Winnipeg Construction IX

[Urban recluse]

Any inside info on the new Richardson facility that is supposed to be built downtown?

[buzzg]

Regardless how nice the Sutton Place is – it's independent, which is an instant no-go for A LOT of business travellers, who are attending events and RBCCC. The Delta IMO is the best all-around hotel in DT, but it's pretty expensive. We really need a few more SPG/Marriott/Hilton banners downtown. I'm honestly shocked TN didn't think about this. If they were to open an SPG/Marriott banner, it'd be full every night.

I think people really underestimate how important hotel loyalty programs are. It can save around 25% a year, get you upgraded, etc. That's massive for big companies and frequent travellers. Myself being one, I will try as hard as I can to stay at SPG/Marriott or Hilton.

[DavefromSt.Vital]

I stayed at the Fairmont Winnipeg two years ago as I needed something downtown and the Inn at the Forks was full. It was the same as it has always been for years. Some of the staff were really good but the hotel itself was "not bad but not great". I am sure for those teams that have stayed there the younger players immediately asked "Where can I plug in my devices?". When the Westin was proposed at Portage and Main I think it was Viking who mentioned that the Starwood reps were salivating at what a modern Westin could do against the Fairmont Winnipeg. Now that Accor (ugh!) has bought Fairmont Raffles I don't see a lot changing unless there is significant local investment unrelated to brand standards.

I stayed at the new Buffalo Marriott Harborcenter back in January. A nice modern hotel attached to the arena. My son had fun accessing YouTube directly off the TV among other things. The players that we saw seemed to be enjoying it as well. Like buzzg, I have status with Hilton and Starwood. Now that Marriott owns Starwood I can see this being my go to hotel whenever I am in Buffalo. Winnipeg needs a hotel like that downtown, and I can't see the Delta (a former Holiday Inn) being that.

One thing I have always wondered about - Is there some clause that prevents the Inn at the Forks from being affiliated with one of the major chains, even if it were one of their more esoteric "operate like an independent hotel but just join the loyalty program" flags?

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Any inside info on the new Richardson facility that is supposed to be built downtown?

Yes.

[trueviking]

I believe the new hotel across from the Fairmont will have an international flag and be a righ rating. Would love it if Harvard built the same on their parking lot.

[lilwayne]

Originally Posted by Urban recluse

Any inside info on the new Richardson facility that is supposed to be built downtown?

ya whats the update on this project

like to get some info on the design or height of the building

[lilwayne]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I believe the new hotel across from the Fairmont will have an international flag and be a righ rating. Would love it if Harvard built the same on their parking lot.

new hotel across of the Fairmont?

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

new hotel across of the Fairmont?

beside nutty club

[lilwayne]

Originally Posted by 1ajs

beside nutty club

How tall?

[wags_in_the_peg]

Originally Posted by lilwayne

How tall?

building already there, former office building being converted

[1ajs]

Originally Posted by wags_in_the_peg

building already there, former office building being converted

And some sorta possible addition between it and nutty club

[esquire]

Originally Posted by trueviking

I believe the new hotel across from the Fairmont will have an international flag and be a righ rating.

That's encouraging, if only because you know that if they have their act together enough to secure and pay for a major flag, that the redevelopment project itself won't be half baked. It's exciting because it's literally going to be the first development on Portage Ave. E. since Lombard Place nearly 50 years ago.

I can't recall off hand who the developer is, but I remember looking them up when the news first broke and seeing that they already had hotels affiliated with major brands.

[Biff]

Developer from Toronto, possible Hilton.

[The Unknown Poster]

So if Sutton is 4 stars, presumably, the NHL will stay there (given the connections the owner/developer has).

But if a 5 star opens up near P&M, it automatically gets the NHL deal... Perhaps Im over-stating the value of an NHL deal on a hotel.

I know for the Heritage Classic, they used multiple hotels. It seemed their mandate was to spread the money around. My friend's hotel on Pembina had many of the construction people staying there. And apparently every hotel had to maintain a top level room for Bettman should he decide to stay there on any given night (ie. he likely stayed at the Fairmont but if he didnt feel like going back downtown, he could have walked into the Four Points and they had a room waiting).

[Urban recluse]

This is the architect behind it:

http://www.hotelnext.ca/?team=harry-christakis

[esquire]

^ The NHL is one corporate account among many... perhaps more lucrative than most, but let's face it, there are others that are probably similar in scale. I'm thinking of CN with the large groups they bring in all the time for training, IG (I've chatted with many IG workers coming to Winnipeg for whatever reason while flying on Air Canada), in all likelihood GWL, etc.

[bomberjet]

Having 20-30 rooms booked a couple times a week throughout the winter doesn't hurt though. But yeah, I wouldn't base your business plan on NHL.

[TimeFadesAway]

Originally Posted by esquire

That's encouraging, if only because you know that if they have their act together enough to secure and pay for a major flag, that the redevelopment project itself won't be half baked. It's exciting because it's literally going to be the first development on Portage Ave. E. since Lombard Place nearly 50 years ago.

I can't recall off hand who the developer is, but I remember looking them up when the news first broke and seeing that they already had hotels affiliated with major brands.

Isn't it the same developer who tried to tear down the Fortune Block, etc and open an extended-stay hotel? My recollection is that this Portage Ave E. was essentially a new location for that plan.

[optimusREIM]

Any word on when this will begin construction, or is planning to begin?

[buzzg]

Originally Posted by The Unknown Poster

So if Sutton is 4 stars, presumably, the NHL will stay there (given the connections the owner/developer has).

But if a 5 star opens up near P&M, it automatically gets the NHL deal... Perhaps Im over-stating the value of an NHL deal on a hotel.

I know for the Heritage Classic, they used multiple hotels. It seemed their mandate was to spread the money around. My friend's hotel on Pembina had many of the construction people staying there. And apparently every hotel had to maintain a top level room for Bettman should he decide to stay there on any given night (ie. he likely stayed at the Fairmont but if he didnt feel like going back downtown, he could have walked into the Four Points and they had a room waiting).

I think you're severely over-stating the value of the NHL deal. Maybe the hotel gets some cool points for being "the NHL hotel." While it's nothing to scoff at, the 40-50 people who travel here for NHL 44 times a year pales in comparison to the thousands of people and room-nights booked due to conventions.

Heritage Classsic is a different beast. They were hosting over 1000 people, they needed multiple hotels regardless. They also wanted to keep all the groups together (ie: Oilers alum at one, Oilers current another.... Alt was the media and NHL guests..).

Regardless of Sutton Place, Inn ATF, Fairmont... The NHL has an exclusive deal with Westin, so even if NHL teams move to Sutton, the second a Westin opens in Winnipeg, they are contractually obligated to stay there. The only reason they can actually choose their hotel right now is because we don't have a Westin.