$100 Million Oceanfront Community Launched on Bowen Island
June 8, 2010, Bowen Island – Vancouver developers Don Ho and Edwin Lee officially announced today details of their newest project, The Cape on Bowen, a $100 million oceanfront community located on the entire southwest tip of Bowen Island. The Cape on Bowen's beaches, trails, shorelines, and dense woods have been virtually untouched for more than 50 years.
The Cape on Bowen is comprised of 10-acre estate home sites with an average price of $2 million. Estate home sites feature spectacular views from the wild terrain and ocean's edge which are celebrated at key locations for shared community enjoyment. A trail system provides access to all of this natural wonder and to the heart of the new oceanfront community: the iconic Cape Roger Curtis Lighthouse.
The Cape on Bowen Community Development Limited, a joint venture between the Trans City Group of Companies, led by Don Ho and the Leeda Developments Group, led by Edwin Lee, is developing The Cape on Bowen.
With the British Columbia Real Estate Association forecasting on June 7th, that residential sales will drop by 3% in 2010, the developers of The Cape on Bowen, are confident there will be demand for its oceanfront community. (Link to BCREA news release: www.bcrea.bc.ca/news_room/2010-06-07Forecast.pdf.)
“Opportunities to create a legacy estate home on previously undeveloped south facing island property in the Georgia Strait 35 minutes from downtown Vancouver are extremely rare,” says Don Ho, president, Trans City Group. “Regardless of economic peaks and valleys we believe the market will be strong for this type of property.”
Ekistics, planners of Whistler's Athlete Village during the 2010 Winter Olympics, have drafted the Design Guidelines for the new neighbourhood. rareEarth Project Marketing and Sea to Sky Premier Properties, an affiliate of Christie’s Great Estates, are conducting the sales and marketing.
A rich ecosystem thrives on Bowen Island as Deer move through the woods, Birdcalls are heard everywhere. Seals, bald eagles, sea lions, and whales are be spotted off this coastal bluff. The Cape On Bowen has been designed to minimize the development footprint. An oceanfront trail system provides public access to the Cape Roger Curtis Lighthouse and offers some of best island trails in the region for sheer variety of terrain and scenic views of the ocean and neighbouring islands.
“The vision for The Cape On Bowen aspires to coexist in harmony with the natural environment as we think this will build a strong sense of community as home owners share experiences unique to the area,” says Edwin Lee, president of the Leeda Developments Group, “With spectacular views, wild terrain and oceanfront, this is a very unique community.”
The Cape on Bowen is comprised of 59 home sites and it will be starting its sales and marketing campaign shortly. To celebrate the official launch of the oceanfront community, the developers hosted a crab BBQ on June 5th, 2010, for over 40 people that had expressed interest in the property for the last few years. Zodiac boat and helicopter tours of the property are available. Additional sales events are being planned throughout the spring and summer and the website is now posted at www.thecapeonbowen.com
Media Contact:
Scott Henderson 403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca www.dhzmedia.ca
The Cape on Bowen www.thecapeonbowen.com The Cape on Bowen is a $100 million oceanfront community located on the entire southwest tip of Bowen Island in British Columbia. It is a 35 minute ferry from downtown Vancouver and the neighbourhood is made up of 59 estate home sites. Its ten-acre home sites offer a unique opportunity to create a legacy home on a previously undeveloped south facing island property in the Strait of Georgia. The Cape on Bowen Community Development Limited, a joint venture between the Trans City Group of Companies, led by Don Ho and the Leeda Developments Group, led by Edwin Lee, is developing The Cape on Bowen.
-30-
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Lou Diamond Philips Jams at Beach Party in Osoyoos; Superman to Attend
Lou
Diamond Philips Jams at Beach Party in Osoyoos; Superman to Attend Jason Priestley and Terry David Mulligan co-auctioneers for Auction for the Children's Charities
June 1, 2010 - Osoyoos, BC – The Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival announced an new event today – the Celebrity Beach Jam and announced that stars of the hit TV show, “Hollywood and Vine”, Jason Priestley and Terry David Mulligan, will be the co-auctioneers and MCs for the Celebrity Wine Auction at 6 pm, June 12, 2010. Last year, the auction raised $55,000 for the Providence Children’s Centre and Osoyoos Child Care.
