REOPENINGS, SALES AND RENOS June 9, 2020

Iconic Rockies hotels reopened June 1

BANFF, Alta. — The iconic 132-year-old Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, which closed April 10, reopened its doors on June 1, and other Fairmont properties in the Rockies have decided to follow suit. In addition to the Banff Springs, Chateau Lake Louise and the Jasper Park Lodge, both Fairmont properties, will also open to guests June 1, with similar procedures in place.

“We’ll open very gradually with two to three floors because we don’t expect demand to be particularly strong at the outset,” said general manager David Roberts, who also serves as Fairmont’s regional vice-president of the Canadian western mountain region. “I think there is a lot of pent-up demand in Alberta for people to travel, but that’ll be concentrated on the weekends in the beginning.”

The Banff Springs will implement protocols which, in addition to limited access to the facility, will include only one door for visitors to enter and exit through, temperature checks at check-in, and gift baskets in rooms with sanitizers, wipes and masks.

“We want our customers to feel very safe . . . so the protocols will last until health authorities advise differently,” Roberts said, adding once a guest checks out, the room will remain vacant for 48 hours. “Then, if the demand grows, we’ll just open more of the hotel up so we can continue to accept people whilst following those guidelines.”

Courtyard by Marriott Burlington reopens

BURLINGTON, Ont. — The Courtyard by Marriott Burlington team has been taking proactive measures throughout the hotel and has now reopened.

Courtyard by Marriott Burlington, Ont., has implemented the following changes.

• Rooms will be kept unoccupied for 72 hours after check-out, then thoroughly cleaned by our staff before checking in a new guest.
• The hotel is using high-quality cleaners and disinfectants for all the rooms and major areas including the high-touch areas and surfaces.
• Hand sanitizing stations will be made available to guests and will be placed strategically throughout the hotel.
• The hotel is supporting social distancing efforts and we equally respect guests’ need for that.
• While the pool, fitness centre and Bistro will be temporarily closed, the hotel will proudly serve Starbucks Coffee, beverages and prepared food in their 24-hour Market.

New Staybridge Suites for Waterloo Region

WATERLOO, Ont. — IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, and Woodlawn Hospitality Group have announced the opening of the new-build, 72-room Staybridge Suites Waterloo – St. Jacobs Area. Located in the heart of the St. Jacobs Market District, a popular year-round farmers’ market, this Staybridge Suites is the only upscale all-suites, extended-stay hotel in the area. This property is connected to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Waterloo – St. Jacobs Area, which has provided welcoming hospitality to guests since 2013.

Naushad Ismail, director, Woodlawn Hospitality Group, said: “We are thrilled to be opening the first Staybridge Suites in the region of Waterloo. Designed for the modern traveler, we have created a hotel where our guests can stay in the room style that suits them best, perfect for business and family travelers alike. The hotel is across the street from the St. Jacobs Outlet Mall and year-round famers’ market. We are also a short drive from a number of corporate offices, including Google, Research in Motion (RIM), Sun Life Financial Canada and Manulife Financial.”

The new property, located at 10 Benjamin Road, is owned by Woodlawn Hospitality Group under a license agreement with IHG, and offers well-designed, spacious guestrooms, including a mix of deluxe studio, one- or two-bedroom/two-bathroom suites with communal living spaces, and fully equipped kitchens with a full-size refrigerator, microwave oven, cooktop stove and a dishwasher.

This hotel is IHG’s fifth, dual-branded property in Canada. The Staybridge Suites is connected to a Holiday Inn Express and together they share many amenities. The properties offer more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space, combined.

Next chapter for Naramata

Naramata, B.C. — The legendary and historic Naramata Inn reopened its doors under new ownership on Friday, June 5 following months of renovations and refurbishment. With charm and character fully intact, the updated look is fresh, elegant and warm. The 112-year-old inn showcases the best of its heritage features with a youthful flair.

Built in 1907, the Naramata Heritage Inn has been a hub for culture and recreation on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake for more than a century. It is with great pride that the Naramata Hospitality Limited Partnership announced they had recently taken ownership of the storied inn.

The new owners are of four of B.C.’s hospitality experts – Chef Ned Bell, Kate Colley, Paul Hollands and Maria Wiesner. Their company, the Naramata Hospitality Limited Partnership, has a deep appreciation for, and commitment to, the Okanagan Valley and all that it represents. The partnership formed through the unique combination of like-mindedness around food, hospitality, lifestyle, values, and dreams.

With 12 unique, period-style rooms, including a luxe two-bedroom suite and outdoor patios for all rooms, the sleepover vibe is simply indulgent. With a creative continental breakfast included each morning and an invitation to linger over morning coffee, gorgeous gardens and verandas to die for, there’s no better place to cozy up near the lake for a legendary Naramata summer.

Guests will need to wait a little longer to take a seat at one of Canada’s most anticipated new restaurants as chef Ned Bell and his team put the final touches on this hyper-local, ingredient-driven restaurant. Further announcements will follow in coming weeks.