“We are proud to offer the convention and conference industry such an outstanding facility,” said Philippe Gadbois, senior vice president, Atlific Hotels. “It truly is first-class, boasting a long list of superior amenities that includes some of the most advanced audio and visual technology in all of Canada.”

The Vancouver Island Conference Centre support groups of up to 1300 people for theatre style functions or stand up receptions in the nearly fourteen thousand square foot, divisible ballroom. Within 38,000 square feet of flexible, functional convention and meeting space, there are a total of 9 multipurpose meeting rooms with full audio/visual capabilities, all with large windows for natural light.

The Centre’s list of amenities include built-in screens and projectors in each meeting room and ballroom, a fully integrated audio/video control system, global broadcast and teleconferencing capabilities from every meeting room, digital way-finding and a complete presentation and broadcast system in the Shaw Auditorium including two projectors, screens and six cameras. The facility also features free secure high speed wireless Internet for delegates, VOIP and wireless VOIP telephone systems, a state-of-the-art kitchen/catering facility, business centre, two spacious pre-function areas, a large underground parking facility and much more.

The Vancouver Island Conference Centre was designed by Terrance Wong of Stantec Architecture Ltd. with the goal of combining various components of the Port of Nanaimo Centre to create a seamless design. Hand blown glass pendant lighting installations in each of the entrance lobbies along with street front facades that fit the appearance of neighboring buildings helped to achieve this goal. Perhaps the most spectacular visual elements of the decor are the two stunning murals created by renowned local artists, Andreas Kunert and Edward J. Hughes.

The Centre was designed with the importance of sustainability in mind. Some of the sustainable solutions include using a reclaimed building site, accessibility to public transportation, low-emitting interior finishes, low-E windows, natural light and efficient lighting fixtures, recyclable carpet, low water flow bathroom and kitchen fixtures, a roof built to accommodate a green planted roof and future plans for a solar water pre-heating system.

The Vancouver Island Conference Centre will begin hosting its first conference attendees next month. Centre staff is readily available to assist conference and event planners in organizing every detail including accommodations and off-site activities.

To book a conference please visit www.viconference.com or call 250-244-4050

This caps of a very successful year for the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour which was named Marriott Hotel of the Year for North America.

“It takes hard work, original ideas and focus to achieve these strong results,” said Philippe Gadbois, Senior Vice President, Atlific Hotels. “Our teams are passionate about the service that they provide to our guests. It is an honour for us to acknowledge the efforts of these exceptional Atlific team members.”

Also in Western Canada, the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Vancouver Downtown was awarded with Sales Team of the Year. The team members included John Jennings, Bonnie Everett, Angela van den Byllardt and Stephanie Lepsien. Earlier this year, this same property was awarded with the Hotel Association of Canada’s Hall of Fame Award of Excellence for Humanitarianism, which highlighted the hotel’s responsiveness to the local community, significant charitable accomplishments, and exemplary leadership and commitment.

Other high honours at the conference included: Sales Person of the Year, Peggie Mayo, Deerhurst Resort; Newcomer of the Year, Christopher Bassoo, Director of Sales, Residence Inn Marriott London; and Team Player of the Year, Denise Breau, Cluster Director of Sales for the Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa, Residence Inn by Marriott Ottawa, and Hotel Indigo Ottawa.

“We are proud to be chosen to manage another TREIT property,” said Philippe Gadbois, Senior Vice-President Sales & Marketing, Atlific Hotels & Resorts. “Rapid portfolio expansion is a key objective of TREIT and we are helping them to find good investments with solid growth potential in growing markets such as Lloydminster, Alberta and Fort McMurray, Alberta where we manage another 6 of their assets. This is another fine addition to both of our portfolios.”

The Best Western Wayside Inn & Suites provides affordable 3.5 star accommodations offering 128 well-appointed guest rooms and suites. It is easily accessible, located on Highway 16, just minutes away from a number of business and tourist attractions.

The property offers a full range of facilities and services making it an ideal place for both business and leisure travelers. Amenities include a heated indoor pool, cocktail and karaoke lounge with a video lottery terminal, exercise facility, High-speed Internet access, and meeting space that accommodates up to 450 people. Best Western Wayside Inn & Suites also features three restaurants on the premises including, Louise Family Restaurant serving American/Greek cuisine; David’s Steakhouse serving American cuisine; and Mr. Bill’s Family Restaurant serving American/Greek cuisine.

