Westin Brand Chosen for West-Canadian Residentail & Golf Resort
Announcing The Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Resort & Spa, Vancouver Island, BC
WHITE PLAINS, NY, July 13, 2005. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces a franchise agreement for Bear Mountain, British Columbia, Canada's, signature hotel accommodations, the 65-room "Fairways" and 91-room "Clubhouse" to be collectively known as The Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Resort & Spa. The Fairways phase of the resort opened in December 2004 and the Clubhouse phase is scheduled to open in May 2006. The primary investor and CEO, Len Barrie, is a former NHL player and is joined in partnership by a group of current and former NHL stars, headed by Mike Vernon and including such notables as Ray Whitney, Rob Niedermayer, Ryan Smyth, Greg Adams and Rob Blake.
Bear Mountain Resort is one of the largest resort developments in Western Canada, covering 1,200 acres or almost two square miles, with the potential of over 2,500 residences. The resort and residential development, located 20 minutes from downtown Victoria will be anchored by a village center and signature Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Resort & Spa. The resort has a Jack and Steve Nicklaus co-designed 18-hole golf course, with a second Nicklaus-designed course projected to open in 2007.
"We are delighted to bring to Victoria one of the most recognizable names in hospitality, the upper-upscale Westin brand, which is a perfect match with Vancouver Island's reputation as one of the top tourism destinations in the world," said Sue Brush, Westin Hotels & Resorts' senior vice president. 'This magnificent resort is a wonderful addition to Westin's northwest portfolio hotels in Seattle, Vancouver and Whistler."
"We are creating a lifestyle destination on Vancouver Island that will attract people from around the world," says Barrie. "We chose Westin because of its internationally recognizable name and reputation for outstanding hospitality experiences. It is another great addition to the phenomenal product being created at Bear Mountain Resort."
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