REOPENINGS, SALES AND RENOS Oct. 27, 2020

Will Schitt’s Creek motel become a five-star property?

ORANGEVILLE, Ont. — The show is over, racking up seven Emmys and now streaming its final season on Netflix, and now Jesse Tipping, owner of the real life hotel Rosebud Hotel in Orangeville, Ont., used for filming in the highly-successful Schitt’s Creek comedy, wants to sell the property.

He doesn’t want to sell the motel to just anyone. He told the Globe & Mail that he wants to see it become “a five-star experience,” the kind of place where Moira Rose and her family would have felt at home, right from the beginning: a boutique hotel with a fancy restaurant.

“It’s been a special property for us and I would really like to see it continue on as an homage to the Rosebud and Schitt’s Creek,” he said in the Globe interview, referencing the motel’s fictional counterpart. “It’s got potential and I want to see this piece of Canadian history have new breath.”

His dream might come true — even before COVID made outside entrances popular, buyers were renovating motels and making them boutique properties. The June Motel in Prince Edward County, with its signature pink doors, is one example.

Tipping said he has had a fair number of inquiries from potential buyers, and that everyone who contacted him wants the hotel to live on.

Activar Lac Megantic Microtel video

LAC MEGANTIC, Qué. — Activar Hotels’ new Microtel hotel in Lac Mégantic, Qué., is taking shape. The second and third stages were assembled on October 26 on the site on rue Frontenac, in Lac-Mégantic. The hotel provides an example of modular construction, carried out by Fabrik Habitations Simplitées, where the rooms are created in the factory, in blocks of two bedrooms linked by an end of the corridor. Almost everything is completed at the factory, including the furniture, paint, floor coverings and light fixtures. Then the modules are placed on road carriers and delivered, as is, to the site for assembly using a crane over 3 to 5 days.

The Microtel Hotel by Wyndham, is a $9.6 million project and is the result of a partnership between the City of Lac-Mégantic, Investissement Québec, Economic Development Canada, Roynat and the Société de développement économique du Granit. Despite the fact that Microtel is an international brand, Activar has teamed up with a regional general contractor, based in Beauce and a large number of the subcontractors and products used are local and regional. Activar is also using local wood and granite, strengthening the community approach, which plays an important role in each of its hotel developments. This project also has an ecological angle, belonging to the province’s first micro-electricity network with Hydro-Quebec. Concerned about light pollution, this project respects the standards established by the International Starry Sky Reserve of Mont-Mégantic and will have a reflective white roof which contributes, among other things, to reducing the heat.

The hotel is scheduled to open in January 2021.

Activar Hotels develops, manages and invests in hotels located in the key markets of Quebec and Ontario. As a limited service hotel developer, Activar Hotels leads the entire development process, from the acquisition of the land to the opening of the hotel, then manages the hotel in a professional manner on behalf of all partners in order to to obtain high returns.

Choice Hotels Canada Quality Inn Rimbey

RIMBEY, Alta. — Rimbey, Alta., is home to the newest member of the Choice Hotels Canada family, the Quality Inn & Suites in Rimbey, which opened on Oct. 12. A conversion property, the 60-room, pet-friendly hotel is located close to Central Alberta Raceway and PasKaPoo Historical Park. This is the 98^th property in Canada for the fast-growing and well-loved Quality brand.

“We are delighted to welcome another Quality hotel to Western Canada,” says Juan Duran, Franchise Development Director at Choice Hotels Canada. “Guests can be assured they will experience the very best the brand has to offer at our new Rimbey property.”

The hotel features a large heated indoor pool with waterslide, hot tub and sauna, perfect for families and sport teams. The fitness centre will delight both leisure and business travellers and there is a meeting room for those working on the road. Like most Quality hotels, free breakfast is included with stays. Due to COVID-19 health safety measures currently in place at hotels, it is advisable to check on amenity availability at the time of booking.

The Quality Inn & Suites in Rimbey offers guests a range of amenities including complimentary Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, microwaves and flat-screen TVs. Each room also features a desk, hairdryer, iron and ironing board.

“The Quality brand is well recognized and respected here in Canada and we are thrilled to open a hotel under that banner and join the Choice Hotels family,” says Elaa Aki, co-owner of Quality Inn & Suites in Rimbey. “We know our guests will benefit from the strong reservation system, as well as the award-winning loyalty program. We look forward to welcoming them this year and beyond.”

The hotel has a variety of guest rooms to suit every stay occasion and is fully accessible. Whether you are on the road, working in the area or just checking out the local attractions, this hotel will welcome you with their superior amenities and friendly and accomodating staff.

Coast Swift Current for sale

SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Cushman & Wakefield Global Hospitality has been exclusively retained by the ownership group to see the Coast Swift Current Hotel.

The ownership group’s objective is to achieve fair market value, and complete the sale in a timely manner. Qualified prospective purchasers that execute and submit a Confidentiality Agreement will be given access to a secure data room which will contain detailed and relevant information of the property. Based on this information and such other due diligence a prospective purchaser may elect to perform, prospective purchasers are invited to submit an offer to purchase.

The ownership group reserves the right to accept, counter and/or reject any or all offers. All physical walk-through tours will be only by request basis. Purchaser’s will enter into a definitive Purchase and Sale Agreement with ownership group which will detail any further due diligence and closing period.