Expedia conference doubles in size LAS VEGAS—Expedia welcomed 3,700 travel partners from around the world to its annual partner conference at Bellagio in Las Vegas—more than twice as many as last year. Captain Obvious was omnipresent.
Growth in non-hotel lodging unexpected According to global hotel data provider DELTA CHECK Global Hotel & Intelligence, hotel and non-hotel accommodations are neck and neck with 1.08 million and 1.05 million properties, respectively.
Vantage vows increased focus on Canada LAS VEGAS—Bill Hanley of Vantage Hospitality says the company will focus on development in the Prairie provinces and Atlantic Canada in the coming year. He added that Vantage's Country Hearth could be a good fit here.
Robust tradeshow, topical seminars at Connect Show VANCOUVER—A bustling tradeshow with 350 booths, plus expanded liquor, coffee and local produce sections marked Connect Food + Drink + Lodging Show, held Nov. 3-4 at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
What keeps hoteliers awake at night? TORONTO—Airbnb, the pace of change, irrational exuberance and crises like Ebola keep top hotel executives awake at night according to a panel at Hotel Capital Connection held last month in Toronto.
MANicures raise $1,100 for Breast Cancer Awareness Sheraton on the Falls general manager, Don Calaguiro, gets his nails painted pink by participating in the hotel's MANicures Program for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Savoury: Not a chef's table TORONTO—The Westin Harbour Castle today unveiled an intimate new restaurant where 10 guests can dine on five-course meals designed and prepared by celebrity chef Corbin Tomaszeski.
Four Seasons launches integrated wellness program TORONTO—Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in late October launched an integrated, customized approach to guest wellness.
ORHMA launching accessibility focused accommodation directory for 2015 Pan Am Games TORONTO—The Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA) is launching an advanced national directory highlighting accessibility standards and traveler needs.
Wi-Fi important when booking hotel: study NEW YORK—According to an Egencia/Expedia study, 86 per cent of business travelers noted that complimentary Wi-Fi in guestrooms and public areas is important when booking a hotel.
Delta launches flagship Toronto property TORONTO—Delta Hotels and Resorts has opened the doors of its 40-storey flagship Delta Toronto.
Next-level personalization; catering to multi-generational groups: 2015 hotel trends report SAN FRANCISCO—Sophisticated, next-level personalization is one of the key 2015 hotel trends identified in a report issued on Nov. 5 by Andrew Freeman & Co.
92 hotel transactions through Q3 TORONTO—According to Colliers International's INNvestment Canada Report, there were 92 transactions reported totalling about $828 million through the third quarter of 2014.
Delta Fredericton 'Hotel of the Year' for 2013 Fredericton, NB—The Delta Fredericton Hotel won "Hotel of the Year" (Managed) for 2013 during the annual Delta Hotels and Resorts company award ceremony in late spring.
LinkBC Student Case Study Award Winners VANCOUVER--The BC tourism and hospitality industry's top students were honoured at LinkBC's 8th Annual Case Competition Awards Ceremony held yesterday at the Vancouver Convention Centre as part of the BC Tourism and Hospitality Summit.
Baby boomers key to BC worker shortage problems VANCOUVER—Arlene Keis, CEO of go2hr, said British Columbia's 1.2 million baby boomers are a great solution to the hospitality industry worker shortage.
Holiday Inn updates food offerings LAS VEGAS—More than half of Holiday Inn guests eat breakfast when they stay—that amounts to four million people per year.
Crowne Plaza introduces 'nextgen' guestroom Crowne Plaza introduced its new generation of guestroom at the IHG Amercas Conference in Las Vegas Oct. 27-29.
100 Men Who Give a Damn HALIFAX—Glenn Bowie, area director of sales and marketing for NewCastle Resorts and general manager of the Westin Halifax, is one of 100 Haligonian men who get together four times a year, bringing a blank cheque with them.
