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Woodmont Lodging, Milestone Companies and Blue Vista Capital Management Announce Joint Venture Recapitalization of 388-Room, Full-Service Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel

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MILWAUKEE–()–Woodmont Lodging, a leading hotel company, Blue Vista Capital Management, a leading real estate investment firm, and Milestone Companies, a premier full-service real estate development company specializing in hotel assets, today announced the joint venture recapitalization of the 388-room Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel in Wisconsin. Woodmont Lodging and Milestone Hospitality will acquire a minority interest in the hotel and provide asset management services. Blue Vista Capital Management will be the lead investor in the transaction.

“The Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel benefits from its prime location in the reinvigorated Brookfield submarket,” said Elliott Estes, principal, Woodmont Lodging. “The region continues to see strong investment, including the $24 million, 44,000 square foot Brookfield Conference Center, the redevelopment of the 100-plus store, 1.0 million-square-foot Brookfield Square Mall and the $32 million Milwaukee Tool headquarters expansion, all recently completed. The hotel, especially after its comprehensive renovation this winter, will be well-positioned to be a destination for the group, business and leisure travelers to the area.”

Situated at 375 South Morland Road just off I-94 in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel is surrounded by more than 2,000 businesses and multiple office and industrial parks. The hotel provides approximately 19,000 square feet of meeting space, a heated indoor pool, a seasonal outdoor pool and will feature a renovated fitness center. Guest rooms are equipped with an oversized work desk and ergonomic chair, complimentary Wi-Fi and deluxe bathroom amenities. The hotel also features an Executive Lounge accessible for Club floor guests, serving complimentary food and beverages through-out the day.

“While the hotel has received more than $10 million in improvements and upgrades since 2015, we plan to invest a significant amount of capital to further refurbish the hotel starting this winter with a targeted completion date in the Spring of 2021,” added Estes. “We recognize the challenges posed to today’s traveler and look forward to partnering with Marriott to apply the most up-to-date and forward-thinking innovations to the renovation. Following the completion of these renovations, the hotel will regain ‘like-new’ status and be positioned perfectly to serve any traveler to southeastern Wisconsin.”

The Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel project marks the third hotel transaction completed by Woodmont Lodging, Milestone Companies and Blue Vista since 2018.

Woodmont Lodging

Woodmont Lodging is focused on the acquisition and aggressive asset management of hospitality assets across North America, with a focus on focused service and select value-add opportunities. The company also delivers financial results to third-party owners through advisory engagements and asset management services.

Milestone Companies

Milestone Companies is an award-winning hotel management, investment and development firm with a dedicated team of hospitality industry professionals that have amassed more than 100 years of combined experience in property management, asset management and hotel renovations. Over the past 30 years, the principals of Milestone have been involved in the acquisition and/or management of more than 125 hotels located across the United States with an aggregate value in excess of $1.5 billion. Milestone provides property management services through its wholly-owned affiliate, Milestone Hospitality Management, LLC. The Milestone Companies are headquartered in Baltimore, MD, with satellite offices in Harrisburg, PA, Greensboro, NC and Los Angeles, CA. For more information, visit www.milestonehotels.com.

Blue Vista Capital Management

Blue Vista is a leading investment management firm focused on helping investors maximize returns through best-in-class real estate strategies in student housing, middle market equity and middle market lending. Blue Vista offers investors the benefits of a vertically integrated platform, complementary strategies managed by experienced teams, and deep expertise as an owner, operator and lender. Since its inception in 2002, the firm has invested over $10.2 billion as of December 31, 2019 in total capitalization, with the goal of challenging the status quo, setting high standards and bringing a relationship-based, client-focused approach to real estate investing. For more information, visit www.bluevistallc.com.

New General Manager named for The Nautical Beachfront Resort

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Benchmark has named Frank Casarez, Jr., general manager for The Nautical Beachfront Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Greg Champion, Benchmark’s chief operating officer, made the announcement.

