01/05/2018 | 12:22 AM

Vrancor opens first NOTL hotels in a decade

NIAGARA ON THE LAKE — Vrancor Group, Darko Vranich’s hospitality company based in Hamilton, Ont., now has 19 hotels open, including a dual-branded Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites located at 524 York Road just off the Queen Elizabeth Way at Glendale Ave in Niagara on the Lake, which opened on April 10.

“It’s exciting going into a market where there has been no new-build development in 10 years,” said Karen McQuade, Vrancor’s regional director, sales and marketing. “It’s not just the excitement, but it’s the manner in which the community have welcomed us. They are excited that we will become part of their community.

“That’s one of Vrancor’s strengths,” added McQuade, who has been with the company for four years. “We believe in the communities where we operate and work hard to build meaningful partnerships." 

Even before they opened, Vrancor had established partnerships with the nearby Outlet Collection at Niagara mall, Royal Niagara Golf Course, Niagara College and several wineries.

Advantages of the location include the following:

·  Gateway location to everything Niagara including Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the- Lake and St. Catharines;

·  Immediately adjacent to Outlet Collection at Niagara and a selection of fine dining and casual restaurants;

·  Heart of Ontario’s Wine Region and one of Canada’s pre-eminent golf destinations;

·  Three easily accessible Canada/USA border crossings: Queenston Lewiston (14 km), Rainbow Bridge (16 km), and The Peace Bridge (42 km);

·  Within a 1 hour drive to three international airports; Buffalo International (61 km), John C. Munro Hamilton (73 km) and Toronto Pearson International (111 km); and

·  Access to the National Historic District of Niagara-on-the-Lake (14 km) which includes spectacular vistas, walking, biking and hiking trails.

Holiday Inn Express has 104 modern guestrooms composed of 38 king, 55 double queen, six king accessible and five double queen accessible rooms. There is also 1,600 square feet of flexible meeting and social event space.

Guestrooms are tastefully decorated with modern décor featuring fresh white linens, duvets and both soft and firm pillows. Feel at home with a working desk, chaise lounge sofa, mini-fridge, microwave, Keurig coffee maker, free Wi-Fi, 49-inch HDTV experience, upgraded bathroom amenities and in room safe, plus free daily Express Start breakfast bar offering both healthy and hearty options.

Staybridge Suites has 70 guestrooms composed of 42 king one bedroom suites, 21 queen studio suites, four king accessible suites and three Queen Accessible Suites.

Each modern suite offers a pull out sofa bed in addition to a fully equipped kitchen with granite countertops, stove, full size refrigerator with ice maker, coffee maker, toaster, microwave, dishwasher, pots/pans/serving dishes, plates/glassware, cutlery and a dining table. Guests feel at home with a working desk, free Wi-Fi and 49-inch HDTV experience. The hotel offers free daily hot breakfast buffet serving healthy and hearty options and free evening social nightly (Monday to Wednesday).

“The Niagara peninsula is a unique geographic area bordered by Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, and includes Niagara Falls and the Niagara River. It has a flourishing wine industry, 15 golf courses, 200 designated cycling routes and family attractions for young and old,” said McQuade.  “The region attracts over 12 million visitors per year.”

The great thing is that our hotels are brand new, fresh, clean and modern. “IHG does a tremendous job of having a guest-centric culture guided by guest heartbeat scores. They give the guest everything they need for an enjoyable, productive stay,” she said.