Celebrity Beach Jam features Lou Diamond Phillips who will jam with Bruce Greenwood and newly confirmed attendee Cameron Daddo (Hit TV show, 24) at the Beach Party following the Wine Festival's VIP Reception at Walnut Beach Resort on June 11th, 2010.
No word yet as to whether or not the Beach Jam will include newly confirmed attendee Dean Cain. Cain, who starred as Superman in Lois
& Clark: The New Adventures of Supernan, recently filmed A Pure Country Gift featuring country music legend George Strait.
Held at the Spirit Ridge Vineyard and Spa, the Charity Wine Auction is the Festival's showcase event and features the music of Steven Page (formerly of the Bare Naked Ladies) and a “Duelling Chefs vs. Duelling Winemakers” dinner that features cuisine created by celebrity Chef’s Ned Bell (Food Network), Rob Rainford (License to Grill), Michael Lyon (Chef’s Off) and Jeremy Luypen (Passatempo).
The Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival also features “The Vinos”, the world's first wine commercial film festival. This event, held at The Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos on June 10, 2010, is a contest and red carpeted awards ceremony for the best wine commercial on B.C. Wines.
Amateur and professional filmmakers are encouraged to get their entries in as there is over $5000 in cash and wine to win. Submission should be a 60-90 second video of their favourite BC winery. Twenty-four finalists will be chosen and screened at “The Vinos” a red carpeted award ceremony.
The following celebrities are attending the festival:
Jason Priestley (Beverley Hills 9020, Hollywood & Vines), Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, National Treasure), Dean Cain (Smallville), Lou Diamond Phillips (La Bamba), Cameron Daddo (24), Terry David Mulligan (Hollywood and Vine, Much Music), Ned Bell (Food Network), and Chad Oakes (Emmy award-winning producer). There are a few other mystery guests (celebrity actors, chefs and winemakers) currently confirming their attendance.
Events this year at the Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival:
• Thursday, June 10, 8:00 pm at the Watermark Resort: The Vinos - a wine commercial film festival for amateurs.
• Friday, June 11, 6:00-10:00 pm at Walnut Beach Resort: Osoyoos VIP Reception, Beach Party and Celebrity Beach Jam.
• Saturday, June 12, 12 noon to 3 pm at Black Hills Estate Winery: Nota Bene Release Party.
• Saturday, June 12, 7 pm to 11 pm at Spirit Ridge Resort: Celebrity Wine Auction and “Duelling Chefs vs. Duelling Winemakers” dinner.
NOTE: Telephone interviews with Jason Priestley can be arranged this week – contact Scott Henderson to schedule: 403 921 2001. scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
SPECIAL MEDIA VIP INVITATION:
You are invited to a VIP Media reception at 5 pm on June 12, 2010 with Steven Page, formerly with the Bare Naked Ladies, and Jason Priestley prior to the Celebrity Wine Auction at the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa. Please RSVP ASAP as there are a limited number of hosted hotel rooms for accredited media attending the Wine Festival. Invitation to Celebrity Wine Auction is NOT included with reception. Tickets for Charity Auction are available here.
Can't make the VIP Reception? Have a look at the full schedule here and for tickets to the events you can attend contact:
The Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival takes place from June 10 to 13, 2010. It’s a great weekend of food and wine pairing events from regional chefs and winemakers, and participants rub shoulders with film and television A-listers while enjoying the region’s best cuisine and wine.
The Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival is a joint venture between Destination Osoyoos, presenting sponsor Black Hills Estate Winery, e=mc2 Event Management and hotel sponsors Walnut Beach Resort, Spirit Ridge Resort, and Watermark Beach Resort.
