Openings, Sales & Renos ~ May 2010

Muskoka’s exclusive Windermere cottages

WINDERMERE, ON—Situated on Lake Rosseau, The Cottages at Lake Windermere are located at Muskoka’s landmark Windermere House Resort and in one of the most expensive real estate markets in Canada.

The project is one of the newest and most luxurious fractional ownership developments in Ontario. It consists of 12 three-bedroom lakefront cottages in an exclusive enclave. Special architectural features include lake views from all principle rooms, spacious decks accessible from the great room and master bedroom, a large screened Muskoka Room, and quality designer features and appliances throughout. Ownership also includes membership with Preferred Residences, the membership and exchange program for luxury shared ownership resorts. This is the only fractional ownership community in Ontario which offers a seven week ownership program.

The Cottages at Lake Windmere

Three new Super 8s

Lobby of Super 8 - Red Deer, AB

Super 8 and Superior Lodging Corp., its master developer in Canada, continue to remain the fastest growing brand in Canada with the recent opening of three Super 8s in BC and AB bringing the number of hotels to 128 and over 8,000 rooms.

Super 8 Duncan, BC, Super 8 Red Deer City Centre, AB, and Super 8 Roadking Sherwood Park, AB, mark the entrance of the 126th, 127th and 128th hotels to open under the Super 8 flag. A variety of highly sought amenities are available in these hotels for both business and leisure travellers alike.  The Super 8 Lethbridge, AB and the Super 8 Vancouver Airport will also be opening soon.


Coast Penticton’s $25 million, three-phase expansion plans

PENTICTON, BC—After a five-month closure for an extensive renovation, the Coast Penticton Hotel has officially opened its doors as the newest addition to the Coast Hotels & Resorts’ chain.

The Penticton hotel recently completed a major upgrade, which included new carpeting, flooring, paint, furniture and fixtures for its entire 36-room inventory.  

Premier bedroom at Coast Penticton Hotel

But that’s just the beginning.

Plans are now underway to transform the Coast Penticton Hotel into a 185-room luxury resort as part of a $25-million, three-phase expansion plan.

The first phase of the expansion, which will add approximately 60 rooms to the hotel along with a new lobby and pool/recreation area, will get underway in fall of 2011 with completion scheduled for spring 2013.
 
The continued build-out of the property will include a 90-room addition along with a new restaurant, bar and meeting space.

“This hotel expansion will help open up new markets for the City of Penticton,” said Robin Agur, president of Locations West Investment Group, which entered into a franchise agreement with Coast Hotels & Resorts last fall.

“As our inventory of  quality, upscale hotel rooms grows, we will be able to attract more conference and convention business to Penticton which will help stimulate our economy.”

The Coast Penticton Hotel is located just minutes from downtown Penticton, two blocks from Okanagan Beach, a block from the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre and across the street from the new 5,200-seat multi-purpose South Okanagan Events Centre.

The hotel’s guest rooms include one bedroom suites, and two bedroom suites with enclosed balconies. The hotel also has an indoor and outdoor pool, sauna, whirlpool, 250-foot waterslide and a comfortable on-site family restaurant serving home-style meals.


Four Points by Sheraton’s splashing debut in Niagara

WHITE PLAINS, NY—Four Points by Sheraton Niagara Falls Fallsview, the 21st of its brand in Canada, made its debut in mid-April. 

Owned and developed by the Fallsview Group, the hotel has 265 spacious and comfortable guest rooms and suites, many of which feature spectacular views of the Horseshoe Falls. There is on-site and valet parking, and four flexible meeting rooms that can accommodate groups up to 300 people.
The property also boasts an indoor heated pool, two whirlpools and fitness room, plus complimentary Hotspot Wireless Internet throughout the property.


Sequel takes over management of Gladstone Hotel

TORONTO—Sequel Lifestyle Hotels and Resorts announced recently that a management agreement has been signed with the historic Gladstone Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.

Located in the city’s trendy Queen West neighbourhood, the Gladstone is Toronto’s oldest continuously operating hotel.  

Its 37 artist-designed guest rooms include the Queen Suite of Queen Street, which fuses the graffiti-tagged back alleys of Queen Street with the property’s Victorian past.

It also includes the peaceful and contemplative Sugarbush room that reminds guests of a snow-blanketed Ontario winter, complete with galvanized sap buckets as lampshades.

Well known for its distinctive and continued contribution to the arts, the Gladstone is host to a variety of exhibits and installations throughout the year.

The hotel’s public space and common areas act as a living gallery, displaying works of both distinguished and up and coming Canadian artists and designers on a continuous basis.

The hotel’s Gladstone Café is a popular mainstay for the locals and visiting guests.

Left: Lobby;

Left: Biker Suite; Right: Twilight Suite

Left & Right: Tower Suite

Holiday Inn Express come to Bowmanville/Clarington

BOWMANVILLE, ON—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened its newest property in Bowmanville, Ontario.  Holiday Inn ExpressHotel & Suites Clarington-Bowmanville is close to Highway 401.

The 95-room hotel is accessible to businesses such as OPG and St. Mary’s Cement as well as attractions like the Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Area and Port Darlington.

The property will also showcase the Holiday Inn Express brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program.  


Kelowna Howard Johnson finishes first phase of renos

OAKVILLE, ON­—The 43-room Howard Johnson Inn – Kelowna, BC has completed the first phase of their renovations to achieve Howard Johnson Brand opening standards. The property features Rise & Dine complimentary continental breakfast with HoJo’s new freshly baked waffles, ample free parking and high speed wireless Internet. It is conveniently located close to the Kelowna International Airport and the UBC Okanagan Campus.

The renovation of guest rooms include all new furniture, fixtures, carpeting, new bedding and upgraded bathroom fixtures and amenities and features HoJo’s new top of bed program.

Dipak Chauhan is general manger of the new property.


Elegant update for old world charmer in Halifax

HALIFAX—The Lord Nelson was never a candidate for an extreme makeover, says Valerie Howes in a Canadian Tourism Commission article, part of the series, Locals Know, describing the latest updates to the century-old hotel.

“And now, top-to-bottom renovations are making the vintage charmer virtually irresistible.

“This is the local bride’s Plaza: In its opulent lobby, an enormous chandelier hangs sparkling from a gold-leaf ceiling with the geometrical detail and glow of honeycomb. Mahogany panelling adds warmth and timeless elegance. A rejuvenating treatment, however, has made the place even cozier.

“Guests now lounge in the lobby on long, pea-green sofas, where more formal high-backed chairs once were; the white floral centrepiece sits tall and striking on a contemporary glass table that could pass for sculpture.

“Taupe, grey and black striped wall covering in the corridors gives a retro vibe; black chandeliers and carpets with swirls of cream, green and grey complete the look. Soft pillow-top mattresses and crisp white Egyptian cotton bedding in the rooms make for high comfort at night... and all morning as well, if you’re too snug to surface.”