“It is with great pleasure that I formally welcome Frank to our company,” said Mr. Champion. “he has brought vast and successful leadership experience to our resort, and understands the property’s market well, having previously served in resort areas within Arizona.”

Frank Casarez, Jr., brings extensive senior property leadership experience to his new position with The Nautical Beachfront Resort. He was previously general manager and managing director of sales for the Sheraton Crescent Hotel of Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to this he served as area manager and general manager for the Resort at the Mountain in Welches, Oregon. Earlier Mr. Casarez held general manager, assistant general manager, and other leadership positions for hotels and resorts in markets across the country, including Portland, Houston, Los Angeles and Tucson.

Mr. Casarez attended Santa Monica Junior College and San Diego University where he focused in Graphic Arts management. He has relocated to Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

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New GM appointed at Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu

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Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu announced the appointment of Mr. Kanit Sangmookda as the new General Manager responsible for all areas in the Malaysian hotel including product development, financial performance, brand compliance, and guest satisfaction.

Born in Thailand, Mr. Kanit holds a master’s degree in International Business Management majoring in Management and Economics from Wollongong University in Australia. He brings with him more than 19 years of experience, working in leading international chain hotels including Marriott International, Minor Hotel Group and former Starwood Hotels and Resorts. His first taste of the hospitality industry was as a Reservation Agent in JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok. Through continuous learning and self-development, he has proven himself to be proficient and competent with his appointment as the Director of Revenue Management at Bangkok Marriott Resorts & Spa and The Westin Kuala Lumpur, as well as the Regional Director of Revenue Management for Starwood Hotels & Resorts – Southeast Asia.

Mr. Kanit is no stranger to the hospitality industry in Sabah where he served as the General Manager of Four Points by Sheraton Sandakan for almost three years. Prior to his appointment at Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu, Mr. Kanit was the General Manager for Le Méridien Jakarta where he spearheaded the renovation of the hotel rooms and their lobby lounge as well as the migration to Marriott International after the acquisition of Starwood.

Passionate, articulate and personable, Mr. Kanit is a creative leader who believes the success of an organization comes from a competent and innovative team. He drives his team to efficiently achieve their business goal by mentoring them to fulfill their full potential both professionally and personally.

Besides the dedicated contribution to the internal companies, his team and hotel owner, Mr. Kanit is also passionate in serving the tourism and hospitality industry in almost every market he presented as he believes in giving back to community and pay it forward to the next generation. Back in Thailand, he spent his weekend being part time lecturer at Hotel Management Faculty of Assumption University. During his time in Sandakan, he was part of the pioneer Executive Committee team of Sandakan Tourism Association (STAN) which established in 2015. While at the same time, he also represented Sandakan hotels as Executive Committee in Malaysia Hotels Association (MAH) – Sabah/Labuan chapter as well. When he moved to Jakarta, Indonesia; he also joined Jakarta Hotel Association as Executive Committee which he spearheaded Education and CSR sector and driven multiple activities for the organization.

As the new General Manager, Mr. Kanit looks forward to bringing new ideas and initiatives to revive the existing Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu to a new level. “With a different pair of eyes and my experiences, some things are better when seen from a new perspective,” he said.

When not on hotel grounds, Mr. Kanit is a family man who enjoys music, sports and fitness activities as well as photography.

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19 more hotels with 3000 rooms to be added to Marriott Hotels in Middle East and Africa

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Marriott International expects to add 19 new properties and more than 3,000 rooms to its  Middle East and Africa portfolio in 2019.  Underpinning a strong demand for its diverse brands, the new additions are in line with the company’s expansion plans to add more than 100 new properties and nearly 26,000 rooms across the region by the end of 2023.  Marriott estimates its development pipeline through 2023 represents up to $8 billion of investment from property owners and is expected to generate over 20,000 new jobs across the region.

“Our growth across the Middle East and Africa is fuelled by a strong demand for our diverse range of well-established brands, each offering different attributes that cater to this region’s ever changing and evolving marketplace,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “This region continues to present us with opportunities to further grow and enhance our portfolio across new and established markets.  While the majority of our growth will be through new-builds, we are seeing an increasing number of conversion opportunities, especially in the luxury space.”