Destination Osoyoos
As a "grassroots" organization with dedicated people from the community, Destination Osoyoos Development Society is committed to strengthening the economic as well as the physical, social, and cultural conditions of the Osoyoos Area. The organization is driven by a Community Economic Development Strategy that is designed to reflect the wishes and aspirations of the citizens of the Osoyoos Area through an extensive community consultation process. More information about Destination Osoyoos can be found at: www.destinationosoyoos.com
-30-
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Homeowners Build Equity at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort With DIY Options
DHZ Media
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Homeowners Build Equity at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort With DIY options Construction moving forward with flexible home builders May 12, 2010 - Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. - Following a successful sales season in 2009, construction is moving forward on home sites at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort launched its Mountainside Ridge home sites in June of last year with amenity-based incentives including golf, ski and hot springs passes. Now they are continuing to offer value for buyers with a variety of home building options.
“We’re working to take the uncertainty out of building a vacation home by working with local builders to give homeowners the flexibility to choose the option that meets their needs,” Dan Oliver, resort property specialist at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “Our strategic partnerships allow owners at Fairmont Hot Springs to either build the luxury home of their dreams, or build on a budget and even put in their own sweat equity.”
One of the innovative options being offered by Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is custom homes from Timko Developments. These custom homes are designed with homeowners before they are built at an Alberta plant, then the stick frame walls are transported to Fairmont Hot Springs for final construction.
“Due to our manufacturing process, construction time is reduced significantly compared to other options in the Columbia Valley,” Ron Davidson, Columbia Valley project manager for Timko, says. “Home buyers also have the option to finish their homes themselves after we complete the exterior construction.”
A fully constructed 1,500 sq. ft., three-bedroom, 2-bathroom cottage-style home from Timko starts at $350,000. But if buyers want to finish the interior of the home themselves, the exterior and framing of the same home is only $155,000.
Construction time for a fully finished Timko Home is four to six months, but the exterior shell can be completed in only two months.
“Homes from Timko are very flexible and homeowners can choose anything from a complete home, to a shell, and everything in between to meet their budgets,” Oliver says. “This gives homeowners the chance to save money in areas where they may have the ability to do the work themselves, or simply stretch the timeline as funds allow.
Home site prices at Mountainside Ridge start at $114,900 for 1/3-acre home sites and there is a flexible construction schedule, allowing owners to break ground up to five years after purchase.
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is also working with Ski Home, a custom home builder based in Invermere, B.C. to provide complete design and construction services for home buyers to make their dream home a reality.
Construction has begun on a 2,400 sq. ft., three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom contemporary mountain style bungalow at Mountainside Ridge that is setting a new architectural tone for the Columbia Valley. The home has finishings with bamboo flooring, maple cabinets, stone and timber exterior and a steel roof.
An example of the type of Ski Home currently being built at Fairmont Hot Springs in their Mountainside Ridge community.
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers 45 holes of golf with Mountainside, an 18-hole par 72 CPGA, the stunning 18-hole Riverside golf course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop and Creekside, a par 3, 9-hole golf course.
Located In the heart of British Columbia's Columbia Valley, on Hwy 93/95, Fairmont Hot Springs is one hour north of Cranbrook, B.C. and three hours west of Calgary.
Online Media Centre at: http://dhzmedia.ca/page663.htm (factsheet, backgrounder, photos) About Fairmont Hot springs (www.fairmonthotsprings.com)
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia.
For more information contact:
Scott Henderson
dHz Media
+403.921.2001
scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Posted by
Scott Henderson - www.dhzmedia.ca
Comments:
0View comments
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Waiting to Purchase B.C. Real Estate will cost buyers an extra $36,330 in HST at Columbia Valley Resort Community
April 20, 2010 – Columbia Valley, B.C. – Delaying the decision to purchase recreational property this year will cost buyers thousands of dollars. That’s the message Spirits Reach, a resort community on the shores of Columbia Lake is trying to get through to buyers with its Beat the HST campaign.
The new Harmonized Sales Tax will be implemented on July 1, 2010, and unlike the previous Provincial Sales Tax, real estate is no longer exempt from the 7 per cent hit. New home buyers will now pay a combined 12 per cent on new homes, instead of the previous 5 per cent GST rate.