ORHMA adds Waterloo chapter WATERLOO, ON—The Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) launched the ORHMA Waterloo Region board and chapter to represent the hospitality sectors in Waterloo, St. Jacobs, Cambridge and Kitchener.
Angela Xavier now IHG VP of Sales for The Americas LAS VEGAS--Angela Xavier, formerly Regional VP of Sales for Canada, has moved from Toronto to Atlanta in her new position as VP Sales for The Americas.
David Goldstein named president/CEO of CTC It was announced in October that David Goldstein has been named president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), effective Dec. 1.
Doctor's House B and B uses Square for payments TARA, ON—The Doctor's House B and B is now taking credit cards thanks to Square, a card reading device users plug into the headphone jack of their smartphone.
Choice and Humber team up for fantastic opportunity TORONTO--Tim Oldfield of Choice Hotels Canada today announced a "fantastic opportunity" for a five-year partnership with Humber College's School of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism.
Omni King Edward names new GM TORONTO—The Omni King Edward Hotel announced the appointment of Christophe Le Chatton as general manager.
Wendy Swedlove and Hank Stackhouse inducted into Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame OTTAWA—Founding president of the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council president Wendy Swedlove and former Delta president Hank Stackhouse are the 2014 inductees into the Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame.
Centennial getting new hospitality centre TORONTO—Centennial College's hospitality students will be getting a new home with the construction of an eight-storey building at the east Scarborough campus on Progress Avenue.
Accelerate is theme of G6 Hospitality Conference Themed "Accelerate," the G6 Hospitality conference held in Hawaii at the beginning of October emphasized the company's commitment to quickly emerge as an uncontested leader in digital marketing.
MHA Convention & TradeShow turnout exceeds expectations The Manitoba Hotel Association's 86th Annual Convention took place on Oct. 6th & 7th in Winnipeg, with attendance that exceeded expectations.
Temple to internalize management WINNIPEG—Temple Hotels Inc. in October announced its intention to internalize its asset and hotel management.
Green Revolution: Grand Villa Casino's biogas project BURNABY, BC—Grand Villa Casino in Burnaby, BC, is the first casino in Canada to switch to purchasing and using renewable biogas with FortisBC.
Travelodge brand conference hits Halifax HALIFAX—The annual Travelodge Canada brand conference took place in Halifax from Oct. 6 to 8 with delegates from across the country coming together to share stories and learn about brand initiatives.
Best Western has a brand new vibe TORONTO—Best Western International is entering the boutique hotel space with the announcement of Vib—short for vibrant and pronounced the same way—at its annual conference in Toronto this week.
HAC Awards deadline Oct. 23 OTTAWA—The Oct. 23 deadline for the Hotel Association of Canada's 2014 Hall of Fame Awards of Excellence nominations is fast approaching.
Canadian Resort Conference considers timeshare reboot TORONTO—The Canadian Resort Conference (CRC 2014) broadened its focus beyond Canada this year.
PKF: A tale of 13 cities The PKF Outlook Forum held last month in Toronto predicted positive numbers for 2015, although outlooks varied in major Canadian markets.
More Microtels coming from MasterBUILT CALGARY, AB —MasterBUILT is well on its way to fulfilling its mandate to develop and open 75 Microtel by Wyndham hotels by 2036.
Saving a historic hotel from the wrecker's ball CHEPSTOW, ON—The owner of a B&B in the hamlet of Chepstow, ON, has restored the historic King Edward Hotel, saving it from demolition.
WCHRIC: number crunching, TFWs, NextGen hoteliers Carrie Russell, managing director of HVS, gives CLN a sneak preview of her presentation to the Western Canadian Hotel & Resort Investment Conference.
Easton's sells Toronto condos to Shanghai company TORONTO—Easton's Group of Hotels and The Remington Group have sold their interest in the two-tower King Blue Condominiums.
Ontario chefs joining Fogo Island Inn's fall festival FOGO ISLAND, NF—Murray McDonald, executive chef at Newfoundland's Fogo Island Inn, will join forces with four Ontario chefs to participate in the seventh annual festival celebrating the island's bounty Oct. 10-13.
