CANADIAN Pacific Hotels is undergoing its biggest-ever restructure with new branding, product expansion and diversification into the US.
Following its acquisition of the Canada-based Delta Hotels chain in May 1998, CP Hotels is finalising agreement for a 67% controlling interest in US group Fairmont Hotels that will strengthen its presence in North America.
The Fairmont properties include seven key US gateway locations. These will be added to a new third brand portfolio that includes the former Princess Hotels in strategic markets such as Scottsdale in Arizona, Acapulco, Bermuda and Barbados. It will be called Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.
Paul Ryan, executive director, national sales Europe, for CP Hotels, said: “The acquisition of Delta really cemented us in the Canada accommodation sector, adding a four-star tier of mostly city-centre hotels to our traditional five-star Landmark resorts.
“Most of the Landmark properties are linked to the heritage and history of Canada and are in some of the best locations across the country. Even our newer ones have unique locations, including the Skydome Hotel in Toronto and Chateau Whistler in British Columbia.”
Ryan says its Canada expansion has consolidated CP’s presence in the market and the company will be looking to further expand by developing more four and five-star hotels.
Fairmont will be the global brand used by the group to expand internationally, and the CP Hotels name will remain as a mostly resort brand within Canada, as well as Delta.
The group is also planning to step up its marketing of golf, skiing and other winter and summer pursuits, as well as the increasing number of spa centres being developed in its Canadian Landmark locations. Among the CP Hotels with golf courses that were packaged at Rendezvous are the Chateau Montebello in Quebec; Chateau Whistler; The Lodge at Kananaskis in the Alberta Rockies; and the course at Banff Springs Hotel.
A £2.9m redevelopment of the course at CP’s historic Algonquin Resort at St Andrews by-the-Sea in New Brunswick is due to be completed in 2001.
A sample one-night package at Chateau Montebello in high season is £116, which includes one night’s accommodation, dinner and breakfast, one green fee per room night, golf cart and access to its sports complex.
Ryan said the growing ski market to Canada has driven a much younger, more affluent client to its Canadian winter sports properties.
“This gives us tremendous potential to promote winter and summer resort facilities and the opportunity to sell two-centre options,” he said.
Ryan added that the reopening of CP’s Le Manoir Richelieu in Charlevoix, Quebec, in June after a £60m renovation provided an ideal combination with its Chateau Frontenac property in the same province.