Openings, Sales & Renovations for November 2009

Residence Inn Whistler to rebrand as Coast Hotel

Coast Blackcomb Suites at Whistler.

VANCOUVER—Coast Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with OHR Springs Management Ltd. to rebrand the 186-room Residence Inn by Marriott in Whistler, B.C. The Coast Blackcomb Suites at Whistler will open December 15th, 2009, just in time for the 2010 Olympics.  The hotel will be operated as a Coast Hotels & Resorts franchise.

Considered one of Whistler’s premier hotel properties, the six-floor, ski-in, ski-out lodge-style hotel on the slopes of Blackcomb Mountain is managed by O’Neill Hotels & Resorts Ltd.

“Ever since Coast Hotels & Resorts left Whistler two years ago, we’ve been looking for a suitable property that would allow us to re-enter this highly sought-after market,” said Graeme Barrit, President of Coast Hotels & Resorts.

 “The addition of this prestigious hotel to our portfolio gives Coast Hotels & Resorts a much stronger presence in the Victoria, Vancouver, Whistler tourism triangle.  The addition of the Whistler hotel will also complement our other snow resort properties in Sun Peaks and Revelstoke.”  

Coast comes to Penticton, too

VANCOUVER—In other Coast news, the company announced in October that it has signed a franchise agreement with the Locations West Investment Group to re-brand the Travelodge Penticton as the Coast Penticton Hotel effective April 19, 2010.

“We are thrilled to become part of Coast Hotels & Resorts,” said Robin Agur, president of Locations West Investment Group. “Coast Hotels & Resorts has a very strong market presence in western Canada and the U.S. which is where the majority of our traffic comes from, so this re-branding fits nicely with our long-term vision for the property.”

The hotel is located near downtown Penticton, 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 Penticton hotel features one- and two-bedroom suites with enclosed balconies as well as an indoor and outdoor pool, sauna, whirlpool, 250-foot waterslide and a comfortable on-site family restaurant serving home style meals.

The addition of the Coast Penticton Hotel will complete a busy year for Coast Hotels & Resorts as this will be the fifth opening in an eight month period. Coast has already opened properties in Chilliwack, BC and Lethbridge, AB. this year, and will open in Whistler, BC in December, 2009, and downtown Vancouver, BC in January 2010.

Four Points by Sheraton No. 100 opens in Cambridge, ON
 
WHITE PLAINS, NY—The opening of the Four Points by Sheraton in Cambridge, Ontario in late September marked the 100th Four Points by Sheraton to open in North America. The hotel is also the third Four Points by Sheraton prototype to open so far this year.
 
 The newly constructed hotel, located directly off Highway 401 at Highway 8, features the brand’s rejuvenated, contemporary look, complemented by classic and comfortable interior design elements for today’s self-sufficient traveller.
 
Owned by Preston Hospitality Inc., Four Points by Sheraton Cambridge offers 124 guestrooms, including four large one-bedroom king suites, and 1,500 square feet of flexible meeting facilities. The hotel’s Preston Lounge & Bar serves breakfast and dinner daily.

The launch of the new Four Points by Sheraton prototype is a key part of the brand’s comprehensive global rejuvenation campaign. In the past five years, Starwood and its licensees have invested more than $1 billion to reinvent the Four Points by Sheraton brand driven by major property renovations, conversions and new-build hotels. 

Winnipeg South Four Points by Sheraton makes its debut

WHITE PLAINS, NY—In September, Starwood also announced the opening of the Four Points by Sheraton Winnipeg South. Owned and developed by Astoria Enterprises, the hotel has 76 spacious and comfortable guest rooms and 3,600 square feet of meeting space, with easy access to Winnipeg’s business community and attractions.

Four Points by Sheraton Winnipeg South is adjacent to the Trans Canada Bypass and is right on the main highway leading to and from the United States. Just minutes from downtown, it’s easy to explore the city with the Winnipeg Convention Centre, the MTS Centre, The Forks Market and CanWest Global Park all close by. The hotel is in close proximity to Assiniboine Park & Zoo, the University of Manitoba, St. Vital Shopping Centre and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Stadium.

Westin Halifax continues to ride the sushi tsunami

HALIFAX—East Meets Westin in Halifax.  The Westin Nova Scotian has reached an agreement with one of Halifax’s premier restaurant groups, Hamachi House Restaurants, to bring the city’s most famous sushi to its most respected Sunday brunch.

A chef from Hamachi will be on hand for every Sunday brunch, preparing sushi to order for guests.

