24/01/2019 | 10:24 AM

OPENINGS SALES AND RENOS Jan. 29, 2019

CBRE sells Vancouver Metropolitan Hotel

VANCOUVER — CBRE has brokered a deal for the sale of the Vancouver Metropolitan Hotel on behalf of Liverton Hotels International. The buyer is Jinling Hotel Ltd., which plans to rebrand the hotel as a Renaissance.

"The Met" is a storied hotel, which was built in 1984, and went under the Mandarin and Delta flags before opening as The Metropolitan, with great fanfare, in 1996. Its restaurant, Diva at The Met, has featured some of Vancouver's best-known chefs over the years, including Chris Mills, James de Groot, Michael Noble and Dino Renaerts.

The property has 197 rooms including 16 suites, plus approximately 7,600 square feet of conference space. Other amenities include an indoor pool, whirlpool, steam room, fitness centre, squash court, business centre and 70 parking spaces.

Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver is a luxury, boutique-style hotel in the heart of downtown Vancouver positioned against a serene mountain backdrop. Unique and inviting surroundings that include upscale restaurants infused with local flavour. Crisp and anticipatory service delivered with flair that soothes as it serves. 

Clique takes Acclaim back

CALGARY, AB – Clique Hotels and Resorts has been selected by Temple Hotels Inc. to operate the Acclaim Hotel Calgary Airport on Barlow Trail. Clique takes over the 225-room hotel located near the Calgary Airport that it built in 2009 and sold in 2013. The hotel will be rebranded as the Acclaim Hotel by Clique and has more than 9,000 sq. ft. of event and conference space.

The Acclaim Hotel opened in 2009, offering travellers a convenient location near Calgary International Airport. It was built by Clique Hotels and was the first hotel to locate north of Barlow Trail. Within its first 6 months, the Acclaim reached #1 Hotel in Calgary and was the leader in the market. In 2013, it underwent an expansion of 103 rooms and 6,000 sq. ft. of event space and was sold to Temple Hotels Inc.

The hotel features the first Pacini Ristorante Grill in Western Canada. It is one of the top performing restaurants in the franchise. Other Calgary firsts include rooftop hot tubs and televisions in the bathrooms.

Barry Lewis, general manager of Hotel Clique and Applause Hotel in Calgary will be the new general manager at Acclaim Hotel to ensure that Clique’s guest satisfaction focus is brought to Acclaim. Before coming to Clique, Lewis was the GM for Hampton Inn and Suites in Red Deer.

“We’ve proven we can compete with the top global brands and we are excited to have the Acclaim back in our hotel portfolio”, says Jim Muir, president, Clique Hotels and Resorts.

Clique Hotels and Resorts now operates eight hotels and resorts with three in Calgary. In November 2019, it had its Grand Opening for Canmore’s first four-star luxury hotel, the Malcom Hotel. The Alberta company has been in operation for over 20 years and has grown more than 300 per cent in the last 10 years.

New Microtel by Wyndham opens in Mont-Tremblant

CALGARY — MasterBUILT Hotels, Canada’s leader in the hotel development and management of select-service hotels, announced the opening of the newest Canadian Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham hotel located at 235 Montee Ryan Mont-Tremblant, Que.

Located only minutes from Mont Tremblant Ski Resort and Casino Mont Tremblant, this hotel marks Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham's second location in Quebec and 18th across Canada.

Guests staying at the hotel will enjoy complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi, while the fitness centre, Microstore and meeting room facilities are welcome on-site amenities designed to meet the recreational and fitness needs of business and leisure travellers alike.  Additional conveniences include a business centre, copy/fax service, and plenty of parking as well as a waterpark and hot tub, which will be opening in spring.  The guest rooms and suites feature a compact refrigerator, microwave and in-room coffee, with select rooms featuring a full kitchen, separate bedroom and living room, ideal for extended stays.

Grand Opening for Homewood/Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa

OTTAWA — Concord Hospitality has announced the grand opening of its dual hotels, Homewood Suites Ottawa and Hilton Garden Inn Ottawa, located in downtown Ottawa. Congratulations to GM Denis Gilles, DOS LA Palamar and all of the hotel's associates.

The hotels are located in the heart of Ottawa, within a 5-minute walk of Library and Archives Canada and Garden of the Provinces and Territories. This family and pet friendly friendly hotel is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) from Currency Museum and 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Supreme Court of Canada.

The hotel has 175 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions and private balconies. Other features include complimentary wired Internet access and satellite programming. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.