Straddling the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, Lloydminster is a Canadian anomaly, as the country’s only provincial border city. Just four blocks from the hotel are the world’s largest border markers, which also mark the fourth meridian. Some of the other location attractions include, Barr Colony Heritage Cultural Centre, Border City Petting Zoo, Bud Miller All Seasons Park and Lloydminster Leisure Centre.

The Best Western Wayside Inn & Suites is the proud 17-time recipient of the Travel Housekeeping Award, as well as being rated a three and a half star hotel by Canada Select, and the proud host of the Western Premier’s Conference in 2005.

Concurrent with this announcement Atlific Hotels has appointed Dan McHale to the position of General Manager. Dan began his career in the hotel business in Lloydminster and has held a variety of increasingly senior positions across Alberta and Saskatchewan with Imperial 400, Holiday Inn, Sheraton and Radisson.

www.bwwis.com

“We are excited to bring such a strong brand to an area that has so much to offer,” said Philippe Gadbois, senior vice-president, Atlific Hotels. “With the Holiday Inn Express brand it’s easy to Stay Smart®. Our guests are clever, smart and independent seeking a quality hotel at a great value. This property was designed to offer both frequent travellers and families just that with a chic design in close proximity to Vaughan’s increasing number of banquet facilities, sports venues and corporate business parks.”

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Vaughan Southwest features 125 guestrooms and suites. Calming earth tone decor, advanced technology and Simply Smart® bedding combine to provide a great guest experience. Flat Screen LCD TVs and complimentary Hi-Speed Internet are, of course, standard in all rooms. Suites offer ideal comfort for longer stays with refrigerators and microwaves. Affordable rates include business and family-friendly features like complimentary Express Start® Breakfast Bar and a Simply Smart® guest bathroom (with plenty of big fluffy 100% cotton towels). Plus kids under 19 stay free. The Hotel also features an indoor pool with whirlpool and a well-equipped fitness room.

Conveniently located on Highway 7 at the corner of Highway 27, the Hotel is located within Vaughan West Business Park and provides easy access to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and a number of local businesses and banquet facilities as well as Toronto attractions. Groups of up to 100 will appreciate the hotel’s convenient, energy-efficient meeting space equipped with built-in audio-visual technology.

Some of the local attractions include: Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre, Canada’s Wonderland, Wild Water Kingdom, La Primavera Banquet Hall, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum, and Woodbine Entertainment Racing & Slots.

Careful consideration was taken at time of development to find ways to make this new Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites an industry leader for energy efficiency. Intelligent motion sensing thermostats automatically adjust the temperature in guest rooms, common areas and meeting facilities when not in use. Instantaneous hot water heaters eliminate the need for oversize water tanks known to waste large amounts of electricity. An ‘Energy Recovery Unit’ captures energy from exhausted air and redistributes that energy back into common areas such as corridors.

The inviting indoor pool area features an Energy Recycler Dehumidifier which lowers the amount of energy consumption. All exterior windows in the hotel were tinted to a low “e” rating and PTAC heaters provide heat via condensing hydronic boilers rather than the less efficient traditional electric heating.

To become one of the first guests of this brand new property, take advantage of the Opening Advance Purchase Offer from $126 per night. Visit www.hiexvaughan.com for details and booking. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Vaughan Southwest will give you the comforts and conveniences you want at a value you deserve. Stay Smart.® Stay at Holiday Inn Express.

“This is a big step in the region becoming a tourist destination,” said Philippe Gadbois, senior vice president, Atlific Hotels. “We are excited to be a part of this by opening the first resort in Squamish, just 45 minutes outside of Vancouver. This inclusive resort acts as an excellent base to indulge in the latest adventure sports, play world class golf, and most of all, escape from the hustle and bustle of busier tourist areas.”

The 111-room resort features studios and one and two-bedroom suites with spectacular views of the Garibaldi Springs Golf Course. Designed to maintain the integrity of the natural landscape, the resort offers inviting, mountain-inspired accommodations. All suites feature the latest bedding as well as a full kitchen with a separate dining area. Perfect for today’s executive at work and at play, all guest suites are equipped with convenient work stations and high speed wireless Internet. Access to fax and copy services, a business centre, personal wake-up calls and complimentary newspapers are also available.

