OPENINGS, SALES AND RENOS Sept. 10, 2019

Thompson Hotel to become 1 Hotel Toronto

NEW YORK — Barry Sternlicht, 1 Hotels founder and CEO & chairman of Starwood Capital Group, announced plans today for its newest property, 1 Hotel Toronto, inspired by Canada's natural beauty, the vibrant character of King Street West and the Toronto marketplace.

The hotel is being developed in partnership with Mohari Hospitality, a global real estate investment company and owner of the building which is currently operated as the Thompson Toronto. The downtown property will undergo an extensive transformation into a relaxing luxury sustainable 1 retreat.

“1 Hotel Toronto will introduce the city to a new standard for an eco-conscious luxury experience, and is the first of its kind in Canada,” said Sternlicht. “We look forward to sharing our mission to inspire conscious consumption with guests from across the globe as well as the local community. Our partnership with Mohari is key to the re-development of the project, and we are pleased to be collaborating with them.”

Mark Scheinberg, founder of Mohari Hospitality, said: “We're excited to be partnering with 1 Hotels to open this luxury hotel and brand in the heart of Toronto. At Mohari, we look for innovative projects that are changing the hospitality market and 1 Hotel Toronto perfectly fits that mould.”

1 Toronto will be enhanced by a level of luxury and personalization that puts guests in an urban oasis. It's a place to unwind, connect, eat well, and discover warmth and community in an environment which embraces nature, making it a luxurious and welcome respite for business travelers and world wanderers alike.

The hotel will remain open and operating as the Thompson until the renovation begins.

Comfort Carleton Place breaks ground

CARLETON PLACE, Ont. — A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Comfort Inn & Suites in Carleton Place was held Sept. 4. Members of city council including Mayor Doug Black were in attendance, alongside representatives from Cavanagh Concrete, Chamberlain Architects, Graham Marsh of Choice Hotels Canada and the ownership group including Harinder Brar, Rajesh Mujral, Parvesh Tyagi and Jaspreet Madaan.

“Carleton Place is one of the fastest growing communities in the greater Ottawa area with both a growing population and diverse economic drivers,” said Graham Marsh, director, franchise development for Choice Hotels Canada.

“With our ever growing number of Choice Priveleges Members, we’re continuously looking to provide our accommodations in markets where we are under-represented and know there’s a demand from our guests.

“Members of the EDO and town Council were supportive of the project since the hotel was proposed and have been very reasonable with regards to the municipalities requirements. The combination of everything has made it an exciting project.”

Once the hotel is completed in midsummer 2020, there will be 72 guestrooms, an indoor pool, fitness room and meeting space. The hotel is owned under a numbered company by equal partners Jaspreet Madaan, Parvesh Tyagi, Graham Marsh, Rajesh Mujral & Harinder Brar.

New build Comfort opens in Goderich

GODERICH, Ont. — Travellers to Huron Country will have a new place to stay with the opening of the Comfort Inn & Suites in Goderich. Located minutes from Lake Huron, the newly constructed 60-room hotel is the first Choice property to open along the eastern shore.

“The evolution of the Comfort brand has allowed us to tap into new markets and expand our presence,” says Graham Marsh, director, franchise development at Choice Hotels Canada. “The Comfort Inn & Suites will offer affordable and restful accommodations to both business and leisure travellers in the region.”

Each guest room offers premium bedding and convenient in-room amenities, including microwaves and mini-refrigerators, work desks with ergonomic chairs and flat-panel televisions. Alongside complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi, guests have access to a business centre, fully-equipped fitness centre and indoor pool. The hotel also features a meeting room capable of hosting upwards of 100 guests for small events or wedding receptions.

The hotel is conveniently located near numerous local attractions, including the Goderich Main Beach, Goderich Lighthouse, Courthouse Park and Huron Historic Gaol.

Hamptonality comes to Charlottetown

CHARLOTTETOWN — On June 27, 2019, Hamptonality burst into the hospitality industry in Prince Edward Island with the opening of the Hampton Inn & Suites Charlottetown. The hotel opened its doors just in time to great travellers to Prince Edward Island to showcase the spectacular 124-unit hotel located at 300 Capital Drive.

The Hampton Inn & Suites Charlottetown, under ownership and management by DP Murphy Hotels of Charlottetown, PE features 93 spacious guest rooms and another 31 tasteful studio suites in its 6-story structure along with conference space exceeding 1,500 sq ft with all of the technology bells and whistles.

Like a castle overviewing in all directions, the unique look and design of this hotel is very distinct and stands out gracefully atop Capital Drive in Charlottetown. Just minutes from the downtown core and a stone’s toss away from Charlottetown airport, shopping, beaches and tourist attractions, industrial parks and directly off of the main artery leading into Charlottetown, this hotel is a prime location for travellers of all segments.

The state-of-the-art exercise equipment, mineral pool and elaborate hot and cold breakfast buffet which featuring flavoured waffles, pressed juices and daily smoothie features along with all of the expected items you will find on the Hampton Breakfast Bar.

“During the recruitment process, I focused on ‘F.A.C.T.’ when selecting the team which will make this hotel stand out in our market, with the portfolio of hotels with DP Murphy Hotels and with the Hilton brand,” said general manager Glen Morrison. “Friendly, Authentic, Caring and Thoughtful are characteristics that you can’t necessarily teach, so I look for that in my team members when bringing them on board. From those characteristics, we can build on their strengths and make this hotel truly successful.

“I am so proud of everyone who had a part in this hotel and I thank Danny and Martie Murphy for allowing me to take the helm of this hotel” said Morrison.

This is the second hotel Glen will have managed after moving from Cape Breton, where he managed the multi-award-winning Hampton Inn Sydney, located in the Membertou Business Development park.

