Openings, Sales & Renos for October 09

The newly renovated main lobby at the Westin Prince hotel in Toronto.

Major changes to Westin Prince

TORONTO— The Westin Prince, Toronto, has unveiled the recently completed upgrade and renovation to the hotel.

The new look was designed by Harry Christakis from HCA Architecture, incorporating a sleek modern design. Changes to the lobby include the addition of a gas and stone fireplace into the lobby as well as a new water wall.

Renovations have taken place over the course of the last year and incorporated a complete updating of all public spaces, the lobby and conference facilities. A highlight of the renovation is the addition of the new restaurant Seasons at The Prince and 900 lounge. A centerpiece of the restaurant makeover is a distinctive fireplace in the dining area.

“We are thrilled to be sharing our refreshed new look with old and new guests alike,” said general manager Ashok Baghel, in a statement.

“The rejuvenated space at the Westin Prince offers a renewing stay for the mind, body and spirit. The new look reflects our commitment to helping our guests retreat from the rigors of the road and helping them to perform at their best.”

Under the direction of award winning executive chef James Piggott and his culinary team, Seasons offers a Superfoods infused menu in the newly designed space.

The hotel has also added state of the art fitness equipment, improved signage on the hotel’s exterior as well as incorporating WI-FI connections throughout the hotel in all guest rooms, meeting space and public space.

Guest room upgrades include the addition of 42-inch LCD TV and multi media pack, total in room wireless Internet access, personalized digital in room climate control, guestroom refreshment centre and in-room safes.

Over the next year, the hotel will focus on the renewal of all hall and guest room floor coverings in addition to the restoration of all guest washrooms.

In addition, the hotel is nearing completion on five new board rooms perfect for small meetings of up to 17 people.

The new meeting space will feature state of the art multi-media capabilities and natural lighting throughout.

Canada’s tallest hotel tower.

Canada’s tallest hotel tower changes Niagara Falls skyline

NIAGARA FALLS, ON—Towering more than five football fields above Niagara Falls, Canada’s tallest hotel tower has opened its doors this summer. The Hilton Hotel Suites Niagara Falls - Fallsview began its transformation to become the tallest hotel tower in Canada in January 2007.

Now the largest resort in Niagara Falls, it boasts over 1,000 hotel rooms and suites, including two spectacular presidential suites on the 52nd Floor.  Each 2-bedroom suite features a sitting room with a fireplace, magnificent city or falls views and wireless technology.

The resort, which is attached to the Fallsview Casino, is also introducing two new dining options: Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse and Wine Bar and Ontario’s first Romano’s Macaroni Grill. Brasa’s signature chef, Ricardo Zanona, has crafted a menu featuring 15 different cuts of the finest fire-roasted beef, pork, lamb and chicken, carved tableside and a world-class wine list to match.

Guests can enjoy al fresco dining while taking in views of Fallsview Boulevard and the dancing fountains of Fallsview Casino.

Best Western, Liverpool, NS.

Nova Scotia’s south shore adds a Best Western

LIVERPOOL, NS—Best Western International has added the Best Western Liverpool Hotel and Conference Centre, located at 63 Queens Place Drive in Liverpool, NS. The brand-new, non-smoking hotel offers 65 guest rooms including seven suites.

Amenities include an indoor heated swimming pool, fitness center, guest laundry and a complimentary continental breakfast. Each room is equipped with a refrigerator, 32-inch plasma television, in-room DVD player and high-speed Internet access.

For the business traveller, the hotel offers a full-service business centre, complimentary daily newspaper and 2,600 square feet of meeting and banquet space to accommodate up to 200 people.

Located along the south shore of Nova Scotia, guests will enjoy nearby white sandy beaches, lighthouses and museums including Queens County Museum, Shermin Hines Museum, Beach Meadows, Carters Beach and Port Medway Lighthouse. Recreational activities such as walking trails, golfing, hiking, kayaking and fishing are just a short distance from the hotel as are a variety of shopping and dining options.

Rates start at $139.99 per night.

Days Inn - Cochrane, AB

Second Alberta Days Inn since spring opens in Cochrane

COCHRANE, AB—Alberta got its second Days Inn since spring late this summer when Realstar Hospitality opened a 61-room Days Inn & Suites in Cochrane, Alberta. This conversion property offers its guests free Daybreak Café breakfast, free local calls, free parking, and 24-hour self-serve business centre, including two meeting rooms.

