Hotels & Resorts
Pye Gets The Nod
Michael J. Pye has been appointed general manager at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. As general manager of the 556-room hotel, Pye will oversee the $12 million lobby renovation that will be completed for the hotel's 75th anniversary in the fall of 2014. Most recently, Pye was the general manager of the Fairmont Winnipeg and he brings 17 years of hotel experience and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary with majors in marketing and tourism hospitality...
Studio 6 opens in downtown Toronto
Realstar Hospitality has opened its first franchise Studio 6 in Canada, located in downtown Toronto. Suited for travellers who need accommodations for more than a few nights, the modern six-storey building has 72 extended-stay studio units. Renovated guest rooms feature equipped kitchens that include cooking utensils, a microwave, stove top, refrigerator and coffee maker. Guests will enjoy free Wi-Fi Internet access, 32-inch flat-screen HD TV with expanded cable, multi-media panel with A/V connections for mp3 players, video game systems and laptop computers. Guest laundry...
Four Points debuts in Waterloo
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide reports that the Four Points by Sheraton Waterloo-Kitchener Hotel & Suites in Ontario has opened. The hotel completed an extensive renovation becoming the newest addition of the Four Points by Sheraton portfolio. The newly renovated hotel features 104 guest rooms, with 52 tower suites, meeting facilities, on-site restaurant, lobby bar and 24-hour fitness centre. The hotel is centrally located in the Waterloo Region, minutes from Waterloo’s Technology Park, RIM Park, University of Waterloo, Sir Wilfred Laurier University and the Region of...
W Hotels to make Dutch debut
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. reports it will debut its W Hotels brand in the Netherlands with the new W Amsterdam, scheduled to open in Autumn 2015. Owned by STAG Europe (Grafenau) BV, the hotel will be located on the prestigious Dam Square in the heart of Amsterdam, behind the Royal Palace and just steps from the city’s iconic canal district with its vibrant restaurants, bars and nightlife scene. W Amsterdam will provide an integrated contemporary lifestyle experience with 169 stylish guestrooms, including 10 suites and one Extreme Wow Suite (the W brand’s...
Fiji resort unveils enhancements
The Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji has announced that it will be entering a further phase of a series of upgrades and enhancements to the resort’s facilities, accommodations and public spaces. GM Mark Slimmer said, “We are excited to be proceeding with yet another phase of upgrades at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort that will build upon the captivating and authentic atmosphere that defines of our award-winning eco-resort.” In 2013, the resort began a multi-stage process involving several million dollars of improvements. The improvements included a completely new bar and lounge...
HAC National Conference set for Feb. 11-12
As the global economy stutters and starts with alarming unpredictability, the tourism industry will once again turn to the Hotel Association of Canada for advice on how to build and maintain sustainable businesses. The 100-year-old association, which represents more than 8,500 hotels, motels and resorts in the country’s $17-billion lodging industry, will focus on deep consumer insight as it hosts its annual conference in Toronto on Feb. 11-12. The following are four reasons not miss this conference: !!! FORD FOCUS: Sheryl Connelly is a sought after speaker, and for good reason....
Sandals Barbados to undergo US$65 million facelift
Hot on the heels of the launch of Sandals LaSource Grenada, Sandals Resorts International has announced Sandals Barbados will temporarily close its doors on April 1 to undergo a US$65 million enhancement program. The wide-ranging renovations will include the introduction of seven new gourmet restaurants bringing the total to 10, total refurbishment of the resort’s 280 existing rooms as well as numerous other additions and enhancements. Sandals Resorts’ chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart commented, “When we acquired this property in August 2013, we knew we were buying great...
Skyline helping clean the world
Skyline Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Orlando-based social enterprise Clean the World to collect and recycle hotel soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions and gels with the aim of helping fight hygiene-related illnesses and decreasing the company’s environmental footprint. The soaps collected by Skyline Hotels & Resorts will be shipped to Clean the World for recycling and distribution to communities and countries in greatest need through the efforts of the charitable organization. Kevin Toth, president & COO of Skyline Hotels & Resorts, said that, “As...