Holloway sells two N.S. hotels

HALIFAX — Holloway Lodging Corporation has sold its Travelodge hotel in Sydney, N.S., as well as is leasehold interest in the Super 8 hotel located in Truro, N.S.

The sale price for the Travelodge Sydney was $5.1 million, representing a cap rate of 7.3 per cent and a price-per-room of approximately $43,200. The sale price for the leasehold interest in the Super 8 Truro was $3.0 million, representing a cap rate of approximately 10.9 per cent and a price-per-room of $60,000.

Four Seasons Whistler renos

WHISTLER, B.C. — Four Seasons Resort Whistler has debuted newly updated guestrooms and suites. The property began renovations in spring of 2019, completing large-scale updates to it 273 guestrooms, including new furnishings, fixtures and other additions.

Key features include mid-century-inspired furnishings, iron frame leather chairs, ashwood credenzas, raw-edged coffee tables and granite fireplaces. Floating brass bedside light fixtures and sculptural ceiling light features also create a sense of luxury while allowing the grandeur of the mountains to be centre stage.

Led by Vancouver-based studio DIALOG, the refurbished rooms and suites honour Whistler, B.C.’s unique setting — a secluded retreat, just an hour and a half away from Vancouver. With this in mind, the design team expanded on the concept of a retreat, combining urban-minded design elements with classic lodge style.

Four Seasons Resort Whistler has also introduced its custom Interior & Tonic experience in every guestroom, including a resort-exclusive gin from Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. The bar set — complete with local Bittered Sling Lillooet Bitters and sparkling tonic — is curated by award-winning Vancouver mixologist Lauren Mote and allows guests to après in-room.

Norwood Winnipeg features new F&B

WINNIPEG — An ambitious project now underway at the Norwood Hotel will soon bring elevated cuisine and fresh new style to one of Winnipeg's most beloved gathering places.

On August 14, Sparrow Hotels unveiled the new concepts behind the transformation of the 82-year-old establishment in the heart of the city's French quarter. Patrons will get their first peek at the new facilities when doors open in late September.

“It's a challenge to reinvent a place that is basically a local institution,” said Ben Sparrow, CEO of Sparrow Hotels. “Our goal was to give this city more of the award-winning design that has been so successful at our latest restaurants. At the same time, we wanted to retain the warm, welcoming character that makes the Norwood special. Our new concepts capture all of these elements, and we can't wait to share them with Winnipeg.”

Inspiration was drawn from the history of the hotel, the surrounding community of St. Boniface and the latest hospitality trends. The resulting design uses classic, retro-inspired materials in a modern way, creating an atmosphere that feels warm, nostalgic and decidedly contemporary.

Three new concepts within this overall design approach, the Norwood's new restaurant, tavern and gaming lounge will assert their own distinctive personalities.

Pauline will be a stylish new restaurant with an old French bistro feel, serving simple, elegant fare for breakfast and brunch. The light, airy space will be dressed in the classic French colours of royal blue, white and cream, punctuated with bright pops of golden yellow, natural wood tones and coloured mosaic tile. The name was inspired by Pauline Boutal, a well-known St. Boniface artist who created fashion illustrations for Eaton’s from the 1920s onward. Her work will be echoed in murals and accents throughout the restaurant. “It’s our way of celebrating the surrounding community of St. Boniface, which is the heart of Manitoba’s French history and culture,” Sparrow said.

The Wood Tavern, the neighborhood’s favorite hangout, has been reimagined from top to bottom for a new generation of bar patrons. The new design gives a nod to the building’s 82-year history as a tavern while embracing the growing popularity of camping-inspired cuisine. The ambience will be cozy and outdoorsy, with plenty of dark woods, raw stone, warm leather and bright hits of brass. The tavern will also feature several private dining spaces for groups of up to 200.

Carousel, the new gaming lounge, will be a fresh take on the VLT area. The lounge will be directly accessible from the street, and will have its own bar and comfortable seating. Dark woods, raw brick, deep blacks and rich golds will bring to mind the heyday of casinos and a ‘secret club’ vibe.

SureStay comes to Castlegar, B.C.

CASTLEGAR, B.C. — The SureStay Hotel by Best Western Castlegar has opened its doors in Castlegar, British Columbia, and invites travelers to experience one of the newest hotel brands in the industry – the SureStay Hotel Group.

The newly renovated SureStay Hotel by Best Western Castlegar will provide guests with an experience they can count on and the amenities today’s travelers have come to expect. The SureStay® service promise reflects the brand and the hotel’s commitment to providing quality service and value to its guests.

Located at 1810 8^th Avenue, Castlegar, British Columbia, the hotel features 59 well-appointed guest rooms, including one suite, complete with flat-screen televisions, microwaves and mini fridges, and some with kitchenettes. The SureStay Hotel by Best Western also offers free wireless internet, complimentary breakfast, an onsite restaurant serving Thai Vietnamese cuisine and an onsite brewery opening in August – providing guests with the superior comfort and utmost value they want out of their stay.

The property’s location is convenient for guests interested in exploring the nearby area as it is just a short drive from the famous Castlegar Sculpturewalk, the Doukhobor Discovery Centre and Zuckerberg Island Park, and a quick walk to several food establishments.

“We are excited to expand our portfolio of SureStay properties in Canada, is a welcomed addition to our growing portfolio of SureStay Hotels,” Rob Mentnech, managing director of SureStay Hotel Group. “The SureStay Hotel by Best Western Castlegar is a wonderful addition to the portfolio. This hotel will be an affordable, quality lodging option for travelers visiting Castlegar.”

“Guests staying at our hotel can expect to receive quality customer care and the amenities they are looking for in a hotel stay,” said Gitansh Nagpal, general manager of the property. “Travellers visiting Castlegar can be sure about their stay at our hotel.”

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