Year-to-date, the company has opened five new properties in the region and is expected to add 14 more – bringing its portfolio across the Middle East and Africa to nearly 270 properties and over 60,000 rooms – by the end of the year.

Unwavering Demand for Luxury Brands that offer Unrivalled Experiences

The company is poised to expand its luxury footprint in the region by more than 70 percent by the end of 2023, with more than 25 luxury properties under development.   The company expects to grow its luxury portfolio in 2019 with seven anticipated openings across four brands:

  • With the recent opening of W Dubai – The Palm and the anticipated openings of W Muscat and W Yas Island, W Hotels should double its portfolio in the region.
  • St. Regis anticipates debuting in Jordan and Egypt with the openings of The St. Regis Amman and The St. Regis Cairo.
  • The iconic North Island is expected to of world-renowned hotels and resorts.
  • JW Marriott anticipates marking its entry into Oman with the opening of the JW Marriott Muscat Convention Center.

Substantial Growth across Premium Brands

The growth of Marriott’s premium brands remains steady across the region with more than 30 hotels expected to be added to the portfolio by the end of 2023. By the end of 2019, the company expects to have added four new hotels under its premium portfolio for the region:

  • The Autograph Collection anticipates marking its debut in Kenya with the addition of Sankara Nairobi.
  • Marriott Hotels and Marriott Executive Apartments strengthened its presence in Saudi Arabia with the recent openings in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh.  Marriott Executive Apartments is also expected to open a new property in Madinah later this year.
  • Marriott Hotels is also planning to open its second property in Algeria, in the capital city of Algiers

In addition to the openings in 2019, Marriott is also focused on the transformation journey of Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, the company’s most global brand.  In the region, Sheraton Jeddah Hotel and Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai are currently undergoing renovations that represent the brand’s vision for the future.

Regional Demand for Select-Service Hotels Continues to Fuel Growth

Currently representing over 40 percent of the company’s development pipeline through 2023, select-serve brands continue their rapid growth trajectory across the Middle East and Africa.  Building on the momentum from 2018 – with ten properties added across the region, including four Aloft hotels in the UAE – the company expects to add seven new properties by the end of this year:

  • Four Points by Sheraton anticipates expanding its portfolio with a total of four openings in 2019.The brand recently opened properties in in Sharjah (UAE) and Setif (Algeria) and is on-track to open two more properties this year including, Four Points by Sheraton Dar es Salaam New Africa in Tanzania and Four Points by Sheraton Lahore in Pakistan.
  • Residence Inn by Marriott expects to make its debut in Algeria with the opening of Residence Inn by Marriott Algiers
  • Protea Hotels by Marriott plans to expand the brand in Uganda with the opening of Protea Hotel by Marriott Naguru Skyz.
  • Element Hotels is set to launch its first property in Africa with the opening of Element Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

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Marriott has a 2020 vision when it comes to expansion in Asia

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From the 15th Hotel Investment Conference – South Asia, Marriott International  today announced its continued expansion plans in Asia-Pacific with its 2020 vision — an aggressive target to have 1000 hotels open by the end of 2020. This vision also could create up to 50,000 more job opportunities for the region. In 2019 alone, the company expects to add close to 100 new hotels or close to 20,000 rooms in the region, with several brand debuts in Australia, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Nepal and India. Marriott International’s portfolio in Asia Pacific currently encompasses over 710 properties in 23 countries and territories, operating under 23 of the company’s 30 global brands.

“The breadth and depth of Marriott International’s footprint means that we are able to offer travelers opportunities to experience more destinations, brands and experiences, especially through Marriott BonvoyTM, our industry-leading travel program,” said Craig S. Smith, President and Managing Director, Marriott International Asia Pacific.