Known as the outdoor adventure capital of Canada, Squamish is surrounded by soaring mountains, glistening glaciers, cascading rivers and waterfalls and miles and miles of lavish forest. This stunning destination champions many outdoor recreation opportunities such as, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, golf, mountain biking, hummer tours, kayaking and kiteboarding. The Resort’s helpful associates are always available to provide guests with local expertise to plan their perfect outdoor excursion.

Perhaps the most tantalizing, and certainly the most convenient outdoor experience for guests of Executive Suites Garibaldi Springs Golf Resort is the 18 holes of spectacular golf that waits just outside. Designed by renowned Canadian golf course Architect Les Furber, Garibaldi Springs Golf Course winds its way through natural obstacles and an escarpment, clear waters; including two Salmon-bearing streams and features elevated tees, polished white rock outcrops and mountain scenery so breathtaking it might be a challenge to keep an eye on the ball.

After a long summer day of outdoor adventures refresh with Executive Suites’ signature green apples. Guests will take pleasure in a soak in one of the Resort’s pools or the hot tub before enjoying a meal al fresco on the spacious outdoor patio with an unbeatable golf course view. The steakhouse bar & grill, scheduled to open in June, will feature fresh quality ingredients, innovative appetizers, aged to perfection Angus beef and much more.

Resort Highlights:

• 18 Hole Garibaldi Springs Golf Course
• Steakhouse Bar & Grill
• Indoor / Outdoor pool
• Hot Tub
• Gym & Wellness Centre
• Conference Facility
• Business Centre

Garibaldi Springs Golf Resort is ideal for retreats, meetings and spectacular weddings with a meeting room for up to 220 people set in rounds or 200 people theatre-style which can be divided for break out sessions. With full on-site catering and natural beauty that is perhaps the most spectacular in the country; this resort is perfect for a destination wedding.

To become one of the first guests of the Garibaldi Springs Golf Resort, take advantage of the Opening Special with suites starting at $99 per night valid on stays until June 30th, 2008. Stay and Play Golf Packages start from just $199 per night. Visit www.executivesuitesgaribaldi.com or call 1 877-815-0048 for more information and booking.

“This resort was designed with a focus on quality and extensive amenities in order to complement its incredible natural setting,” said Philippe Gadbois, senior vice president, Atlific Hotels.

Each of the Resort’s 112 designer suites have been finely crafted to exceed guests’ expectations, complete with classic tile floor, top-thread-count linens, exclusive designer kitchens, flat screen TVs, and more. The three-story building is set on a meticulously landscaped property that wraps around a half acre courtyard featuring relaxing hot tubs, a refreshing pool and the extensive Sun Arbour Pool deck, ideal for soaking up rays in the destination that gets the most hours of sun in the country.

The Resort’s Promenade Wine Bar offers mouth-watering tapas and a wide selection of wines from the many local vineyards. With a fully equipped kitchen in each suite, guests may also choose to prepare their own feast using fresh local produce or enjoy a barbecue served on the pool deck.

Nestled on the shores of the warmest lake in Canada, Lake Osoyoos, Walnut Beach Resort is an ideal getaway for everyone from adventure-lover to the serenity-seeker. The spectacular natural setting, extensive resort amenities and elegant private suites provide a wide variety of opportunities to suit any mood. Guests may enjoy hiking, biking, river rafting, kayaking and more and then unwind with a massage and a steam or a sauna. Walnut Beach Resort is one of the rare places in the world where you can downhill ski, relax on a sandy beach, play a round of world class golf, horseback ride and visit estate wineries all in one day.

For couples, Walnut Beach Resort provides the ultimate romantic backdrop of golden sands, shimmering waters, azure blue skies and picturesque mountains, making it an idyllic setting for the wedding of any couple’s dreams. The Resort offers custom wedding packages and a planner to assist with every fine detail.

To become one of the very first guests at Walnut Beach Resort, take advantage of the Grand Opening Special of $99/night (that's a savings of 50% off of regular rates) until April 30th. Opening Fore Golf packages start from just $129 per night. Please visit www.walnutbeachresort.com or call 1 877-936-5400 for more details and booking. To arrange a Media Fam trip this spring please call Naomi Strasser or Sherri-Lyn Brown at Aerial Communications Group at 416 787-6577.