Recreational amenities include a 24-hour health club and an indoor pool. This hotel also features complimentary wireless Internet access, babysitting/childcare (surcharge), and gift shops/newsstands.

The hotel's restaurant, Sparks, serves lunch or dinner, and room service is also available during limited hours. Buffet breakfasts are available daily from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. for a fee.

Featured amenities include a 24-hour business centre, express check-in, and express check-out. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.

Hotel Arts Calgary unveils pool and patio renos

CALGARY — Hotel Arts will unveil a new experience at Calgary’s hottest poolside patio for summer 2019. The pool and patio renovations (which began January 10th) will transform this Calgary summer-hot spot into a year-round urban oasis. 

The renovations will include two phases. Phase 1 will transform the space - originally built in 1972 when the Westward Inn was constructed - updating its design, structure and atmosphere. Working with Calgary-based VisionScapes, the renovations will include a new pool (with the Hotel Arts logo embedded in the base), a permanent patio bar with seating, several fireplace tables and a new self-watering landscape with custom-built planters along with new furnishings and awnings. 

“Our Poolside by Hotel Arts experience will continue in a beautifully renovated space, offering lunch and afternoon small plates served up in an urban oasis,” says Holly Parks, director of food and beverage with Hotel Arts Group. “Stay tuned for an exciting new cocktail menu that will be served up in the new pool-side bar.” 

Mark Wilson, general manager and vice president of Hotel Arts Group, is excited to launch a new poolside experience in this popular setting: 

“Our poolside patio has been a unique outdoor gathering space for our guests and the broader community to enjoy with licensed poolside dining and special events. The renovation plan will introduce a new design aesthetic into the space and have the flexibility to utilize the space year-round with a unique design solution that can withstand our cooler climate in the winter months.” 

Hotel Arts will launch Phase 2 of the poolside update in fall 2019, with the addition of an inflatable, illuminated canvas structure by Calgary’s Dynamic Air Shelters. The structure will cover the entire poolside courtyard so, for the first time, the Hotel Arts pool and patio can be used year-round while protected from winter’s chill. This innovative pool cover will be mounted annually from fall until spring. 

PHI Hotel Group opens three Marriotts in Alberta

SURREY, B.C. — PHI Hotel Group today announced the opening of three Marriott branded hotels in the province of Alberta: the 247-room Westin Calgary Airport and 30,000 square foot Conference Centre; and the dual-branded 142-room Four Points Edmonton West, and 77-room Element Edmonton West. All three properties are owned by PHI Hotel Group and Siksika Resource Development Ltd. and managed by PHI Hotel Group.

“This strategic partnership brings three distinct brands to the Alberta market, including the first Element to open in Edmonton,” said Sukhi Rai, president of PHI Hotel Group. “The Westin Calgary Airport Hotel and Conference Centre, and particularly the capacity of the meeting space, will fill a gap in the Calgary airport area, better serving the meeting and convention segment. We are excited to serve the needs of these diverse and exciting cities.”

Tom Many Heads, president and CEO, SRDL Business Group said: “With the opening of the Westin Calgary Airport and Conference Centre and dual-branded Four Points and Element Edmonton West, Siksika Hospitality has positioned the Nation well for long term growth financially as well as in career development for Nation members in the hospitality and tourism sectors of Western Canada.”

RIU Hotels & Resorts is coming to Canada

RIU Hotels & Resorts has announced the construction of a hotel in its Riu Plaza urban line, in Toronto, the largest city in Canada and the cultural, business and financial centre of the country. The Spanish company intends to invest around $100 million in the project, that will establish the first RIU hotel in Canada and will add continuity to the hotel company’s plan to expand into the world’s great cities.

The sale of the property to Riu and project financing was arranged by Cushman & Wakefield's Global Hospitality Group-Canada.

The project, designed in a sophisticated avant-garde style, as a part of the Riu Plaza line, is now near the end of the design phase and is set to open in 2021. The building, a newly-built modern tower block, will be located in the city’s financial district and is mixed use. RIU’s investment in the part intended for the hotel will have 350 rooms, meeting rooms, a gym, bar and restaurant; while the upper floors will be for residential use.

Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, has made it clear that the opening of the first hotel in Toronto “is a big step forward in our commitment to expanding the Riu Plaza hotel line in the world’s key cities, establishing the RIU brand beyond more traditional vacation destinations. 

"We hope this hotel attracts RIU customers around the world to discover the city of Toronto with us, and also hope that the loyal customers we have in Canada decide to discover our urban product. This project means a new drive to raise awareness of our brand within and beyond the country.”