Openings, Sales & Renovations ~ April 2010

The lobby of the new Best Western Kamloops

Best Western Kamloops boasts eco-initiatives

KAMLOOPS, BC—The Best Western Kamloops hotel, which opened last month, is a big supporter of green-friendly practices. Eco-initiatives at the property include geothermal energy for heating and cooling of public areas and pool, natural chlorinated pool, energy efficient design and ongoing recycling programs.

Located at 660 W. Columbia Street in Kamloops. BC and owned by John Hampel, the brand-new hotel has 81 non-smoking guest rooms including 14 suites. Hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool to be complete in April, a fitness center and a complimentary continental breakfast. Each guest room features a microwave, refrigerator, granite countertops, 37-inch or 42-inch flat screen television and complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access.

Hudson Hope Best Western is in the foothills of Rockies

HUDSON HOPE, BC—The newest hotel in Hudson’s Hope, BC, the Best Western Hudson’s Hope Inn & Suites, is located on the bank of the Peace River in the Rocky Mountain foothills of British Columbia, 90 kilometers west of Fort St. John and 66 kilometers north of Chetwynd on Highway 29. This is the only branded hotel in Hudson’s Hope that offers exceptional amenities, excellent customer service and a convenient location to local attractions and recreation areas. Twenty minutes from this pet friendly hotel, you find one of the largest earth filled dams in the world which offers scheduled tours of the underground powerhouse.

Days Inns conversion hotel opens in Brampton, ON

TORONTO, ON—Realstar Hospitality announced the opening of a new hotel in Brampton, ON in mid March. A 61-room conversion property, Days Inn - Brampton offers free Daybreak Café breakfast, free high-speed Internet access, free parking to all guests and is a 100 per cent smoke-free hotel.

All guest rooms are equipped with a microwave, iron, and 32” flat screen LCD TVs. Jacuzzi suites and meeting rooms are also available. Located at 260 Queen Street East, Days Inn - Brampton is minutes from Highways 410 and 407, and only 20 minutes from Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport.

“The Days Inn brand continues to grow throughout Canada,” said Irwin Prince, president and COO, Realstar Hospitality. “And with Days Inn - Brampton comes the fifth location in the Greater Toronto Area.”

Other projects include the Regina West Days Inn, which should open this summer and another Days Inn in Lloydminster, AB.

Realstar also plans to open Motel 6’s in Moncton, NB and Brandon, MB this fall.

Château Mont-Sainte-Anne to be more modern than ever

MONT-SAINTE-ANNE, QC—After investing $4 million, Château Mont-Sainte-Anne resort hotel unveiled 60 new studios and condos as part of its four-star hotel complex located at the foot of Mont-Sainte-Anne’s gondolas, 20 minutes from Le Massif.

The resort is inaugurating its Espacenordik, an ultra-modern section of the hotel featuring the latest in resort design and comfort. The plan and design were created by Katrine Beaudry of Lemay-Michaud, and the energy efficient mechanical features were developed by Genecor, which also oversaw the LEED-EB (LEED for Existing Buildings) certification process. An environmentally sustainable LEED-EB renovation, Château Mont-Sainte-Anne has invested more than $4 million in the eco-friendly renovation of this new VIP section of the hotel complex, which already has a 4 Green-Key rating and is a member of the RéserVert network.

Château Mont-Sainte-Anne’s Espacenordik is an ultra-modern section of the hotel, part of a $4 million renovation.

The studios and condos were entirely rebuilt from the concrete shell, and the central heating and ventilation system was overhauled using state-of-the-art, energy-efficient technologies. Each unit has an ultra-quiet ventilation system, ensuring optimal air intake and exhaust quality.

The hotel owners opted for a loft design with clean lines to enhance the architectural features. Tasteful combinations of blond-wood furniture, glass and steel are accented with reproductions of Giovanni Gerometta paintings in each unit.

The walls of the shell, made of glazed concrete, give the spaces a warm, contemporary feel, and luxury materials accentuate the comfort and esthetic appeal. Other features include quartz countertops, Céramique Décor tiles and products, contemporary Delux lights, and exclusive Dauphin mattresses with natural bamboo covering.

Four Points by Sheraton to open 16 properties in 2010

WHITE PLAINS, NY—Four Points by Sheraton is gearing up to open 16 new properties worldwide by the end of 2010, including four in Canada. It’s all part of a billion-dollar rejuvenation program. Four Points currently operates 148 hotels in 24 countries.

In 2010, eight new Four Points properties are slated to open in established North American markets and another eight set for international business and leisure travel hubs in Asia and Africa.

In Canada, Four Points will open hotels this year in Niagara Falls, Ont.; Saskatoon, Sask.; and Calgary, Alta. Four Points is also scheduled to debut in key markets like Lagos, Nigeria, Bangkok, and the popular Thai resort island of Phuket. Properties are planned for markets including San Jose, CA; Oklahoma City, OK; Memphis, TN; and Long Island City, NY. In China, three Four Points properties are expected to open in the coming year.

Imperial 400 Swift Current returns to Howard Johnson

OAKVILLE—The Imperial 400 hotel in Swift Current, Saskatchewan will be rejoining the Howard Johnson franchise system. The property has been acquired by a new ownership group that is dedicated to repositioning the property in the market place and upgrading the facility to meet and exceed Howard Johnson brand standards.

“We see the potential to make this property a fantastic destination property,” said Charan Rangi, a member of the ownership group. “Re-joining the Howard Johnson system was important to us, as we wanted to show the community of Swift Current that by completing our extensive renovation project we will all benefit with an improved hotel facility that everyone will be proud of.”

The 141 room property will undergo a $700,000 renovation, which includes the lobby, guest rooms, public areas, facilities and the exterior of the building. The renovation project is set to be complete within by mid-May.

Howard Johnson Toronto East plans 50-room upgrade

TORONTO—Ron Chan, general manager of the Howard Johnson Toronto-East is excited about the start of the second phase of the hotel’s three-phase renovation project.

This will consist of 50 guestrooms being upgraded with all new furniture, fixtures, carpet, tile, bedding and shower experience as well as a complete upgrade to the property’s meeting rooms and public corridors.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of May and will highlight the new Howard Johnson brand standards for bedding and guest room décor.

New Nita Lake Lodge head honed skills at Wickaninnish

WHISTLER, BC—Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler is under now owned by Tumuluri Asset Management Inc. with partners Ram Tumuluri, Jamal Hotel Holdings Ltd. and the Varshney family. The Lodge will now be managed by T & V Hospitality Inc.

Managing director, Ram Tumuluri, will head the take-over team. After holding various senior positions with Marriott International Hotels, Tumuluri brought his management skills to The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino.

Tumuluri is the owner of Cable Cove Inn and Spa in Tofino and Ayurcare International in India, Canada and South Africa.

Thompson Hotel

Thompson Toronto to open in May

Thompson Hotels, the luxury, design-driven brand of elite hotels, has announced that its first international property, Thompson Toronto, will open in May 2010. Located at 550 Wellington Street West, Thompson Toronto’s 16 floors will feature 102 guestrooms as well as 30,000 square feet of dining and event space, including a signature restaurant, operated by New York-based Scarpetta with chef Scott Conant.