“If you’re on the fence about purchasing property right now, delaying that decision means you’ll be paying tens of thousands more for the same product,” says Dave Rae, developer of Spirits Reach. “It’s money that doesn’t build equity in your investment, but goes straight to government coffers.”
As part of its Beat the HST campaign Spirits Reach is adding further incentive to purchase by reducing prices as well. Using a 1,800 sq. ft., three bedroom, two and a half bath home at Spirits Reach as an example, the savings become clear.
The home is priced at $519,000 (reduced by $150,000 from the former price) plus 5 per cent GST for a total of $544,950. With the inclusion of the extra 7 per cent from the HST the price soars to $581,280. Making the decision to purchase before July 1 will save buyers $36,330 on this property.
But the added cost of the HST doesn’t end at purchase. Monthly mortgage payments and total interest paid will go up as well. Using a down payment of 25 per cent, a current mortgage interest rate of 3.4 per cent and a 20-year amortization (assuming rates do not change) the HST will cost buyers an extra $155.99 per month and $10,263.72 in interest over the life of the mortgage on this property.
This does not take into account the expected increase in interest rates projected by economists which will further add to the cost.
*These calculations are for demonstration purposes only.
Combining the savings offered by Spirits Reach, the pre-HST savings and the interest savings, buyers who purchase before July 1 will save a total of $196,593.72.
“Making the decision to purchase a second home is a big one, but the numbers clearly show that waiting until after July 1 will increase the financial commitment and reduce the investment potential,” Rae says. “The goal of our price adjustments is to help our homeowners build equity, instead of paying taxes.”
Homes at Spirits Reach’s lakefront neighbourhood, Spirit of the Lake, range in price from $489,000 to $699,000.
Spirits Reach features a private waterfront Lakehouse with community kayaks, paddleboats, canoes and sailboat as well as extensive hiking and walking trails. There are ten homes remaining in the first phase of the lakefront neighbourhood and the second phase will not be launched until 2011. This will be the only lakefront neighbourhood at Spirits Reach.
On the edge of serene Columbia Lake, Spirits Reach is a resort community in the heart of British Columbia’s East Kootenays. The professionally planned recreational development has focused on quality craftsmanship, community building, energy efficient homes, and practical environmental sustainability.
The developers of Spirits Reach, Dave and Donna Rae, have a long track record of building quality communities on Columbia Lake. They are the creators of the popular Columbia Ridge development at the west side of the lake and developers of the final phases of Columere Park on the north side.
As long time residents in the Columbia Valley, their dedication to the community is evident in the success of their developments and their commitment to preserving the surrounding environment resulted in a 2009 Power Smart Excellence Award from BC Hydro for Spirits Reach.
Media kit (backgrounders, fact sheet, news releaase) -click here-
For more information please contact:
Scott Henderson
dHz Media
403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Signature Golf Course Opens and Offers Best Value in the Okanagan
March 25, 2010, Vernon, B.C. – The Golf Club
at The Rise, a Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, is opening earlier
this year and offering the best value in the valley. Opening this
Friday, (March 26), the signature golf course is offering early bird
incentives with green fees set at only $69 including power cart with
GPS, use of the warm up area and a free $10 food voucher. Price are in
effect until the May long weekend. Twilight rates have also been
extended to 2 p.m. after the long weekend, to allow more people to take
advantage of late day pricing at The Rise.
“Our focus is on making this incredible course accessible to everyone
this year,” Terry Yacyshen, the course’s general manager, says. “That
doesn’t just mean low green fees, but also making sure you don’t have to
play like a pro to enjoy a course designed by one.”
The stunning topography at The Rise makes for a challenging round, but
course groundskeepers have worked over the last year to address penal
areas to make them more playable for high handicappers. Efforts include a
more forgiving fescue height along with wider fairways and landing
areas in trouble spots.
