Openings, Sales and Renos for June 2009

Radisson Saskatoon — 25 years and a $5 million reno

SASKATOON, SK—Radisson Hotel Saskatoon, the city’s largest hotel, is celebrating its 25th year milestone with completion of a $5 million makeover to all of its guest and meeting rooms.

While the hotel was continuously refreshed over the years, this is the first complete renovation of its rooms. It includes all new carpets, furniture, bedding and bathrooms with granite countertops, all done in contemporary décor reflecting a sophisticated palate of neutral and navy tones. The meeting rooms have also received a refreshed look with new carpet and paint.

“We are pleased with our room updates and think that our guests will find our new look fresh and inviting,” says hotel general manager Patty Schweighardt. “The addition of flat screen TVs with HD technology will also be well-received, particularly with business travellers.”

And the renovations are not ending here. The next phase of changes will take place over the course of the year and include a $2 million cosmetic and structural renovation to the lobby, conference space and waterworks area which includes two three-storey waterslides and a pool.

For Schweighardt, the renovations are a fitting way to celebrate a long history of helping visitors enjoy the city. As the staff reflect on the past 25 years, they are also looking forward to an exciting future ahead with the revitalization of the hotel as well as building upon a demonstrated commitment to the environment.

The investment in the environment landed the Radisson Hotel Saskatoon recognition by Saskatchewan Tourism with the “Land of Living Skies” award for environmental leadership.
 

Canyon Desert Golf Resort.

Bellstar, Osoyoos Band and Watermark plan a golf resort

OLIVER, BC—Bellstar Hotels & Resorts, the Osoyoos Indian Band and Watermark Asset Management continue to see a resort development opportunity in the South Okanagan where others are cautious.

The group of experienced developers announced last month that they will pursue jointly developing Canyon Desert Golf Resort, a $150-million destination resort community in Oliver, BC  in the Okanagan Valley. Located on Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course and the shores of Tuc el Nuit Lake, the destination will offer 450 golf and lakefront condominiums, villas and resort lodge suites along with a host of mixed amenities.

Canyon Desert Golf Resort will be the first destination resort of its kind to be built in the Oliver area.  Purchasers are expected to come from Metropolitan Vancouver, Alberta and the Prairies. 

Chief Clarence Louie notes, “The Osoyoos Indian Band has aspired to develop the lands adjacent to our golf course since we completed Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course in 2000. This will be a very positive development for the Band, our partners and the region.”

Park Inn & Suites Dawson Creek to open by end of ‘09

TORONTO—Carlson Hotels Worldwide has signed franchise or management agreements for 23 new properties in the first quarter of 2009, including the Park Inn & Suites Dawson Creek, BC scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The Dawson Creek hotel will feature 62 rooms, including seven studio suites and 2 two-room suites. A tourist attraction for many decades, Dawson Creek sits at the start of the Alaska-Canadian (ALCAN) Highway, only three blocks west of the hotel.

Jacuzzi junior suite at Coast Bastion Inn.

The Coast Bastion Inn unveils its new interior design

NANAIMO, BC—Nanaimo’s Coast Bastion Inn’s search for the perfect interior design firm began with a call for an extensive guestroom renovation project for the 15-storey hotel on Vancouver Island. Enter Inside Design Studio Inc. and its innovative design to interpret the hotel’s personality and remake the Coast Bastion the city’s hotel of choice.

The 179-room full-service hotel located on Nanaimo’s harbour is an ideal island getaway for both leisure and business travellers. Whether its the myriad of outdoor adventure and watersports or the charm of the Old City Quarter with its galleries, restaurants and shops, the Coast Bastion Inn is the place to stay and experience a taste of island hospitality.

For guestrooms, Inside Design chose four fresh colour schemes, ranging from burnt orange and lime green to reds and greys. Yellow and taupe combinations anchor the guestrooms and provide the supporting palette to the harbour views outside.

Guestrooms feature custom design furnishings, flat screen TVs set in rift cut oak panelling, geometric carpet tiles, back painted glass topped desks, chaise lounges and modern art.

One Days Inn in Athabasca, another in Grande Prairie

TORONTO—Days Inns - Canada’s newest location is a new construction hotel located in Athabasca, AB. It offers 69 guest rooms, complimentary high-speed Internet access, free hot Daybreak Café breakfast, fitness facilities, business centre and meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 50 people. Jeffery Yoon is the new hotel’s general manager.

Located at 2805 - 48th Avenue, the hotel offers guests first-class comfort at affordable rates. Each room is fully equipped with 42” LCD TVs, fridge and microwave, work desk, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and board. Suites with Jacuzzis or sofa beds are also available.

Owner Ki Il Choi has a second Days Inn that is soon to open in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Four Seasons Vancouver’s $20 million renovation

VANCOUVER—Following two years of refurbishments, a completed $20 million renovation reveals a vibrant 30-storey Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver.

Designed to capture the essence of British Columbia’s natural environment, the final renovation to the 372 guestrooms and 23,000 square feet of meeting space complete the third phase of the renovation that launched in July 2007 with a new lobby and the award winning YEW restaurant + bar.

The design team at Forchielli Glynn of Los Angeles updated the 372 guestrooms, including 66 suites providing new energy and harmony to the building’s contemporary architectural style.

Three different colour schemes have been used to lighten and refresh the rooms with accents of earth tones incorporating the west coast environment.

To provide superior guest comfort, the addition of new bedding, seating, lighting, carpet and wall coverings is complemented by new artwork featuring Vancouver’s picturesque surroundings.

New LCD televisions, iPod docking stations and high-speed wireless Internet ensure guests enjoy the latest in state-of-the-art technology. A full renovation to the lobby includes new floors, artwork, furniture and front desk with the addition of Blo, Blow Dry Bar providing the luxury of flawless hair seven days a week.

The 23,000 square feet of meeting space includes the Park Ballroom, which also has new carpets, wall coverings, sconces and drapes.

Scarborough Ho Jo.

Ho Jo opens Scarborough, Hamilton and plans five more

OAKVILLE, ON— Scarborough and Hamilton, ON are the latest locations for Howard Johnson hotels, and the company says it plans five more openings by the end of June.

The newly renovated Howard Johnson Inn —Scarborough is a 41-room property owned by Jaymin Pandit, who notes that “by joining a well-known brand like Howard Johnson we will be able to position ourselves strategically in a very competitive market.” 

It is located close to University of Toronto – Scarborough Campus, the Metro Toronto Zoo, Bluffers Park and Marina and the Scarborough Town Centre.

In Hamilton, the former Airport Inn recently underwent 30 days of renovations to achieve Howard Johnson standards. The property features 50 guest rooms, free wireless internet, free Rise & Dine continental breakfast, enhanced shower experience, onsite restaurants, a Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club and free parking.

The property is located directly off the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway and minutes from the Hamilton Airport and Lime Ridge Mall.

“We’re very excited to join the Howard Johnson Brand,” stated Arya Kichi, general manager of the new Howard Johnson Hamilton. “We’re eager to differentiate ourselves in a competitive marketplace.”