$570M in hotel transactions in first half of 2014: Colliers TORONTO—In the first half of 2014, there were 64 hotel transactions reported across Canada, compared to 56 trades in the same period in 2013, with transaction volume totalling about $570M.
How Vantage expansion impacts Canada CLEVELAND, OH—Earlier this summer, Vantage Hospitality Group, Inc. announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire America's Best Franchising, Inc.'s hotel brands.
Sheraton Nfld. chefs help prepare James Beard House dinner NEW YORK—Two chefs from the Sheraton Hotel Nfld. were among seven Atlantic culinarians invited to prepare a special dinner.
Gearing up for Culinary World Cup As part of its partnership with Community Outreach Canada, the Golden Horseshoe Culinary Team has invited Oliver Nguyen, a young man with a speech impediment, to join them at the Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg this fall.
Holiday Inn's Journey to Extraordinary Holiday Inn is using double amputee Scott Rigsby's tale as a Signature Story in its new digital marketing campaign, Journey to Extraordinary. Guaranteed to create a lump in the throat, it shows how a Holiday Inn owner helped him on his journey.
First Home2 Suites is seventh brand for Hilton EDMONTON—It's been described as the "hip and humble" little sister of Hilton's Homewood Suites extended stay brand. Now Home2 Suites has come to Canada.
Novotel introduces Play to its lobbies Novotel is introducing "Play" to its lobbies as part of the Web 3.0 hotel experience. Better than an in-room iPad, it consists of 40-inch digital tables that are fully interactive, fun and educational.
Tiny chefs part of Westin Eat Well Program STAMFORD, CONN—Tiny chefs helped launch the Westin Eat Well Menu for Kids yesterday in New York city, flipping and decorating crepes, and rolling out pasta with the aid of adult SuperChefs.
Westin Prince turns 40 TORONTO—The Westin Prince Hotel in Toronto celebrated 40 years of operation earlier this month with an open house and cake. The hotel looks forward to the next four decades and beyond, said general manager Ashok Baghel.
Montreal's Saint-Sulpice hotel adds art installation MONTREAL—Le Saint-Sulpice Hotel Montreal aims to indulge guests' imaginations with the addition of an art installation to its property.
Motorcycle-friendly properties VICTORIA, BC—Forget the Marlon Brando stereotype of a lawless rebel, that's not what today's biker is about, according to hoteliers revving up to make their properties more motorcycle-friendly.
Building buzz at the Royal York TORONTO—Lost and lonely pollinator bees can find solace in the Toronto Fairmont Royal York's rooftop bee hotel.
Curio—a new brand for Hilton MCLEAN, VA­—Jim Holthouser speaks to CLN about Curio, Hilton's recently announced new brand.
GTA saw growth of U.S. and international visitors in 2013 TORONTO—The Greater Toronto Hotel Association's (GTHA) 2013 annual general meeting outlined the sector's successes in 2013 and some of the challenges that lie ahead.
The InterCon Montreal's garden MONTREAL—Chef Matthieu Saunier and his kitchen team at the InterContinental Montreal are going green with a new chef's garden project on the roof of the hotel.
Innovation and employee engagement at HVS TORONTO—Constant innovation and engaging employees are critical to business success, according to two hotel industry veterans.
Memorable Meetings from Mark McEwan TORONTO—Self-confessed buffet hater Mark McEwan has launched Meetings by McEwan at The Hazelton Hotel. The venture pairs the hotel's luxury with the celebrity chef's gourmet food. It also includes buffets he actually likes.
Unusual purchase paths, trips where grandparents pay TORONTO—The Canadian travel industry must work diligently to meet leisure travellers' evolving needs, according to an industry panel.
Seeking "unloved, unattached, up-for-grabs" guests LAS VEGAS—Cambria Suites has a new name, look, logo and marketing approach, and it's poised for Canadian expansion.