Managed by Atlific Hotels, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Vancouver Downtown is consistently recognized for its exceptional customer service and dedication to the community. Among the hotel’s myriad hospitality accomplishments, the hotel developed and oversees a robust community services program which includes: creating and managing the Indigenous Scholarship Program which helps First Nations youth achieve their educational goals; providing blankets, sheets, towels, soap and other personal hygiene items to the Union Gospel Mission; sponsoring the Cops for Cancer 2007 Tour de Coast team; providing discounted rates for patient families as well as a donation fund for St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, and entering a float in the city’s Gay and Lesbian Day parade, among others. Raising nearly $100,000 for various community initiatives in 2007, the hotel’s allegiance to community causes is the cornerstone of its popularity and success.

“Collectively, the team at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Vancouver Downtown has always acknowledged the importance of being engaged and active participants in the community in which we serve,” said Suzanne Allemeier, Hotel Manager, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Vancouver Downtown. “To be recognized for our efforts is humbling, and we will continue to identify charities and community-based programs in which we can make a difference.”

“We whole heartedly and enthusiastically congratulate the visionary team at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Vancouver Downtown,” said Philippe Gadbois, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, Atlific Hotels. “Being selected to receive this prestigious Humanitarian Award required significant vision, resources, time and volunteers. It is a testament to the hotel’s excellent leadership as well as commitment of the entire staff and we are very proud that they received this well-deserved honour.”

About the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Vancouver Downtown

Conveniently located in vibrant downtown Vancouver, the area is bustling with extensive shopping, mouth watering dining, entertainment, cultural attractions and one of the world's most beautiful waterfronts. Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Vancouver Downtown has been selected as one of the first two hotels in Canada to spearhead the re-launch of the Holiday Inn brand including new standards for both product and service, bold new signage and an inspiring amenity package.

With a sleek new lobby, marble floors, and unWine’d - Vancouver's newest urban lounge, the hotel welcomes leisure, business and conference travellers to the city with the confidence and ease you expect from a fine hotel.

Guestrooms offer pleasing amenities such as new bedding and bathroom upgrades including luxurious towels and curved shower rods, complimentary hi-speed Internet access, underground parking, 24hr indoor pool, health club, sauna and Business Centre. The helpful staff endeavours to make each guest experience memorable which explains why so many visitors return time after time.

Managed by Atlific Hotels, the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour has been honoured with numerous awards over the past few years, most recently Guest Satisfaction Award of Excellence, Leadership Award of Excellence, Maintenance & Upkeep Award of Excellence, Food & Beverage Award of Excellence and Most Improved Market Share Award of Excellence within North America from Marriott International. This impressive list was crowned by the company’s most prestigious accolade for a full service property: Hotel of the Year 2007.

Since opening in 2004 bound by a gigantic 16-storey red ribbon, Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour has captured the attention of residents and visitors alike in Victoria, British Columbia; a city known for outstanding tourism. With honours ranging from the best customer service in the city to having the most outstanding cuisine; its global recognition as Hotel of the Year reinforces its unyielding commitment to excellence and impeccable standards.

“Our owners provided us with an amazing product, Marriott provided us with an amazing tool kit and the city of Victoria provided us with exceptional human resources. All of this, coupled with a team convinced that excellence is a daily commitment, has produced these amazing results,” said Francis Mairet, General Manager, Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour. “To be chosen by Marriott as the Hotel of the Year for 2007 is a source of immense pride for us all; my team’s dedication is a constant source of inspiration, and I am honoured to be their leader.”

“Mr. Mairet is passionate about offering exceptional guest experiences,” said Philippe Gadbois, Senior Vice President, Atlific Hotels. “From the moment this hotel opened, he and his staff were determined to create a perfect balance between a modern, sophisticated hotel, and maintaining the sensibility of this quaint, traditional city. The Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour is exemplary in every regard.”

Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour offers an exceptional guest room experience incorporating upscale and modern amenities, including the Marriott Revive bedding collection. Food and Beverage Excellence is defined in the hotel’s signature restaurant, Fire & Water Fish and Chop House, which has earned the distinction as one of Victoria’s premier restaurants. Selected as one of WHERE Magazine’s Top 10 restaurants in Canada since 2005, Fire & Water is a favourite among both locals and visitors who appreciate the excellent menu which incorporates locally grown ingredients.

The four-Diamond Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour overlooks Victoria, British Columbia, Canada’s historic and charming downtown, located just steps from world class attractions, venues and dining. Boasting 236 elegantly appointed rooms and suites coupled with 5,000 square feet of functional meeting space, the hotel showcases a signature restaurant. For more information and to reserve your stay visit www.marriottvictoria.com