Halifax has been riding the sushi tsunami for several years, and it continues to be extremely popular with diners. 

“By bringing Hamachi to Westin, we are not only offering an exceptional value to our local brunch guests as well as out of town clientele, we are also providing yet another offering to match our ‘global cuisine’ concept at Elements,” the hotel said in a release.

“We are excited to mix many cultures into our Sunday brunch offering,” says Raj Gupta, director of food and beverage.

“We take pride in offering a global culinary experience created by our international team of chefs.”

Howard Johnson No. 56

OAKVILLE, ON—Howard Johnson Canada has welcomed the Howard Johnson Inn Toronto- Lakeshore, Ontario to their growing franchise family.

“Howard Johnson Canada is extremely pleased to be welcoming this new hotel to the brand family,” said president of Howard Johnson Canada Glen Blake. “I am excited that we are growing our presence in the GTA, with the assistance of the Kassam family.”

Located at 14 Roncesvalles Avenue, the Howard Johnson Toronto-Lakeshore is close to many of Toronto’s finest attractions including the CN Tower, Ontario Place, University of Toronto, Casa Loma, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Boulevard Club, Sunnyside Beach, Toronto Eaton Centre, The Drake Hotel and St. Joseph Hospital.
 
“We are pleased to increase our presence within the Howard Johnson brand,” stated Nina Kassam of Capital Safari Lodging Inc., which already operates the Howard Johnson in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

This marks the 56th property to open in Canada under the Howard Johnson banner.

And Knights Inn No. 20

OAKVILLE, ON—Knights Inn Cornwall, Ontario opened in mid-September, the brand’s 20th hotel in Canada.

The former Cornwall Lodge has been undergoing renovation over the past six months to achieve Knights Inn standards; remaining updates are to be completed by the end of this year.

The Knights Inn Cornwall is located at 1750 Vincent Massey Dr. It features free parking, complimentary continental breakfast, free high speed Internet, a heated outdoor pool and offers pet friendly accommodations.

“We are thrilled to be joining the Knights Inn family,” stated Sarwat Siddiqi, owner of the Knights Inn Cornwall. “With the brands’s marketability and our renovations, we are eager to offer quality accommodations at reasonable rates to travellers staying in Cornwall.”

Kingston Motel 6 features Phoenix prototype design

the chain’s Phoenix prototype design.

TORONTO, ON—Realstar Hospitality has opened a 75-room Motel 6 in Kingston, Ontario. This new-build boasts the new Phoenix prototype rooms with in-room microwave and refrigerator. There are eight extended-stay rooms complete with kitchenettes, which include a microwave, refrigerator, stove or hot plate, and coffee pot. The hotel features a meeting room, coin laundry, an elevator, and offers guests free high-speed Internet access.

 “We are very excited to have another Motel 6 property opening in such a convenient location,” said Irwin Prince, president and COO, Realstar Hospitality. “Motel 6 Kingston is perfectly located along the Trans-Canada Highway corridor, half-way between Toronto and Montreal,” continued Prince.

Located at 1542 Robinson Court, Motel 6 Kingston is just minutes from great attractions like the K-Rock Centre, Fort Henry, Royal Military College and Queen’s University, one of the top post-secondary schools in Canada. Motel 6 Kingston is a short drive to Norman Rogers Airport.

IHG opens Edmonton’s newest Holiday Inn Express

A guest room at the Holiday Inn Express, Edmonton South.

EDMONTON—Edmonton’s newest Holiday Inn Express hotel opened on October 15, 2009.  The new-build property showcases 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.
 
The 191-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Edmonton South is located in a suburban area near the South Common Shopping Centre, IKEA and Wal-mart.  The property is within a short driving distance of several local businesses and institutions including the University of Alberta and downtown Edmonton.

A Travelodge for Lethbridge

CALGARY—Formerly a Parkside Inn, Travelodge Lethbridge open its doors on October 2.  The renovated hotel has 67 guest rooms including six guest suites, two on-site restaurants and 2,000 square feet of meeting space. It is conveniently located for both business and leisure travellers on one of Lethbridge’s most-used parkways, Mayor Magrath Drive.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Travelodge Lethbridge to the brand,” said Travelodge Canada vice president, Steven Robinson. “We are confident both the hotel and the brand will see positive results from this new relationship and we wish the operators, Ki and Brian, much future success with Travelodge Canada.”

The owner of the property is Ki Um and the general manager  is Brian Um.

Travelodge has 98 properties across Canada.