THE WINNERS' CIRCLE Dec. 17, 2019

TORONTO – Good things come in threes, especially if you are globetrotting chef Akira Back. Just this month, the celebrated chef was awarded a Michelin Star for the third time for his restaurant concept Dosa in hometown, Seoul, South Korea.

“To be awarded a Michelin Star three years in a row is a dream come true,” says Akira Back. “Classified as ‘worth a stop’ by their team is the ultimate compliment and it is a feeling we strive to provide guests at our restaurants around the world.”

Dedicated to serving creative and modern cuisine that pays homage to his Korean roots, Akira Back’s namesake restaurant in Toronto’s Bisha Hotel is celebrating its second year anniversary this month with a special limited edition menu.

Akira Back currently owns and operates 15 restaurant concepts worldwide

Days Inns teams up with Curling Canada

TORONTO — Days Inns – Canada recently announced a partnership deal with Curling Canada for the 2019-2020 curling season. Under the agreement, Days Inns – Canada will join other well-known brands as a national partner for Curling Canada's Season of Champions (SOC) events that include The Home Hardware Canada Cup, The OK Tire & BKT Tires Continental Cup of Curling, The New Holland Canadian Juniors, The Scotties Tournament of Hearts, The Tim Hortons Brier and The World Curling Championships.

“Curling Canada is thrilled to welcome Days Inns – Canada onboard as a first-time partner for our Season of Champions events,” said Katherine Henderson, CEO of Curling Canada. “This partnership is a great fit and we look forward to helping Days Inn showcase their brand and interact with fans at some of Canada’s most beloved curling events.”

The sponsorship will feature Days Inn branded LED-animated rinkboards, web presence and print advertising along with a 15-second TV spot that will air on TSN. The hotel chain will also receive an opportunity to interact with curling fans from across the country via an in-venue kiosk for the closing weekends of Tim Hortons Brier in Kingston, ON and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Sask.

“We are very excited to partner with Curling Canada and engage with curlers and fans across the country,” said Ally Wesson, senior director of marketing, Days Inns – Canada. “With 115 hotels from coast to coast, we welcome the opportunity to be their home away from the house!.”

Germain Hotels wins host of awards

MONTREAL — Autumn 2019 has been particularly celebratory for both Germain Hotels and its leaders, having been the recipients of several honours in recent weeks. Here’s a glimpse.

2019 GRAND BÂTISSEUR AWARD PRESENTED BY QUEBEC’S MINISTRY OF TOURISM: On November 13th, the Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec held its Excellence Awards where Christiane and Jean-Yves Germain received the 2019 Grand Bâtisseur award from Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx. The award was presented to them for their audaciousness, vision, sustainable development values and leadership role in the industry.

“To be recognized in this way is truly touching. For 31 years, we have been building a company that is in keeping with our image and our values, and we’re thrilled that it resonates with people. We are passionate about hospitality and we do our best to transmit that to our 1,450 employees across the country. It’s a way of promoting every city and province in which we operate,” state Christiane and Jean-Yves Germain, co-founders and po-presidents of Germain Hotels.

A video tribute was created for the occasion. View it here (in French only).

CHRISTIANE GERMAIN RECOGNIZED AS 2019 CANADA’S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN: TOP 100 BY WOMEN’S EXECUTIVE NETWORK (WXN): This marks the fourth year that Ms. Germain has been named to this prestigious list, meaning she is now entered into the Hall of Fame. The Top 100 honours Canada's outstanding women who champion diversity in the workplace and inspire the next generation of leaders. You can view the complete list of Hall of Fame membershere.

BEST OTTAWA BUSINESS AWARDS: Announced earlier this year, the plans to construct a hotel on the grounds of the Ottawa International Airport were recognized on November 22nd at the Best Ottawa Business Awards (BOBs). Germain Hotels and the Ottawa International Airport Authority jointly accepted the Best Ottawa Business Award in the Tourism category. The award underscores the importance of this promising project in the nation’s capital. View the press release here.

CHRISTIANE GERMAIN, WINNER OF THE 2019 TRIBUTE AWARD FROM LA SOCIÉTÉ QUÉBÉCOISE DES PROFESSIONNELS EN RELATIONS PUBLIQUES (FIND ALL WINNERS here – IN FRENCH ONLY): At the SQPRP Gala evening on December 3, 2019, Ms. Germain received the Public Relations Tribute Award in recognition of her outstanding qualities as a communicator.

“By using communications intelligently, honestly and respectfully, Ms. Germain has earned the esteem of the public and her peers,” says Patrick Howe, PRP, ARP, and President of the SQPRP.

The SQPRP Tribute Award is presented annually to a leader who has leveraged public relations to its full value and who has used it as a strategic management function throughout their career. “Whether it is our guests, the communities in which our hotels are present, our partners, our employees or our suppliers, we have always believed in the power of relationships. I firmly believe that forging strong and genuine relationships with people, all rooted in kindness, will lead to a better, stronger society,” states Christiane Germain, Co-President Germain Hotels.

HOTEL LE GERMAIN QUEBEC AMONG THE 10 BEST HOTELS IN CANADA ACCORDING TO CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER READERS: Hôtel Le Germain Québec once again ranked high on Conde Nast Traveler's Reader’s Choice. A favourite of its loyal guests and a constant on this prestigious list since 2005, the hotel ranked seventh in Canada for 2019. View the complete list of hotels here.

Huntingdon Manor's Ecostar Award

VICTORIA — On November 21, 2019, the Huntingdon Manor Hotel and Pendray Inn and Tea House was awarded the 2019 Ecostar Award for Greenest Lodging. This particular award acknowledges a lodging business that has demonstrated initiatives to reduce waste, energy consumption, water usage, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in their daily operations. Sponsored by Destination Greater Victoria, previous winners include Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, and Parkside Hotel in Victoria.

As the general manager, Erin Cassels, states “We are incredibly proud of our entire team for their hard work in 2019 and ongoing commitment to social responsibility, with special thanks to our Sustainability Manager, Julia Canton. We realize there is so much more we, as an industry, need to do. The Huntingdon Manor Hotel and Pendray Inn and Tea House is looking forward to being contributors to building a more sustainable future in our beautiful destination.”

Organized for the fifth consecutive year by the Synergy Sustainability Institute, the 2019 Ecostar Awards were held at the Delta Hotel by Marriott Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort. Over the course of the evening, 21 awards categories were given away from climate action champions to leadership in design and construction. It was a true celebration of Vancouver Island’s sustainability leadership.

Microtel Val d'Or wins Best New Hotel

LAS VEGAS — At the Wyndham Global Conference, held in Las Vegas Nevada every 18 months, the Microtel Val-d’Or received the “Best New Construction Hotel Award”. This international award recognizes the highest performing Microtel by Wyndham in their first year of business, worldwide.

“Being recognized as the Best New Construction Microtel has really proven that the Microtel brand is a perfect fit for Val-d’Or. Guests visiting this market want an efficient stay with lots of amenities at a good price, all of which Microtel Val-d’Or offers. We are truly honored to receive this award acknowledging such success in our first year of business and we expect this trend to continue for years to come,” says Aodhan Sheahan senior vice-president of operations, MasterBUILT Hotels.

“Our team has worked hard to ensure our guests feel at home each time they stay with us, whether they are traveling on business or with for leisure. I feel very proud that our team has received this recognition and we feel lucky to be able to host so many visitors to Val-d’Or,” says Karine Roy, hotel general manager.