“Skilled golfers will likely not notice a difference in the way the
course plays since the architecture has not been changed,” Yacyshen
says. “It’s the golfer battling to break 100 that will appreciate the
changes we have made because they can spend more time looking at the
stunning views instead of searching for their ball.”
The Golf Club at The Rise has benefited from an excellent level of
precipitation in the Okanagan that allowed the course to winter
exceptionally well. The Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, opened June
2008 with PGA Tour fan favourite Fred Couples on site to officially
christen the Okanagan’s newest golf course. Couples played the opening
round at the Okanagan’s only Signature Golf Course with Calgary Flames
captain, Jarome Iginla and former NHL'er and Vernon resident Brent
Gilchrist.
Described by international luxury lifestyle magazine, the Robb Report,
as being one of Canada's top new golf courses, The Golf Club at The Rise
merges breathtaking scenery with challenges and opportunities for every
level of golfer. Integrated into the rugged natural topography of the
Vernon highlands, the course incorporates five sets of tees to
accommodate all golfers. This must-play course was nominated by Score
Golf for Best New Course in 2009.
Players can expect a round filled with awe-inspiring views, challenging
holes and impeccably maintained greens and fairways. The Golf Club at
The Rise strives to provide the best experience for any level of golfer.
The Golf Club at The Rise
Quick Facts
Summary: Perched 1,000 feet above Okanagan Lake,
this spectacular layout will accommodate golfers of all abilities. With
generous landing areas and five sets of tees on every hole, The Golf
Club at The Rise will offer a balance of variety, enjoyment and
challenge. Each hole is distinct in its character with dramatic elevated
tees and breathtaking views of Okanagan Lake on 12 of 18 holes.
Design: Fred Couples (Signature Design) Architect: Gene Bates Construction: BMR Golf Season: March through October
The
par-5 9th hole stretches to almost 600 yards. The hole has an elevated
tee and plays downhill all the way, which makes it play a little less
than its true yardage.
Challenging hole:
At 438
yards, the par-4 8th hole demands both accuracy and distance. With the
least generous landing area of any of the par-4 s this hole does not let
up until the very end. A conservative approach and some handy
short-game skills will pay big dividends on this hole.
Green fees: $69 - $115 (including power cart with
colour GPS and use of the warm up area) General manager: Terry Yacyshen Head professional: Lee Ranger
Online Media Centre:-click
here-
(backgrounders, fact sheet, photography)
The Risewww.TheRise.ca
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise,
Okanagan’s signature resort community. Perched on a south facing
hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located
3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise
offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and features
vineyards, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and
villas and Western Canada’s first Fred Couples Signature Golf Course. dHz
Media
Scott Henderson
+1.403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
-30-
Monday, March 15, 2010
Golf at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Gets an Early Start
March 15, 2010, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Riverside Golf Course at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is opening a week earlier than last year thanks to mild temperatures in the Columbia Valley. Weather permitting the course will open this Friday, March 19. “Spring is definitely here at Fairmont Hot Springs and Riverside is in excellent condition thanks to a mild winter,” Peter Smith, executive vice president and director of golf at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “While many areas are still waiting for the snow to melt off the fairways, we’re working hard to get the course in game shape for Friday.”
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is focusing on course condition this year for all three of their courses, Riverside, Mountainside and Creekside to ensure golfers receive maximum value. New tee box markers have also been installed at Riverside to improve visibility from the cart path and the pace of play will be improved at Mountainside thanks to a new starter shack.
“We’re focusing on getting the little things perfected at the courses at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort,” Smith says. “Our courses are in great shape every year but we’re taking the little suggestions from our golfers to heart, and implementing them.” Green fees at Riverside are $80 for 18 holes on the weekend, and $75 on weekdays. Mountainside has a newly adjusted green fee of $70 on weekends and $65 on weekdays. The nine-hole Creekside course is $19 on weekends and $17 on weekdays.
Buying bulk tee times is another option Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is offering this year. Golfers can buy 10 tee times for $499 before March 31 and $599 after for Riverside and Mountainside courses With three courses, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers 45 holes of golf at its picturesque location on Hwy. 93/95 in the majestic B.C. Rockies, one hour from Cranbrook, B.C. and three hours west of Calgary, Alta.
