-room hotel, complete with 5,100 square feet of banquet facilities, was scheduled to open at the end of March 2009. The new hotel is owned by Manga Hotels Group, a privately-held company based in Mississauga.

New Holiday Inn Truro uses solar for pool and hot water

TRURO, NS—The outstanding results of a multi-million dollar renovation were available for all to see, as the green Holiday Inn sign lit up on the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre Truro, Nova Scotia recently.

The 114-room, full-service hotel with complete conference, catering and meeting facilities for up to 450 people “heightens the profile of this community for tourism and business travel, to the benefit of everyone,” owner Roberto Aquilini of Aquilini Investment Group said.

Paramount among the unique elements of this hotel is its solar power system which exclusively heats both the saltwater swimming pool and the hotel’s domestic hot water. Roof top panels are the source of the power. “Because of such differentiating features the hotel took some time to complete, but the investment made is certainly worth the effort,” Aquilini said.

Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Centre Truro is managed by Pacrim Hospitality Services Inc. and CEO Glenn Squires is enthusiastic it will contribute to the growth and the diversity of the hospitality industry in central Nova Scotia.