Openings, sales and renos Feb. 2009

Fairmont Pacific Rim set to open next fall in Vancouver

VANCOUVER—The Fairmont Pacific Rim is a 415-room luxury hotel projected to open in fall 2009, in advance of the 2010 Olympics.  It will be located in the heart of Vancouver’s historic port and financial district with an address adjacent to the city’s new Conference Center.

Once complete, the hotel will be the city’s largest skyscraper providing guests with views of the snow-capped North Shore Mountains and the unspoiled beauty of nearby Stanley Park.

Five-star services include Fairmont Gold rooms and suites, a Willow Stream Spa and 4,000-square foot fully equipped fitness center, and more than 15,000 square feet of onsite meeting and conference space. Other points of interest range from a public art display to an assortment of environmental features such as a geothermal heating system and green roofs on the 6th and 44th floors.

Fairmont gains Whistler club

TORONTO—Fairmont Heritage Place, the private residence club offering from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, announced late last year that it has assumed management of two North American-based private residence clubs formerly operated by Storied Places, an Intrawest company. Joining Fairmont Heritage Place’s exclusive collection are the Fairmont Heritage Place at Nature’s Door, Whistler and Fairmont Heritage Place Inspiration, Miramar Beach in Sandestin, Florida.  The Fairmont Heritage Place portfolio now consists of five locations, over 200 luxury homes and more than 2,000 homeowners worldwide.

Providing ski-in, ski-out access next to the Dave Murray Downhill Olympic ski run, Fairmont Heritage Place at Nature’s Door, Whistler features 22 vacation homes. with private outdoor hot tubs, customary wood-burning fireplaces, and wrap-around decks, plus original artwork by local British Columbian artisans.

Historic Hotel Newfoundland rebrands as a Sheraton hotel

ST. JOHN’S, NL—Hotel Newfoundland, owned and operated by Fortis Properties Corporation, welcomed guests rebranded as a Sheraton Jan.13.

“This marks the brand’s debut in this scenic Canadian province,” said Hoyt Harper, senior vice president, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts.

“Capital investments to upgrade and enhance guest rooms, meeting and banquet spaces, and food and beverage facilities are planned over the next three years,” said Nora Duke, president and CEO Fortis Properties.
 
The 301-room, eight-storey hotel provides views of the city’s harbour and historic downtown. It has approximately 16,000 square feet of meeting space, including 17 conference and special event rooms.

The opening is part of a Sheraton brand revitalization that includes investment of $4 billion in new hotels and plans for 50,000 new and newly renovated rooms to be completed in North America by 2009.
 
Adventure West adds Eden

VANCOUVER—Adventure West Resorts has added the new Eden on Chilko Lake to its portfolio. Formerly known as the Chilko Lake Lodge, Eden on Chilko Lake will begin operations starting in June 2009 as a lakeside wellness resort and spa following an extensive renovation.

Set in Tsylos Provincial Park in British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, a two and a half hour drive from William’s Lake, Eden on Chilko Lake will offer guests a combination of healthy outdoor activities blended with spa and dining experiences.

“Through programs designed to instill health and wellness in the true, native and rugged paradise of Chilko Lake, our aim will be to offer guests the unique opportunity to find spiritual, mental and emotional balance,” says Aaron Smith, director of marketing and operations for Adventure West Resorts.

“Chilko Lake is considered a healing ground to the local First Nations,” he added.
Open from June through October, guest packages include accommodation, all meals, Pilates or aqua aerobics class, and one guided morning outdoor activity such as wildflower hikes, instructional fly-fishing or scenic lake tours.

Residence Inn for Muskoka

GRAVENHURST—Over the last four years, the waterfront of this small community in cottage country has been transformed into the Muskoka Wharf.
The $170 million, 89-acre development by Evanco Corporation, run by Bruce and Greg Evans, includes shops, restaurants, condo properties and a new hotel spread along the south shore of Lake Muskoka.

Anchoring the development is a Marriott Residence Inn set to open in the spring of 2009. A unit in the whole-ownership condominium suite development includes five weeks of annual vacation time in all four seasons.

A separate development, the Residences of Muskoka Wharf, is a trio of 30-unit low-rise condo buildings with adjacent boat docking facilities. Suites range in size from 949 to 2,082 sq. ft.

On-site Muskoka Wharf restaurants include a Boston Pizza, Sunset Grill, the Regatta Steak and Seafood Grill, the Blue Willow Tea Shop and the Sagamo Scoops, an ice cream parlour. The entire development is linked together with a waterfront pedestrian walkway, gardens, public squares and parks.

Atlific to manage Capri Hotel

RED DEER, AB—Atlific Hotels is proud to announce the 218-room Capri Hotel, Trade & Convention Centre in Red Deer, Alberta as the most recent addition to its growing portfolio. Recently acquired by Temple Real Estate Investment Trust (TREIT), this hotel becomes the ninth TREIT property to come under the management of Atlific Hotels.

 “TREIT plans to invest in an $8-million capital expenditure program to enhance the guestroom and public area experience and will proudly operate the facility as a Sheraton, an upscale brand by Starwood Hotels & Resorts,” said Philippe Gadbois, senior vice president, Atlific Hotels.

A family operation for over 40 years, the Capri Hotel, Trade & Convention Centre is now Red Deer’s largest full service hotel.