Tapas in the treetops

PARKSVILLE, BC—The Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort in Parksville, BC, is receiving national attention for their unique take on spa dining as their Treetop Tapas & Grill restaurant (shown below) has been named ‘Best Spa Café of 2008’ by Travel to Wellness Canada, an online editorial guide to Canada’s wellness and spa travel destinations.

Reserved exclusively for guests of the spa, the 3rd floor restaurant overlooks the surrounding cedar and arbutus forest. Patrons of the Treetop dine in the comfort of their spa robes and sandals before or after treatments for a Tapas dining experience. The seasonal menu features local ingredients and West Coast inspired dishes.

Courtyard Quebec City Hotel of the Year

QUEBEC, QC—Marriott International acknowledged its top-performing properties with achievement awards at its annual general managers’ meeting for select service and extended stay brands in March. Among the award-winners was the Courtyard by Marriott Quebec City which was recognized as ‘Hotel of the Year’ for select service brands across North America.

Each year, Marriott selects only two hotels out of approximately 800 to be named ‘Hotel of the Year’ for select service brands: a North American award, and an international one, awarded this year to the Courtyard by Marriott Green Community Dubai in the UAE. 

Chatham hotel wins first OBIAA Award

COLLINGWOOD, ON—It took a supportive community and strong relationships to create a world-class boutique hotel in the small, Southwestern Ontario city of Chatham.

Those partnerships were recognized on April 8 at the Ontario BIA Association’s awards luncheon as The Retro Suites Hotel (shown at right) was presented with the association’s inaugural “Bricks and Mortar” Project Award.

The first-ever award aims to highlight successful construction projects and to encourage cooperation between BIAs and private developers in Ontario.

Beginning with the construction of the hospitality suites and the restoration of the buildings’ façades in the late 1990s, the Retro Suites Hotel has undergone several phases of development. The hotel now features 25 individually-appointed suites and a banquet centre, providing an unparalleled accommodation experience for guests to the region.