Indu Brar, the new general manager of Fairmont Empress, is the first female general manager of the property since its opening in 1908. She will oversee the hotel’s two-phased $30+ million renovation plan that will be completed in June 2017 and includes all guestrooms, restaurants, lobby, Willow Stream Spa and meeting space.
Committed to expanding the Canadian presence of two of its top-performing midscale brands, Wyndham Hotel Group today announced multi-unit agreements with PHI Hotel Group to develop 25 Wingate by Wyndham hotels over the next 25 years and 15 Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham hotels over the next 15 years.The agreements multiply Wingate's footprint in Canada by five times its current size and establish Hawthorn's presence in the country. PHI Hotel Group has already executed on three Wingate hotels for development in 2016, and has another eight hotels in its existing portfolio currently under construction.Half of Canada's population identifies as middle class, a demographic that desires to travel but has a limited budget. According to Phocuswright, Canadians are traveling domestically more frequently, making midscale hotel brands such as Wingate and Hawthorn an ideal solution. The hotels, most of which are new construction, will open as soon as 2017 and reside in top Canadian travel markets such as Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, and Halifax."These agreements demonstrate our steadfast commitment to continued growth in Canada," said Chip Ohlsson, Wyndham Hotel Group's chief development officer. "We're targeting Canada's leading cities - where travelers really want to be - with two incredible brands that guests embrace for their convenience, quality, and experience.""Wingate and Hawthorn stand out for us and for our guests, offering thoughtful, consistent experiences under a trusted name," said Sukhi Rai, president of PHI Hotel Group. "This collaboration is a natural fit, bringing Wyndham Hotel Group's powerful scale and industry-leading technology efforts to life through two brands that travelers adore. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship together."Wyndham Hotel Group's hotels in Canada represent approximately 6% of its global portfolio – and that number is growing quickly. Wyndham Hotel Group boasts a robust pipeline of 46 hotels with more than 4,000 rooms in Canada, gearing up to surpass 550 hotels in the country. Currently, 11 of the company's 16 hotel brands have a presence in Canada, including Baymont Inn & Suites®, Days Inn®, Dolce Hotels and Resorts®, Howard Johnson®, Knights Inn®, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham®, Ramada®, Super 8®, Travelodge®, Wingate by Wyndham® and Wyndham Garden®.Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham is an extended-stay brand offering guests a home away from home designed to help them maintain their routine whether their stay is for a week, a month or a year. Wingate by Wyndham offers guests everything they need to stay connected, on-schedule, productive and ready for whatever comes next.
Vantage Hotels has entered Sudbury, Ontario for the first time with the additions of a 77-room Lexington® Hotel and 45-room Canadas Best Value Inn®. Formerly a Howard Johnson, the Lexington Hotel is undergoing extensive renovations. All of the guestrooms are being completely gutted and updated with new flooring, bathroom fixtures, counter tops, tile, furniture, bedding and wallcoverings. The renovations are being done in stages so that, at any one time, a large number of hotel rooms will be available to the public. The lobby also will be renovated with new furniture and flooring that will extend throughout the hotel.
The lower Canadian dollar and strong economic fundamentals in many Canadian provinces, are outweighing the fallout from soft resource markets leading to positive growth across the country.
The Canadian hotel industry reported mixed results in the three key performance metrics for the first quarter of 2016, according to data from STR.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced it has reached an agreement with Easton's Group of Hotels to open the second Element Hotel in the Greater Toronto Area and renovate Four Points by Sheraton Toronto Airport. The eight-story Element Toronto Airport will open in summer 2018 adjacent to the seven-story Four Points Toronto Airport, which will remain open throughout the 5 million CADrenovation.
The Hazelton Hotel, Toronto, the city's leading luxury boutique hotel, announces the appointment of Hani Roustom as General Manager. A celebrated and passionate hotelier, and graduate of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, Roustom brings his sharp focus on refined product and service excellence to Toronto's only member of the Leading Hotels of the World, a worldwide alliance of independent luxury hotels.
Christiane Germain, co-president of Group Germain Hotels today announces the appointment of Julie Brisebois as General Manager of Alt Hotel Ottawa, which will open in spring 2016, and Marie Pier Germain as General Manager of Alt Hotel Montreal, which opened in 2014. Motivated by her passion for customer service, it was a career change that led Julie Brisebois to the hospitality industry in 2004. She first made her debut at Le Germain Hotel Montreal before taking the helm of operations and then the general management of Alt Hotel Dix30 in Brossard, and more recently Alt Hotel Montreal. Today, her management and her experience of over ten years with Group Germain Hotels make her the perfect person to give life to the new Alt Hotel Ottawa. Marie Pier Germain has been entrusted to succeed Julie Brisebois with the general management of Alt Hotel Montreal. A graduate of Queen's University in Mechanical Engineering and with an innate sense for the client’s experience, Marie Pier joined the family business in 2006. During her journey, she has managed teams of architects, designers and engineers in charge of the construction and renovation of the Group's hotels, and until recently directed operations at Alt Hotel Montreal. At the same time, Marie Pier Germain also received her EMBA degree from McGill-HEC Montreal.