Hilton to open its 100th Canadian property TORONTO—Hilton Hotels and Resorts is opening its 100th hotel this summer, with the unveiling of the dual-branded Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton and Homewood Suites by Hilton on the site of the former Citadel hotel in downtown Halifax.
Restaurants Canada calls for lift of TFWP ban CHARLOTTETOWN—Restaurants Canada's board of directors is calling for an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to address what they are calling a labour crisis in some regions of the country.
Quality Val d'Or named 2014 International Hotel of the Year TORONTO—A Canadian hotel, the Quality Inn & Suites of Val d'Or, has been named International Hotel of the Year by Choice Hotels International.
Uncovering the criminal element in hotels and motels BANFF, AB—The transient nature of the lodging business can expose your hotel or motel to the risk of criminal activity—including organized crime—without your knowledge.
Parent company takes on Sun Peaks With its parent company recently assuming management of Sun Peaks Resort, the hotel has a new name and a mandate to strengthen its market position.
Susur Lee opens Luckee in SoHo Met TORONTO—CLN sat down with chef Susur Lee to learn about his newest concept Luckee Restaurant and Bar which opened last month at 328 Wellington St. West on the ground floor of Toronto's SoHo Metropolitan Hotel.
AHLA town hall tackles labour market woes BANFF, AB—Hiring temporary foreign workers isn't the first choice of Alberta hospitality employers—it's expensive to go through the hiring process, then fly someone over from, say, the Philippines and help them find housing.
Resorts of Ontario celebrates diversity ORILLIA, ON—Resorts of Ontario's spring conference, which unfolded March 31-April 1 at Fern Resort and Casino Rama, near Orillia, ON, took the theme Diverse by Nature! Get Ready for New Business.
Best Western's Earth Day Acts of Green PHOENIX—Best Western has launched an "Acts of Green" photo sharing contest on Instagram designed to inspire fans of the brand to showcase their eco-friendly habits.
Revealing online marketing TORONTO—A Canadian Olympian address, hula hoops, a Lay-Z Boy lounge and a boy band were all part of this year's Online Revealed lineup. Tourism and hospitality experts speaking about online marketing rounded out the ninth annual conference.
Tom Mullin retires from SHHA SASKATOON—"It's been a great run for me," said an emotional Tom Mullin as he announced at the association's AGM that he would be stepping down as president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Hotel & Hospitality Association on Nov. 30.
Little Inn, big ideas Innovative marketing helps The Little Inn of Bayfield attract guests in the slower cold-weather months.
Democratic menu planning BRAMPTON, ON—Owners and operators from across Canada gathered at the Don Cherry's Sports Grill in Brampton late last month to taste and vote on items for the new menu launching in May. And of course, Don Cherry was there too.
Town & Country chef coat draw winners TORONTO—During the 2014 CRFA Show held in Toronto on March 2 to 4, Town & Country Uniforms held a draw to give away customized chef coats.
IHG and Maplewood: 15 Candlewood Suites for Canada BEDFORD, NS—Maplewood has announced that they are working with IHG to develop 15 new-build Candlewood Suites in Canada.
UPDATE: Holiday Inn Express prototype unveiled in Atlanta A select group of media previewed Holiday Inn Express' new prototype in a warehouse in Smyrna, GA just outside Atlanta.
Check In Canada's Alberta pilot The Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association was on hand at the Hotel Association of Canada and CTMS shows last month to introduce an online booking solution that provides hoteliers with a low-cost alternative to online travel agencies (OTAs).
TripAdvisor GreenLeaders coming to Canada NEWTON, Mass.—International travel site TripAdvisor announced plans to extend its GreenLeaders program showcasing eco-friendly hotels to Canada and Europe on March 17.
CRFA rebrands as Restaurants Canada TORONTO—The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association (CRFA) is revamping its brand this year.