“As important as our size is our commitment to deliver seamless and quality experiences for our guests at on-brand properties. Today’s traveler demands authentic, personalized and transformative experiences, whether for work or for pleasure, as a way of broadening their individual horizons and achieving a deeper understanding of the world. As the world’s leading hospitality company, it is in our DNA to strive to be part of our guests’ favorite moments and memories. We are dedicated to Marriott International remaining Asia Pacific’s favorite travel company.”

China, India and Southeast Asia as Marriott International’s Growth Drivers in the Region

Marriott International is well positioned to capitalize on global travel trends in China, India, and Indonesia, three of the world’s four most populated nations.

China continues to be the strongest growth driver for Marriott International in Asia Pacific, with more than 300 hotels in the pipeline. This accounts for more than 50 percent of the company’s pipeline in Asia Pacific. This year alone, Marriott International targets to open more than 30 hotels in China, including the first JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in China, the 515-room JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Shanghai Pudong featuring 6 food and beverage outlets; and the first Renaissance Hotel in the Fujian province with the planned opening of Renaissance Xiamen Resort & Spa in the fourth quarter of 2019. Outside of mainland China, the St. Regis brand is set to debut with the opening of St. Regis Hong Kong located in the historic Wanchai district.

With its recent 100th Marriott International hotel milestone celebrated in 2018, India continues to be the company’s second fastest growth engine in Asia Pacific with more than 50 properties in the pipeline. Marriott expects to reach more than 30,000 rooms open in India by end 2023. Given India’s robust economy and rising middle class, the country continues to present exciting growth opportunities, leveraging strong demand for Marriott’s select-service brands and growing demand for its upper upscale and luxury portfolios. The company expects to debut the Tribute Portfolio brand in India, with the opening of Port Muziris, Kochi, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel slated for the second quarter of 2019.

At the recent ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Tourism Forum, the ASEAN National Tourism Organizations revealed their collective efforts to marketing initiatives to inspire travel to Southeast Asia. Marriot International is poised to welcome these travelers, with over 140 signed hotels in its Southeast Asia pipeline, with Indonesia leading growth, meeting the growing demands of travel and tourism. In the Philippines, the company expects to more than triple its hotel portfolio by 2023. Sheraton, Marriott International’s most global brand, recently debuted in the country with the opening of Sheraton Manila Hotel. 

Marriott International continues its growth momentum in the Pacific region, with 50 hotels anticipated to be open by 2020. Australia should see several brand debuts in coming years, including The Luxury Collection and The Ritz-Carlton. The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, expects to open in Hobart in late 2019, and the 205-room The Ritz-Carlton Perth is slated to open in June 2019.  Element Hotels, Marriott International’s eco-conscious brand, is expected to debut in Australia with the opening of Element Melbourne Richmond in Q3 this year.

Marriott International Eyes New Destinations in Asia Pacific with Marriott BonvoyTM

Earlier this year, Marriott introduced Marriott BonvoyTM  — Marriott International’s travel program replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®(SPG).  With Marriott BonvoyTM, travelers can experience the company’s newly introduced Asia Pacific website featuring rich experiential and user-generated content and offering inspiration for the next adventure in Asia Pacific. The company continues to focus on bringing new hotels to unchartered destinations sought out by our guests, with Marriott International’s first foray into Myanmar planned for 2020 with the opening of Sheraton Yangon Hotel.

As the Company Expands, Culture Remains a Bedrock For Success

Marriott International’s Asia Pacific vision could create up to approximately 50,000 new job opportunities in Asia Pacificby the end of 2020. Travel and tourism provide opportunities for experienced people or those new to the hospitality industry.  Research by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) highlighted that 1 in 5 new jobs created globally are attributable to travel and tourism.

As the company continues to grow, this also means that there is an increased opportunity for our associates to develop their careers and thereby improve their livelihoods. This is another way that Marriott International takes care of its associates. With a culture that empowers associates to live their best lives — putting people first has been the company’s core value since Marriott was founded more than 90 years ago. Marriott has built its business on taking care of its associates, who in turn take care of our guests. The company believes that creating a diverse and inclusive environment strengthens culture and community and drives competitiveness. Marriott International has won Aon Hewitt’s best employer for five consecutive years in Asia Pacific.

