THE WINNERS’ CIRCLE August 11, 2020

Aodhan Sheahan cycles for cancer

CALGARY — “As many of my contacts are aware, I am no longer with MasterBUILT Hotels / Superior Lodging Group,” Aodhan Sheahan wrote on LinkedIn a few days ago. “I have started the process of talking to contacts, working with recruiters and doing the digging necessary to find a great role with a great company where I can make a real contribution to results, team culture and growth. In addition, I am focusing on making the most of some unexpected time by spending it with my children, working on my fitness and volunteering.

‪”In support of both fitness and volunteering, I have signed up for the GREAT CYCLE CHALLENGE CANADA with a goal of riding more than 200KM in August. If you are able to help me support childhood cancer funding in Canada through this effort please visit my page and make a donation.

“I note that that hotel occupancy in Canada has improved now for 14 consecutive weeks and other hospitality destinations are beginning to shows signs of life. It will be a long road back with many more bumps but I remain confident that great teams, owners, brands, suppliers and financing partners will work together to emerge stronger than ever from this challenge. I wish you and your teams the best in the business.”

Holiday Inn St. Jacobs recognized by TripAdvisor

WATERLOO-ST. JACOBS, Ont. — Holiday Inn Express and Suites Waterloo-St. Jacobs has been recognized for the Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Award for the fifth consecutive year. “That you to all our loyal guests and dedicated team members for allowing us to reach this milestone,” wrote Naushad Ismail, director of Woodlawn Hospitality Group.

Magnolia Hotel No. 1 in Canada

VICTORIA — The Magnolia Hotel & Spa has been voted the #1 Top Hotel in Canada in the 2020 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards – Best of the Best, announced last week.

“This incredible news could not have come at a better time for our team,” said Bill Lewis, general manager of the Magnolia Hotel & Spa. “It is uplifting and much appreciated to be recognized by our valued guests in the wake of this especially challenging period for tourism – we are very much inspired to continue providing guests with the highly personalized service and curated experiences synonymous with the Magnolia Hotel & Spa.”

The TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards highlight the world’s best hotels, destinations and experiences worldwide as determined by the millions of reviews, ratings and opinions collected throughout the year from TripAdvisor travellers across the globe. With 859 million reviews and opinions of 8.6 million accommodations, restaurants, experiences and airlines, TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel platform, providing travellers with a breadth of knowledge and inspiration to help them plan their perfect trip.

The Magnolia Hotel & Spa’s commitment to providing guests with an unrivalled luxury boutique accommodation experience in the heart of the city has positioned the property as Victoria’s most award-winning hotel. With a highly personalized customer service promise and central location only steps from Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour, the Magnolia Hotel & Spa provides a home away from home in British Columbia’s picture-perfect capital city. Unique details set the hotel apart, including a collection of Curated Trail Maps, offering guests the opportunity to explore the city’s hidden gems independently and at their own pace; the award-winning Courtney Room restaurant focusing on Vancouver Island produce; and the 100 per cent organic Spa Magnolia, both located off the hotel’s lobby.

The World’s Best Hotels in Canada

This year’s Travel and Leisure World’s Best Awards survey closed on March 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results reflect readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be.

Every year for their World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

As with their 2019 list, this year’s winners were concentrated in the Canadian West, with six out of the 10 scattered throughout Alberta and British Columbia — including the Wickaninnish Inn (No. 3) in Tofino, British Columbia. The rugged-chic lodge sits between forest and the wild waters of the northern Pacific and comprises 72 rooms and suites with soaking tubs, fireplaces, and expansive balconies. “Outstanding,” raved one reader. “It’s one of the best stays we had in years.”

Guests of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (No. 4), a castle-like property in Banff National Park, Alberta, were similarly effusive: “There aren’t enough good things I can say about the beauty of the location, the thoughtfulness of the staff, and the overall experience,” wrote one respondent. Echoed another, “It doesn’t get better than this.”

Out east, in Inverness, Nova Scotia, the Lodge at Cabot Cape Breton claimed the No. 8 spot. The 72-room lodge is situated on the award-winning Cabot Links golf course, overlooking the stunning, surf-battered coast of Cape Breton. In addition to the two championship golf courses, other draws include the dining options (including the glass-paneled Panorama Restaurant that looks onto Cabot Links’ 18th hole and the Gulf of St. Lawrence) and excursions like hiking and whale watching.

The winning property — which also claimed the No. 1 spot for the fourth year — not only puts travellers smack in the middle of the wonderful wildness that they love so much but also works diligently to preserve it through a host of sustainability initiatives.

The list of the T+L Top 10 Resort Hotels in Canada follows:

1. Fogo Island Inn, Fogo Island, N.L.
2. Manoir Hovey, North Hatley, Que.
3. The Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, B.C.
4. The Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Whistler, B.C.
5. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise, Alta.
6. The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff, Alta.
7. Four Seasons Resort and Residences, Whistler, B.C.
8. The Lodge at Cabot, Cape Breton, Inverness, N.S.
9. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Alta.
10. Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Montebello, Que.