Hotel Equities partners with PEG Companies to open new Courtyard by Marriott in Nanaimo, B.C.

The partnership will manage the 172-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel currently under construction in downtown Nanaimo, British Columbia.

“We are thrilled to welcome this highly anticipated hotel into our Canadian property portfolio”, says Ryan McRae, senior vice president of Business Development, Canada, for HE. “Our team is excited to contribute to the positive impact this hotel will have on the Nanaimo community through the creation of jobs, enhancement of Nanaimo’s downtown spirit, and increased competitiveness among the city’s tourism.”

The new Marriott hotel will offer amenities including a street-level café, pool and fitness centre. Design features include angular windows with street side views, stone panels, and a façade of exterior colours allowing it to blend well within the environment and existing buildings in the area. Vancouver-based sustainable construction firm Nexii is expected to generate efficiencies in completing the buildout through its innovative construction methodology.

As part of PEG’s design plan, the Courtyard will pay homage to Nanaimo’s cultural heritage through Snuneymuxw-inspired décor and serve as a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the Snuneymuxw people. "Since the beginning when PEG was selected to develop this special site, it was extremely important to us that we worked collaboratively with the Snuneymuxw First Nation," says Cameron Gunter, CEO of PEG.

"Our goal with this project was to preserve the rich cultural traditions of the past while spurring economic growth for the future."

The Courtyard Marriott Nanaimo hotel is slated to open Q2 2022 and will provide the opportunity to celebrate the opening of this 10-plus year project with the Nanaimo community.

The nine-story hotel is situated adjacent to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, and between Casino Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Museum. Nanaimo is well-positioned for further growth with its easy access to Vancouver and growing tourism industry. City officials have maintained that the hotel is crucial for the downtown revitalization and success of the neighbouring conference centre. The Marriott is expected to spur economic growth as the first major hotel brand in the area.