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Aloft Kuala Lumpur has a new GM

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Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral welcomes Rubel Miah, as its newly appointed General Manager. Rubel joins the sassy 4-star Hotel with 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry with a solid foundation in driving customer satisfaction and loyalty.

A Master’s Degree holder in International Marketing and Business Development from the University of Evry in Paris, Rubel, a French national, began his career in hospitality as a Sales Manager at the Novotel Peace Beijing, followed by a three-year stint with the Sofitel brand in China before moving on to Sofitel Saigon in Vietnam as Director of Sales & Marketing where he spent two years, repositioning the hotel into the Luxury market before joining the pre-opening team of the Sheraton Chongqing Hotel in South West part of China.

Following a successful opening of the Sheraton Chongqing, Rubel joined the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, A Luxury Collection Hotel, in Bangkok, in 2012. In his capacity as the Director of Sales & Marketing of the Hotel, Rubel continued to excel and successfully increase the Hotel’s profitability which led to his appointment as Hotel Manager at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, where he held the position for three years, making it his most recent adventure before moving to Malaysia.

In his new role at Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Rubel Miah strives to continue the Hotel’s success and make it the best place for global corporate and leisure travellers.

Apart from work, Rubel, a father of two, is also highly committed to humanitarian causes. He was a Chief Boy Scout while completing his Master’s Degree where he found working to raise funds and helping out the less fortunate a very enriching experience. He carried on his passion throughout his career, championing the Marriott Thailand Business Council’s Corporate Social Responsibility chapter.

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New Executive Chef at Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa Malaysia

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Guests dining at The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa’s signature Eat Well menu, as well as its array of local and international cuisine, are in for a healthier, heightened culinary experience with the appointment of Glen Roberts as the 5-star resort’s Executive Chef.

Glen’s primary emphasis will be on overseeing and enhancing the Eat Well program at The Westin Langkawi, which provides guests with nutritious dishes sourced responsibly and created thoughtfully. The program, offered at Westin Hotels & Resorts worldwide, focuses on accommodating individual dietary preferences and needs without compromising on flavour, taste or satisfaction.

“The Eat Well program is a unique initiative based on the belief that feeling good starts with the right nourishment,” said Glen. “It’s an honour to be part of a stellar team that operates on a wellness-first philosophy, and I’m eager to acquire local insights and exchange knowledge on how best to provide guests a thoughtful, nutritious yet appealing culinary experience.”

Alongside his team from The Westin Langkawi, the widely-travelled food connoisseur will also be in charge of elevating culinary offerings at the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC), the island’s leading and largest centre of its kind.

Glen arrives in Langkawi after a stint at the 5-star Emerald Palace Kempinski Dubai, where he was part of the pre-opening team. Prior to his spell in the United Arab Emirates, he spent two years, from 2016, as the Executive Chef at the Shangri-La in Surabaya. His culinary adventures, however, began almost 5,000 kilometres and 40 years ago in Australia.

He began his love affair with food in Australia in the mid-1980s before honing his culinary skills in London and New Zealand. Glen returned to Brisbane and progressed to become second in charge to the Executive Chef of the Hyatt Regency Coolum in Queensland, overseeing 10 food outlets and multi-banquet facilities. He later moved to the Park Hyatt in Canberra, where his tenure as Senior Executive Sous Chef saw him attending to HRH Queen Elizabeth and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex during their visit there in 2002.

Seeking new horizons, Glen was part of the team that launched the Grand Hyatt Dubai. He then set his sights on the Sheraton Grand Laguna Phuket in Thailand, where he celebrated his first stint as Executive Chef in 2003. Two years later, he found himself in East Malaysia at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort. Whilst there one of the many highlights was to be the key driver behind the production of the “Taste of Borneo” cookbook, which focused on the preparation of 5-star cuisine using local products from Sabah.

