NAMES IN THE NEWS

Congratulations to the new general managers at the following properties: Susan Anderson, Sandman Suites on Davie, Vancouver; Jim Cavanagh, Royal Anne Hotel, Kelowna; Wayne English, Helm’s Inn, Victoria; Louis-Roch Gagnon, High Country Inn & Best Western Gold Rush Inn, Whitehorse; Deidre Heim, Sandman Suites Guildford, Surrey; Scott Johnson, Sandman Signature Hotel Vancouver Airport, Vancouver; Sylvia Jung, Sandman Hotel Vancouver Airport, Vancouver; Tina Michalewicz, Logan Lake Lodge, Logan Lake; Dave Richinski, Sandman Inn, Prince George; Marie Ridgway, Miraloma on the Cove, Sidney; and Peter Snook, The Ramada Inn, Kamloops. 

Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and Conference Centre received the Hotel Association of Canada’s Hall of Fame Award of Excellence, winning in the Human Resources division. The award is sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council (CTHRC) and emerit Tourism Training. In 2005, the resort implemented a director-level human resources position, an innovative decision for an independent resort. This led to Tigh-Na-Mara creating forward-thinking HR strategies to attract and retain motivated employees, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and an overall increase in the company’s bottom line. Tigh-Na-Mara’s HR strategies include specialized training programs, awards for exceptional guest service, long service awards, and an extensive benefits package.
The Hampton Inn Vancouver Airport is now known as Hampton Inn by Hilton - Vancouver Airport. The Aston Pacific Inn Resort & Conference Centre is now called the Pacific Inn Resort & Conference Centre.

Peter Bell has been added to the contract sales team at Spring Air Mattress/Restwell Sleep Products. Bill Hanley has been named Partner and Managing Director of International Development for the newly established Vantage Hospitality Group Canada, Inc. Bill will continue to expand the limited-service brand, Canadas Best Value Inn, while pursuing new locations throughout Canada to develop The Lexington Collection upper-mid to upscale brand.

Coast Hotels & Resorts recognized its top-performing hotels for 2007, which were selected from 23 properties in Western Canada based on economic performance and operational excellence. The Coast Tsawwassen Inn in Delta was designated Best Managed Hotel of the Year based on gross operating profit (GOP) improvement and satisfaction, intent to return and value (SIRV) as measured by guest comment cards. The Franchised Hotel of the Year was awarded to the Coast Prince Rupert Hotel in Prince Rupert. 

The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC), announced the appointment of Scott Allison, Leah George-Wilson and Konstantinos (Kosta) Tomazos as members of the Board of Directors of the CTC.

4th term BCIT students in the Tourism Marketing Management Option, Kim Heemskerk, Sabrina Robson, and Stephanie Takagi won the case challenge called “Doubling BC’s Tourism Revenues while facing Global Climate Change”.

The Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) is pleased to announce its newly elected board of directors who will help lead the BC tourism industry in 2008. Richard Floody joins the COTA board as a new director. Jim Storie, past chair, has been re-elected to the board and subsequently re-elected board chair. COTA board director David Littlejohn, was elected vice-chair and treasurer. Brenda Baptiste and Craig Murray were also re-elected. Other COTA board members include Michael Campbell, Dave Butler, Lana Denoni, and Ian Powell, while Pat Corbett, owner and president of the Hills Health Ranch, leaves the board after more than a decade of service.

Howard Johnson Canada announced their dedication to becoming more ecologically friendly by committing to have all their Canadian properties complete the Hotel Association of Canada’s Green Key Eco-Rating program by September of 2008.