Canada must work harder to attract the U.S. market TORONTO—Canada needs to work much harder to attract the crucial U.S. business and leisure travel market, said Tony Pollard, president of the Hotel Association of Canada, at the annual Best Western Business Travel Summit.
LobbyFriend—an internal Twitter feed for hotels EDMONTON—Staff at the Radisson Edmonton South can now connect instantly with guests through LobbyFriend, a social networking tool for hotels. "It's like an internal Twitter," explains general manager Robin Cumine.
CTMS: Attention-grabbing marketing on a budget The Canadian Tourism Marketing Summit, explored effective marketing on a budget, the huge opportunities offered by technology and the wisdom in DMOs targeting the business-to-business versus leisure segments.
ORHMA: $800,000/year in energy savings The ORHMA's Retrofit Savings Program for hotels and motels has audited 40 properties and identified approximately $800,000 per year in total energy savings since launching in August.
TIAPEI hospitality award winners CHARLOTTETOWN—The Tourism Industry Association of Prince Edward Island (TIAPEI) held its annual conference and awards gala on March 5 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino.
HAC: Faster horses and millennials Thirty-year-old Curt Steinhorst entertained the HAC audience with his take on differences between the four generations in the workforce today—traditionals, boomers, gen-X and gen-Y.
Talking tourism at HNL GANDER, NL—It's been said that no band since the Beach Boys has ever embodied a place as well as Great Big Sea characterizes The Rock, so it's fitting GBS frontman Alan Doyle was keynote for this year's HNL conference.
Two new brands for Carlson Rezidor MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Gordon McKinnon, executive vice-president and for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, unveiled two new brands at the Radisson and Radisson Blu Americas Hotel Conference in Minneapolis on Tuesday.
Patricia Brusha's idea a Game Changer MISSISSAUGA, ON—Game Changer, an event pairing students with potential mentors, is set to precede this year's Online Revealed Conference.
International investors expand Canadian hotel footprint In 2013, not only did the volume of trades increase for this buyer group, they also completed some of the most substantial or "game-changing" trades across the nation.
Maplewood brings Cambria to Canada NORTH PALM BEACH, FL; BEDFORD, NS—Pacrim plus Driftwood equals Maplewood, and that's the joint venture chosen by Choice Hotels International to bring Cambria Suites hotels to Canada in an agreement signed late last month.
Wyndham to franchise HoJo in Canada PARSIPPANY, NJ—Howard Johnson hotels in Canada will now be franchised by Wyndham Hotel Group rather than Full House Franchise Systems Limited.
Wya Point—a dream to rival Wickaninnish UCLUELET, BC—Wya Point has been a vision of the Ucluth community for half a century and, now, it is becoming a reality.
Hospitality industry reacts to minimum wage hike TORONTO—Two industry associations have voiced objections to the minimum wage increase, announced Jan. 30 by Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Hospitality industry reacts to minimum wage hike TORONTO—Two hospitality industry associations have voiced objections to the minimum wage increase, announced Jan. 30 by Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Canadian tourism operators optimistic about 2014: survey TORONTO—Canada's tourism operators feel good about 2014, but are less certain through the end of the decade.
HNL: TripAdvisor, Great Big Sea and Premier Dunderdale GANDER, NL—Andrew Wiens of TripAdvisor and SRDC research director David Gyarmati will present at the 2014 Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador (HNL) Conference and Trade Show.
Forage: covers up, energy costs down VANCOUVER—Covers are up, energy costs are down and Forage restaurant executive chef Chris Whittaker has a lot to smile about.
Travel and technology rising LAS VEGAS—Chinese travellers, mobile phones, and simply keeping pace with changes in technology and consumer preferences, were all on the agenda at Expedia's 14th annual Partner Conference.
Weathering the storms Doug Rapien, owner of Stone Edge Estate, near Georgetown, ON, had to get creative in order to survive a one-week power outage. Read how Rapien and hotel colleagues in New Brunswick and Newfoundland dealt with recent winter storms.