In 2010, Glen was an integral part of the team behind the successful renovation and reopening of the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore. He continued to spearhead the resort until 2013, when he moved to the Shangri-La Fijian Resort and Spa as their Executive Chef.

Longing to once again step back into Southeast Asia, he made his way to Thailand’s InterContinental Hua Hin Resort in 2015. Glen was involved in developing and opening the resort’s Roof Top bar and BluPort Wing, which features 40 guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, meeting rooms and ballroom.

“Food is my passion, and I’ve also missed this lovely region,” laughs Glen. “By combining the two, I hope to tantalize guests at The Westin Langkawi with some of the healthiest, tastiest cuisine in Southeast Asia while maintaining our international-class standards of service, quality and hospitality.”

Centrally located on 104 acres of lush, Langkawi tropical gardens bordered by the Andaman Sea, The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa comprises 221 spacious, fully-appointed rooms and suites. The resort also features 20 ultra-luxury Ocean View Pool villas complete with personal pools as well as the award-winning Heavenly Spa by Westin, the only Heavenly Spa in Malaysia.

For more information on The Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa, visit

www.westinlangkawi.com or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

 

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Marriott to open South Asia’s first Tribute Portfolio hotel at Cochin International Airport

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Twenty14 Holdings has announced plans to launch Port Muziris – South Asia’s first Tribute Portfolio hotel, part of Marriott International, near Cochin International Airport.

The 55-room property is all set to be opened to the public in April. “We are thrilled to debut the first Tribute Portfolio in South Asia. At Twenty14 Holdings, we share the vision of offering a unique experience for guests,” said Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, Twenty14 Holdings. “Kerala has long been one of the most sought-after destinations worldwide, and we are excited to be part of the state’s flourishing tourism sector. We look forward to extending our legacy of providing outstanding hospitality to guests across Kerala and India through our bespoke properties,” he said.

Tribute Portfolio, launched by Marriott, is a collection of independent hotels around the globe with a focus on expressive design moments, vibrant public spaces, and a flexible food and beverage model. “We are delighted to announce the first Tribute Portfolio hotel in India with the opening of Port Muziris hotel in Kochi. This will also mark the debut of our 16th brand to join the Marriott International portfolio in India,” said Neeraj Govil, Area Vice President — South Asia, Marriott International. He added, “We are honoured to partner with Twenty14 Holdings for their first hotel in India. With its unique design and vibrant social spaces, we are sure this hotel will become a preference for leisure travelers.”

Port Muziris is Twenty14 Holdings’ first property in India. Currently, the hospitality investment firm has over $750 million portfolio of properties around the world, including the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – the Caledonian in Scotland, Sheraton Oman in Muscat and Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay in UAE.

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Courtyard Burlington, Ontario: Innovative design and flexible space

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In Canada Courtyard by Marriott Hotel has opened its doors in Burlington, Ontario and ready to serve you. Featuring an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard’s latest contemporary room design, the new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience. Located at 1110 Burloak Drive, the 135-room hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Burlington Hotels Group Inc. and managed by Burloak Hospitality Management Ltd. Both of Burlington, Ontario.

Adjacent to the Burlington Convention Centre, the Courtyard Burlington is located 40 minutes from downtown Toronto and offers guests convenient access Canada’s Wonderland, Niagara Falls, Burlington Botanical Gardens and the scenic waterfalls of Hamilton. Rates begin at $169 per night.

Courtyard constantly researches trends and evolves to meet the changing needs of its guests. The latest room design offers hybrid zones for working, sleeping, relaxing and getting ready. Indirect lighting and a neutral, tone-on-tone color palette makes for a soothing and calm environment.

“From day one, Courtyard has prided itself as a brand that listens to business travelers,” said Janis Milham, senior vice president and global brand leader, Classic Select Brands. “Today’s technology has changed how people travel. Our guests want a room that has purpose and flexibility that enables a seamless transition between relaxing and working. Courtyard is designed to offer them a relaxing and functional space to work the way they want to, when they want to.”

