PALM HOLDINGS CANADA INC. OPENS NEW HOTEL IN WATERLOO, ONTARIO
Palm Holdings and Courtyard by Marriott Open the Newest Business Traveller Centred Hotel in the Waterloo Region
Waterloo, ON (September 26, 2012) — Palm Holdings Canada Inc. is launching its unique hotel experience in Waterloo, Ontario, with the new Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo-St. Jacobs. Scheduled to open in October with the official grand opening planned for late November, the former Best Western Plus St. Jacobs Country Inn will operate as a Marriott franchise owned by St. Jacobs Country Inn Inc. and managed by Palm Holdings Canada Inc. By revitalizing and re-branding the118-room hotel, Palm Holdings is introducing the City’s first Courtyard by Marriott designed with the business traveller in mind.
“Waterloo has a strong knowledge- and service-based economy with significant insurance and high-tech sectors as well as two universities, so creating a hotel experience that caters to the specific needs of our corporate customers is important for this location,” explains Paul Sutton, Regional Director of Operations, Palm Holdings Canada Inc. “Along with the hotel’s close proximity to Toronto and the local airport, Waterloo is the perfect spot for Palm Holdings to expand its business traveller-centered brand.”
The hotel’s business-oriented design includes free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, ample electrical outlets to power digital devices, a business library featuring several computer terminals, access to a free printer, and separate computer stations dedicated solely to checking flight status and printing airline boarding passes. In the lobby, guests will find the newly enhanced GoBoard® 4.0 with local information, weather, maps and walking directions, detailed flight information for local airports, and news on an LCD touch screen. Mobile integration enables guests to send the information directly to their smart phones. The onsite business centre also offers 1,300 square feet of meeting space, which can accommodate functions of up to 80 people.
The Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo-St. Jacobs also offers guests convenient access to the city’s business district and is an easy 22 kilometres from the Region of Waterloo International Airport. Fly daily non-stop flights to Ottawa, Calgary, and now Chicago via American Airlines/American Eagle with connections to over 250 cities in 40 countries worldwide.
“We are thrilled to have the Marriott Brand in the Region as it is a popular choice for both leisure tourists and business professionals visiting the St Jacobs/Waterloo area,” said Tracey Desjardins, General Manager, Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation. “The location is prime for travellers who want to enjoy the region’s attractions like the Farmers’ Market, St. Jacobs Outlet Mall, Playhouse Theatre and the village of St. Jacobs.”
At the Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo-St. Jacobs, Palm Holdings ensures a comfortable stay for all guests with stylish guestrooms featuring plush bedding, functional workspaces, spacious bathrooms, and separate seating areas. The three-storey hotel also features a fitness centre, 24/7 shop for snacks and toiletries, and guest laundry facilities. To deliver the quality experience travellers have come to expect from a Palm Holdings-managed property, Davor Dikmic has been retained as the hotel’s General Manager. Dikmic comes to Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo-St. Jacobs with more than 15 years’ experience. And at the helm of The Bistro – Eat. Drink. Connect. is Executive Chef Robert Sproat who has created a health conscious menu with seasonal cooking featuring local ingredients.
Palm Holdings Corporate Offices are located in Canada, India and the United Kingdom. Primarily in property acquisitions, business services and hospitality, Palm Holdings currently owns and operates three hotels in Ontario and four in the United Kingdom.