Hotel Industry News | Canada's Travel Industry

By TravelPress Staff

March 30, 2015

Coming Soon: W Bellevue

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. has signed an agreement with Kemper Development Company and Affiliates to debut the iconic W brand in Bellevue, Washington, as part of the US$1.2 billion expansion of The Bellevue Collection. W Bellevue is slated to open in spring 2017 with a contemporary design inspired by the hotel’s location near the shores of Lake Washington and Bellevue’s history as a lakeside vacation destination. W Bellevue will join W Seattle as the W brand’s second hotel in the Puget Sound area. W Bellevue will be adjacent to The Westin Bellevue Hotel and...

By Bob Mowat

March 30, 2015

Hyatt Going Where The Growth Is

With two resort openings in the books in recent weeks, and two more to come in 2015, Playa Hotels & Resorts, whose partnership with Hyatt Hotels has brought that brand to the all-inclusive market, is already looking to the future, reports managing editor, Mike Baginski in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. “Four [new resorts] next year, I think, would be a goal,” says Bruce Wardinski, CEO of Playa Hotels & Resorts, of the fast-growth Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara brands. (In an unusual corporate arrangement, Hyatt has taken an minority investment...

By TravelPress Staff

March 24, 2015

DoubleTree Properties Join Historic Hotels of America

DoubleTree by Hilton reports that five of its most celebrated and distinguished hotels have joined the prestigious Historic Hotels of America organization. To qualify for the program, hotels must have historic significance, be at least 50 years old, be designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or be listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The properties recognized by Historic Hotels of America include: Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center - a DoubleTree by Hilton: Originally erected in 1882 as the...

By Bob Mowat

March 20, 2015

Hyatt Doubles The Fun In Jamaica

Two new Hyatts, the integrated Ziva and Zilara, will officially debut tonight (Friday) in Jamaica, with a gala opening event attended by travel trade from around the world. Jamaican minister of tourism Dr. Wykeham McNeill will officially cut the ribbon for the island's newest resorts, which soft opened in December, but are only now fully realized. A joint partnership of Playa Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt and managed by Playa – under the Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara brand names – the new Hyatt Ziva (family) and Hyatt Zilara (adults only) properties are side-by-side, sharing the...

By TravelPress Staff

March 19, 2015

Sandals Foundation Celebrates Six Years

In celebration of its sixth anniversary on March 18, the Sandals Foundation has launched “Celebrating 6 Years Together,” a six-week, online fundraising campaign with the aim of recognizing the years of making a difference with the support of valued guests staying at Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts and industry partners. Celebrating 6 Years Together captures the essence of partnership, which is the driving force behind the Sandals Foundation and its efforts to make a positive difference in the lives of people residing in the Caribbean communities...

By Bob Mowat

March 17, 2015

Win Beach Holiday To Cayo Coco, Cuba

It's a great time to visit Cayo Coco, Cuba! The destination's newest resort, Melia Jardines del Rey, opens phase two in May making it the largest Melia hotel in Cuba with a total of nine restaurants, seven bars, and 1176 guest rooms. Also opening this May is the Cayo Coco tourist village featuring nightlife, shopping, dining and Melia Yhi Spa. Amazing beaches, close proximity to the regional airport, and the only resort in the Jardines del Rey archipelago with a convention centre, the Melia Jardines del Rey makes a great wedding spot too. Transat Holidays and Melia Hotels International in...

By Bob Mowat

March 17, 2015

GoPro With Velas Resorts

The Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit on Mexico's Pacific Coast is inviting its guests to capture all of their vacation adventures and experiences with the new "Vamos GoPro!" package. Upon arrival, each traveller receives a GoPro camera to document their stay throughout the destination, which includes one flyboarding experience per person on Banderas Bay and one Outdoor Tour Adventure per person with Vallarta Adventures. Additional resort activities guests can capture include yoga, swimming with dolphins, kayaking, golf and kite surfing among others. Once all of the desired footage has been...

By Bob Mowat

March 16, 2015

Way To Go Ken

Ken Gruber, director of marketing, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto has been appointed chair, board of directors for the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area. For the past 10 years, Gruber has served as a member of the marketing committee as well as an executive member of the BIA Board. The role of the chair is primarily, the integrity of the Board's process. The job of the Board is to make specific contributions, which assures the organization reaches its desired performance. The Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area neighbourhood offers vibrant urban experiences and events in the heart...

By Bob Mowat

March 13, 2015

Scope It Out With Sandals

Sandals Resorts is gearing up to once again travel across Canada throughout the spring and summer to conduct a series of educational and motivational travel agent workshops. “The Closer You Look, The Better We Look” workshops will teach agents all about what sets the Sandals Luxury Included experience apart from all the rest by giving them the tools to scope it out including comprehensive product updates, including the new Sandals Barbados, info on the lucrative groups market with Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts and general sales and marketing tips. Agents will leave the...

By Bob Mowat

March 13, 2015

Less Flash, More Function

Less flash and more function, best describes Canadians' travel habits when exploring their own country. That's according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI), although Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver reigned supreme for domestic travellers and international visitors, smaller cities like Kelowna and Kingston were also included in the Top 20 Most Popular Destinations for Canucks. The Index found that international visitors were much more inclined to visit Canada's larger, more iconic attractions like Lake Louise or Mont Tremblant in the Laurentian Mountains. Taylor L. Cole,...