RoomRaccoon, a leading hotel management system for independent hotels, has announced the appointment of Iris Diab as its new Account Executive for its North America division. This strategic hire underscores RoomRaccoon's commitment to accelerating growth and expanding its presence in the US and Canada.
In Frederik Backman’s New York Times best-selling book, “A Man Called Ove”, the first chapter is aptly titled, “A man called Ove buys a computer that is not a computer.” In those first few pages, readers are introduced to fifty-nine-year-old Ove, a decidedly grumpy and impatient man who ventures into a tech store on a mission to buy a computer. He mistakenly asks the young sales associate for an ‘O-Pad’. The exchange only becomes more strained as Ove repeatedly asks the associate if the tablet is a good computer, and the associate explains that while it’s a good piece of technology, it depends on what type of computer he wants. As you can imagine, Ove’s frustration soon peaks when the associate attempts to explain that a keyboard was sold separately and then tries to direct him to a MacBook (which Ove endearingly calls a ‘McBook’) instead.
Crescent Hotels & Resorts, the award-winning operator of over 120 properties, announced the addition of the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre in London, ON, and the Ivey Donald K. Johnson Centre in Toronto, ON to its Latitudes: Lifestyles by Crescent portfolio. These time-honoured establishments have maintained their status as the go-to destinations for inspired events and conferences.
Embracing the vibrant energy of downtown Montreal's cultural district, the new boutique hotel introduces an enchanting experience to awaken the senses.
Canada’s hotel industry reported its highest performance since September 2022, according to STR’s May 2023 data.
If I were asked to compile a list of the most prominent figures currently influencing the trajectory of the independent lodging industry, Andrew Benioff, the Founder and Chairman of the Independent Lodging Congress would undoubtedly be included. As a tenured hospitality professional, I’ve been given the opportunity to connect with countless thought leaders in the space – many of whom exhibit a seemingly unquenchable appetite for innovation and growth – and Benioff is no exception.
The Holiday Inn Victoria - Elk Lake features 71 fully renovated rooms (with plans to add 64 guest rooms in the near future), an outdoor swimming pool, fitness and meetings space; plus boasts the locally known, The Lakes Restaurant and Bar - serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, including a daily happy hour with lite bites and libations. Located in Saanich, the hotel is centrally located between Victoria International Airport (YYJ) and the bustling Victoria downtown area. Other popular nearby attractions include Butchart Gardens, Elk & Beaver Lake Provincial Park, Island View Beach and Cordova Bay Golf Course.
The newly built Holiday Inn Express & Suites Courtenay - Comox features 93 spacious contemporary rooms, an indoor pool, fitness centre, guest laundry and meeting space. With each stay, guests can enjoy a brand staple - complimentary breakfast with a variety of fresh, hot items to choose from. Located just northeast of downtown Courtenay, the hotel provides easy access to the Comox Valley Airport and Canadian Forces Base. Other nearby attractions include Horne Lake caves, Mt. Washington, and taking in the picturesque scenery with a walk on the beach while enjoying the mountains in the backdrop.
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announced the opening of two new hotels in British Columbia – Holiday Inn Express & Suites Courtenay – Comox and Holiday Inn Victoria – Elk Lake – offering modern accommodations with all the amenities to meet the needs of today’s traveler to those traveling to Comox Valley and Victoria on Vancouver Island.
Attendees at this year's HITEC®, the world’s largest hospitality technology conference, will get an exclusive preview of the latest advances in hotel technology from Above Property Services (APS®). The company is a long-time featured exhibitor at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference, hosted by HFTP (Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals), which takes place in Toronto, Canada, June 26-29, 2023. Event participants and media are invited to visit APS booth #1009.
Construction has officially started on Ottawa's newest tourism and entertainment destination, the future Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa. A groundbreaking ceremony, with guests using Hard Rock's legendary guitar-handled shovels, was held on June 6 at the Rideau Carleton Casino, Future Hard Rock where it will host the new state-of-the-art facility.
Hilton is proud to announce the return of their highly successful ‘Hilton on the Green’ experience to the RBC Canadian Open, June 6-11 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ontario.
Puzzle Partner, the leading hotel and travel technology marketing consulting firm, has been chosen as the Independent Lodging Congress (ILC) official content media sponsor and partner. Together, the two visionary brands will continue to push boundaries, challenge conventional thinking, and unlock new opportunities in the ever-evolving world of hospitality.