Days Inn & Suites - Cochrane is wheelchair-accessible, pet-friendly and equipped with an indoor pool, fitness room and on-site laundry facility. All guest rooms have complimentary high-speed Internet access, coffee maker, iron and board, hairdryer and 27” TVs. The hotel provides Days Inn’s signature SolTerre shower experience featuring a Waterpik six-function showerhead and grapefruit essence SolTerre bathroom amenities.

Located at 5 West Side Drive, Days Inn & Suites - Cochrane is only 40 km from Calgary International Airport.

“We are located just minutes away from Cochrane’s Tourist Shopping Village and are about a 30-minute drive to downtown Calgary and the Canada Olympic Park, making our hotel a great place to stay when visiting the area,” said Joe Komaric, general manager, Days Inn & Suites - Cochrane.

To coincide with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and to celebrate the hotel’s opening, Days Inn & Suites - Cochrane will be donating a portion of the revenue for each room sold this month to the Childhood Cancer Foundation - Candlelighters Canada (CCFCC).

Holiday Inn Swift Current

Swift Current Holiday Inn Express part of brand relaunch

SWIFT CURRENT, AB—Swift Current’s first Holiday Inn Express hotel opened on Aug. 24. 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 Holiday Inn brand relaunch is huge—with more than 3,200 hotels around the world being updated, improving quality and driving consistency at Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels around the world.

The global estate is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010, and more than 1,000 hotels have been already been relaunched to date.

The relaunch focuses on the things research shows matter most to guests—a modern, contemporary hotel with efficient, friendly service  and a great night’s sleep. 

The 103-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Swift Current is located near the Swift Current Museum, Chinook Golf Course and natural attractions including the Big Muddy Badlands and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. 

The property is within a short driving distance of several local businesses including Husky Energy Inc, South West Centre for Entrepreneurial Development and Shaw Cable, making the hotel a convenient option for both business and leisure travellers alike.

Sales prompt construction at Windermere House cottages
 
TORONTO­—Rapid sales at The Cottages at Windermere House has prompted a September construction start date.

Twelve luxurious fractional ownership cottages will be built in a private enclave at Windermere House, Muskoka’s landmark resort for 140 years.

Seven-week fractions, exclusive membership with preferred residences, luxury amenities, and a Lake Rosseau address make this fractional resort unique in Ontario.

Construction was set to begin September 16, the company said in a release.

Big budget projects victims of a lagging economy

TORONTO, VANCOUVER, MUSKOKA—While a number of chains, mainly in the extended stay or limited service markets, are announcing expansion plans, the flip side of the coin is projects that were begun when the economy was more robust, and have now been put on hold or cancelled altogether.

Some of these are huge projects in big cities announced with great fanfare just a year or so ago, but have succumbed to the sceptre of an ailing economy.

Credit concerns stopped work on Gansevoort Toronto before the shovels even hit the ground. This was to be a very cool boutique hotel in downtown Toronto. Plans called for a 150-room, 35-storey hotel, spa and condominium at 381 Richmond St. West. It was to be Toronto’s first LEED certified condo/hotel.

Not so long ago, people hired others to stand in line for them at what was supposed to be Toronto’s premier address, driving up costs of what was going to be an 80-storey building at 1 Bloor Street East.

While the top 58 stories were to be very pricey condos, 1 Bloor was to have three floors of office and mixed-use space, plus a central podium for luxury retailers.

Bazis International stopped making payments on its $46-million dollar loan for the project in December. Great Gulf Homes has took over the project last month, and are currently developing plans for their own version of this mixed-use project.

And Ritz-Carlton cancelled its Vancouver hotel project this year. It would have been the third Ritz-Carlton Canadian property, with costs estimated at $500 million. Construction of the 58-storey property stopped in October, 2008, and the cancellation was formalized in February.

Pool area at JW Marriott - The Rosseau

In Muskoka, the sought-after cottage country a few hours north of Toronto, The Rosseau Resort Developments Inc., the owner of The Rosseau, a JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Minett, entered into a court-ordered receivership on May 22. JW Marriott agreed to stay on as the hotel operator, and The Rosseau continued to operate as usual this summer.  
Projects such as the waterfront restaurant and amenities, and landscaping were completed.

By the week of August 18th, the resort had put the final touches on the year-round luxury resort and spa. These included another wing of luxurious rooms and suites near the shoreline, an additional outdoor swimming pool and poolside bistro, completion of the waterfront and the accompanying docks.

Meanwhile, a court-approved one-day selloff of remaining JW Marriott resort condos took place in August.
 
Prices for the rooms start at $166,000 for a 430-square-foot studio suite, but all of the prices still need final approval from the court, said Baker. Taxes and maintenance fees are extra, as is hotel housekeeping services.