The new room design is intuitive and thoughtful, offering flexible yet comfortable spaces that enable technology. Upon arrival, guests can store bags on the “Luggage Drop” and plug personal devices into the “Tech Drop” ledge for seamless technology integration.

Signature furniture and architectural elements replace traditional art in the new guestroom. The “LoungeAround” sofa offers a pop of color and a comfortable area for relaxing or for working. The new design also features a light desk on wheels, allowing guests to work from anywhere in the room.

An upgraded, more spacious layout creates an enhanced bathroom experience. A “Shower Nook” housing shampoos and towels, makes amenities accessible without having to leave the shower.

The Courtyard Burlington features the brand’s latest lobby design, where guests can enjoy an open and modern environment outside of their rooms. The newly designed Bistro is the epicenter of the lobby, which fosters social connections and collaboration with more flexible and informal seating options. The Bistro offers guests a wide variety of “made to order” breakfast, lunch and dinner items, “grab and go” options, and also features an array of specialty cocktails, beer and wine for guests to unwind at the end of the day.

Frank Vismeg, Managing Director for Burlington Hotels Group and Burloak Hospitality Management Ltd., who is overseeing the hotel operations, has extensive international experience with Hilton Hotels, Sheraton and InterContinental Hotels Group, and a strong network of relationships with government, industry and service organizations. The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel will bring new jobs and guests to our city, which is good for our local economy and good for Burlington.”

The construction of the hotel was developed by TriAxis Construction Limited, a well-respected construction management firm with over 25 years of experience and expertise in the industry.

“As Development and Construction Manager for the hotel, our professional and committed team has ensured that every aspect of the hotel was built to the highest quality and with utmost attention to detail, to meet or exceed the highest standards set by Marriott,” said Domenic Fuda, President of TriAxis Construction Limited and an equity partner in Burlington Hotels Group Inc.

“With this exciting Courtyard by Marriott project, we will be offering one of the world’s leading hotel brands to the Burlington, Oakville and QEW corridor, consisting of upscale facilities, impeccable accommodations, excellent culinary experiences, and professional and friendly service with a European flair,” said Sandra Stewart-Fearnside, General Manager.

“We are very proud to be the first to bring the very successful Courtyard by Marriott brand to the Burlington/Oakville area and to finally meet the extraordinary demand for a first-rate hotel next to the Burlington Convention Centre,” said Jack Moreira, Owner of Burlington Convention Centre.

Throughout the hotel, guests can connect with ample electrical outlets. The business library features a separate computer stations dedicated solely to printing airline boarding passes and checking flight status.

Green has been Courtyard’s signature color since Marriott launched the brand 30 years ago. Now it is even greener with the introduction of a guest recycling program for the environment. Receptacles for paper, glass, plastic and metal are conveniently located by side exits.

The six-story hotel features a heated indoor saltwater pool, a fitness centre and guest laundry, and offers 1,800 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 120 people. The hotel is adjacent by a heated and covered walkway to the Burlington Convention Centre that features an additional 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space accommodating up to 1,200 guests.

www.marriott.com/yhmbu or Call: 1.888.236.2427

About Courtyard by Marriott

Courtyard by Marriott offers a refreshing environment that helps guests stay connected, productive and balanced.

Courtyard by Marriott offers a refreshing environment that helps guests stay connected, productive and balanced. Intuitive services and design accommodate guests’ needs for choice and control. With more than 1,100 locations in over 50 countries and territories, Courtyard is proud to participate in the company’s award-winning loyalty programs – Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG). The programs, operating under one set of unparalleled benefits, enable members to earn points toward free hotel stays, achieve Elite status faster than ever, and seamlessly book or redeem points for stays throughout our loyalty portfolio of 29 brands and more than 6,700 participating hotels in 129 countries & territories. To enroll for free or for more information about the programs, visit members.marriott.com. For more information or reservations, visit courtyard.marriott.com, become a fan on Facebook or folloourtyardHotels on Twitter and Instagram

In Paris another Courtyard by Marriott opened bringing new design to the French Capital.