Gaudéric HARANG ESSEC IMHI 2013 has been appointed as Director of Operations Fairmont Le manoir Richelieu Quebec, Canada. Gaudéric joined Swissôtel Resort Phuket as Director of Operations upon graduation.
Matthew Mackenzie, general manager of the Algonquin Resort, today announced that Ron Kneabone has been appointed executive chef of the legendary, St. Andrews resort. Most recently, Kneabone was the executive chef/food and beverage director of the Marriott Fallsview in Niagara Falls.
Best Western® Hotels & Resorts continues to grow its Best Western Premier® brand presence in Canada, announcing the debut of the Best Western Premier Toronto Airport Carlingview Hotel. This is the first Best Western Premier hotel in Toronto and the fourth in Canada.
The 70-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Barrie, Ontario is now open for business. Located at 261 Essa Road, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Barrie will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Dass Group. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Barrie offers guests convenient access to the Barrie waterfront, the Spirit Catcher, the Barrie Molson Centre, and the MacLaren Art Centre.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, today announces the opening of the new-build 125-room Holiday Inn Express® & Suites Oshawa Downtown hotel in Oshawa, Ontario. This hotel joins theHoliday Inn Express Whitby Oshawa and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Clarington – Bowmanville properties open nearby. Located near major businesses including the General Motors assembly plant and Ontario Power Generation, as well as premier sports and entertainment venue General Motors Centre, this hotel is expected to become a top choice for business, sport and leisure travellers to the Oshawa area.
Tribute Portfolio, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), today announced its debut in Canada with the signing of Hotel PUR Quebec, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, owned byHotel PUR Quebec LP and managed by Crescent Hotels and Resorts Canada Company. Located in the burgeoning Saint Roch neighborhood in Quebec City, Hotel PUR Quebec will undergo a full renovation of all 242 guestrooms and suites before joining the Tribute Portfolio system in early 2017. Entering its sixth country just a month ahead of its one year anniversary, Tribute Portfolio continues to maintain its position as having the fastest take-off of any Starwood hotel brand, ever.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the world's leading hotel companies, today announces the opening of the newly-renovated 113-room Holiday Inn Express® & Suites Halifax-Bedford hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. This hotel joins the Holiday Inn® Halifax Harbourview and Holiday Inn Express & Suites Halifax Airport hotels already nearby. Located near major attractions including the BMO Centre, IBM Innovation Centre, Canada Games Centre, World Trade & Convention Centre, Bayer's Lake Park and Mount St. Vincent University, this hotel is expected to become a top choice for business, sports, government and leisure travellers in the Halifax area.
Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton Worldwide's (NYSE: HLT) industry-first All Suites portfolio, announced today its newest property, Home2 Suites by Hilton Milton. Designed for travelers looking for a fresh, new stay experience, the hotel will have 100 suites and continues the expansion of one of Hilton Worldwide's fastest growing brands in portfolio history.
Vantage Hotels has increased Canadas Best Value Inn's presence in the western half of the country with the addition of properties in Calgary, Alberta and Vernon, British Columbia. Canadas Best Value Inn-Calgary Chinook Station is scheduled to officially convert from Howard Johnson Express later this month. The property has 48 rooms (several with kitchenette suites), offers free continental breakfast and Wi-Fi, and is pet friendly. Nearby attractions include the Chinook Centre mall, Calgary Zoo, Calgary Stampede Park, Scotiabank Saddledome, Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that its fast-growing Four Points brand has expanded its Canadian footprint with the opening of Four Points Regina, the brand's second location in Saskatchewan. Owned and managed by VJ Management, the newly constructed Four Points caters to the modern traveler with an emphasis on approachable design and stylish comfort.
The 147-suite Residence Inn Marriott in Regina, Saskatchewan is scheduled to open on Friday, March 11, 2016. Located at 1506 Pasqua Street, the all-suite Residence Inn Regina will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by MLS Management, Ltd. and managed by Atlific Hotels.
Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto announces the appointment of Jens Moesker to the position of area general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto and Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver. Moesker joins the hotels from the 200-room Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, where he served as general manager from 2011 to February 2016. Moesker has been with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts since 2000 and has over 23 years of experience in the hospitality industry, covering all aspects of hotel operations, with a particular passion for food and beverage. Moesker brings strategic thinking and knowledge of Shangri-La hospitality from his diverse career path in Asia.