Canada’s hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) came in above CAD100 for the third consecutive month, according to STR’s April 2023 data.
Coast Hotels Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, Inc. and one of North America’s fastest-growing and one of Canada’s largest hotel brands, is pleased to announce the opening of its latest franchised property in Hinton, Alberta. Coast Hinton Hotel officially opened its doors to guests on May 03rd and is offering a comfortable and convenient stay for travelers visiting the scenic Rocky Mountain foothills.
The Canadian gaming industry thrives as one of the most dynamic sectors in the world. Each year, industry professionals, experts, and enthusiasts come together at the Canadian Gaming Summit (CGS)—the country’s premier annual conference and exhibition for Gaming and Sports Betting senior executives from across the globe—to explore the latest trends, innovations, and challenges in the realm of casinos and gaming.
Business travel in Canada is poised for a strong, evolving future, according to the takeaways from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Canada Conference 2023 held in Toronto from May 15-17.
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) today reveals the Canadian Travel & Tourism sector continues to show strong signs of post-pandemic recovery.
As reported in the recently released Construction Pipeline Trend Report for Canada by Lodging Econometrics (LE), at the close of Q1 2023, the country’s hotel construction pipeline currently stands at 283 projects/37,683 rooms. Canada’s total construction pipeline increased 10% by projects and 5% by rooms year-over-year (YOY).Accelerated by the return of travel demand, new project announcements (NPAs) in Canada saw significant growth in the first quarter. NPAs surpassed totals for each of the previous five quarters, to stand at 27 projects/3,806 rooms at the Q1 close. As a result of the growing number of NPAs in Q1, projects in the early planning stage hit a peak for the country with 145 projects/20,583 rooms, up 38% and 36% YOY, respectively.Other pipeline metrics at the Q1 close include projects that are under construction, which stand at 47 projects/5,802 rooms, while projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months are at 91 projects/11,298 rooms. Additionally, combined renovation and brand conversion projects in Canada reached a record-high total this quarter with 105 projects/11,598 rooms.Ontario continues to lead Canada’s construction pipeline with record-high project and room counts of 162 projects/21,945 rooms and accounts for 57% of the projects and 58% of the rooms in Canada’s total pipeline. British Columbia follows, also reaching record-high totals at Q1, with 55 projects/8,670 rooms, followed by Quebec with 21 projects/2,555 rooms.The top cities in Canada, with the most projects in the pipeline at Q1, are Toronto, with 61 projects/8,763 rooms. Following distantly is Vancouver, then Niagara Falls, both reaching record-high project and room totals at the Q1 close, with 23 projects/3,634 rooms and 16 projects/5,088 rooms, respectively.Three franchise companies dominate Canada’s construction pipeline at the close of the first quarter, accounting for 65% of the projects and 60% of the rooms in the country’s total pipeline. These companies are led by Marriott International with 78 projects and 10,305 rooms, followed by Hilton Worldwide with 64 projects/7,850 rooms, and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) with 43 projects/4,347 rooms.The top franchise brands in Canada’s pipeline are Hilton’s Hampton by Hilton brands with 24 projects/2,795 rooms, IHG’s Holiday Inn Express with 20 projects/2,159 rooms, and TownePlace Suites by Marriott with a record 20 projects/2,017 rooms.Other notable brands in Canada’s pipeline are Marriott’s Fairfield Inn with record project and room totals at Q1 of 19 projects/1,805 rooms, Tru by Hilton with 14 projects/1,350 rooms, also at record-highs, and Hyatt Place with 11 projects/1,582 rooms.LE’s forecast for new hotel openings in Canada calls for a total of 31 new hotel projects with 3,744 rooms to open in 2023, marking a 1.0% new supply growth rate increase compared to 2022 totals. In 2024, LE analysts expect a 1.1% increase in room supply with 68 new hotel projects/4,048 rooms forecast to open by year-end.
It’s difficult to imagine that anything could be more amazing than 3.5 million Swarovski crystals adorning the walls, ceilings, fireplaces and light fixtures at Sparkling Hill Resort & Spa in Vernon, British Columbia. Yet, communication between guests and staff at the European-style wellness retreat is shining even brighter, thanks to a recent integration partnership between Maestro PMS and PurpleCloud Technologies.