A few days ago, in a February 1 meeting, the city council of Courtenay agreed on a project for the construction of a Holiday Inn Express hotel facility at the corner of Hunt and Ryan roads in Courtenay. The proposed facility will be strategically positioned across the street from the Chances Casino, and it will be a four-story, 93-unit hotel.
The approved project will offer a series of luxury services, for its clients, starting from an indoor swimming pool, fitness facility, conference room, and a breakfast bar. Currently, there is a proposal for 97 parking stalls and 10 electric vehicle charging stations for eco-friendly visitors, but it is currently waiting for approval.
More Than a Hotel
The facility will not only be great for accommodation but it will be green-oriented as well. The project was also signed for the Green Engage program, which offers monitoring and management of energy, carbon, and water usage. Speaking on behalf of the candidate company Kevin Brooks who is a senior planner at McElhanney, said that they can also reduce greenhouse gases, and decrease the waste from the building to a minimum.
Councilmember Doug Hillian raised some concerns over traffic issues in the area since accessing Ryan can be difficult after the road is often closed due to motorists, Mr. Hillian state that the traffic study implies intersection failure, making the site’s location far from the suggested “perfect site”. In response to that Mr. Brooks said that the company revised the traffic study when modifying access points to the hotel facility.
Holiday Inn Express is expected to be of great value to the region by providing around 47 full-time job positions and will attract more visitors to the area with its luxurious services. The hospitality center will also prove to be a suitable location for all Chances Casino players who are looking for a place to stay overnight, and maybe even longer.
Chances Casino in Courtenay is under the Great Canadian Gaming corporation’s jurisdiction and over the years has proven to be a pivotal point for the area. With numerous local gambling enthusiasts playing on its premises. Now the gambling enterprise will be even more appealing to the gamblers since the approved hotel-project will be a great fit for the casino.
Great Canadian Gaming Appoints New CCO
A recent announcement from the Crown corporation saw the appointment of its brand-new Chief Compliance Officer – Sukvinder Singh, who took over the position on January 27, 2021. Mr. Singh is a familiar face who has served as Vice President, Compliance – Ontario. Meaning that he has more than enough qualities and experience to cope with his newly assigned responsibility.
Former Controversial CEO
Lately, the Crown corporation was involved in a public scandal thanks to its now-former CEO Rod Baker, who resigned from the position at the end of January 2021. The ex-president faced tribal backlash after he and his wife Ekaterina Baker flew on a chartered plane to the remote town of Beaver Creek, where the couple lied about their identities in order to receive the Moderna vaccines earlier.
Source: Stanfield, Scott, « Hotel proposed near Chances Casino in Courtenay », Comox Valley Record, February 4, 2021