The Riverside Golf Course is an 18-hole course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. The winding Columbia River creates a natural and peaceful water challenge as fairways roll gently along its sloping banks.
Mountainside Golf Course is an 18-hole par 72 golf course with fairways skirting towering peaks and a view of Columbia Lake. This meticulously maintained mature course was the first 18-hole course to be built in the Columbia Valley.
Creekside, the Par 3, nine-hole golf course, is the perfect choice for a family golf experience or those looking to learn the sport, or just brush up on their skills.
About Fairmont Hot springs (www.fairmonthotsprings.com)
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia.
(Media backgrounder, fact sheet, photos, etc… http://dhzmedia.ca/page663.htm) For more information please contact: Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Monday, February 01, 2010
New COO Taking the Helm at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
February 1, 2010 – Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, the B.C. Rockies family vacation destination, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dean Prentice as the new chief operating officer of the resort.
Prentice is making the move across B.C.’s Columbia Valley from Panorama Mountain Village where he has served as the director of food & beverage and lodging for the past four years.
“We have spent the past four months looking for the right person to take on the challenge of heading up operations here at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort,” Dave Bessey, a partner and CEO of the resort says. “With skiing, golfing, lodging, gourmet restaurants and the natural mineral hot springs all within the same resort, we needed to find someone with a wide variety of experience to guide our team. Dean Prentice brings 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and we were very fortunate to find him.”
Prentice officially takes the reins at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort today.
“I’m looking forward to taking the next step in my career at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort,” Prentice says. “I have a passion for the experiential resort industry and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort has a deep connection with many families that have been going there for generations, so It is a privilege to join that special tradition.”
Prentice will be involved in expanding the health and wellness offerings at the resort, in addition to directing the operations of the 137 room Lodge and conference centre, the ski hill and the resort’s three golf courses.
“There is an incredible opportunity to expand health and wellness services,” Prentice says, “Health and wellness travel is one of tourism's biggest growth areas and with its own all natural mineral hot springs, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is perfectly positioned to offer travellers the three 'R's – rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.”
Prentice completed his degree in Travel and Tourism at Seneca College in 1987. For the past 25 years he has worked throughout Canada in the hospitality industry for a variety of companies including Delta, Radisson and Holiday Inn Hotels. He also graduated from the National Institute of Golf Management in 2000 and has served as clubhouse manager at Greystone Golf Club and director of hospitality at the prestigious Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is also pleased to announce the promotion of Peter Smith as executive vice president of the resort. During the search for a chief operating officer, Smith worked as the acting vice president of operations.
“Peter’s hard work and dedication guided this resort through the search for a new COO,” Bessey says. “Thanks to his expert guidance we are now in a very strong position to move forward this year and we are very excited for him to take on another permanent senior leadership role.”
Smith’s new duties as vice president will be in addition to his role as director of golf operations at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.
For 10 years prior to his arrival at the resort in 2009, Smith was director of golf for Greywolf at Panorama and was also the head professional and managed The Springs Golf and Country Club in Radium, B.C. In addition he was named Golf Professional of the Year by the BCPGA in 2005.
Online Media Centre: http://dhzmedia.ca/page663.htm (fact sheet, backgrounder, photos)
For more information please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.975-4040 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca About Fairmont Hot Springs - www.fairmonthotsprings.com In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600-acre resort features a 137-room lodge with spa and conference centre. It offers championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia River.
-30-
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Escape the Winter Blues with a B.C. Rockies Adventure
January 26, 2010 – Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is the go-to destination for the ultimate B.C. Rockies experience this winter with the return of their popular winter B.C. Rockies Adventures. Led by two naturalists, the adventure program is designed for families and promotes the safe and responsible appreciation of the natural winter wonders in B.C.’s Columbia Valley. “You don’t have to own a dog sled, snowmobile or snowshoes to enjoy these activities at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort,” Marion Garden, marketing manager at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “Our expert guides give families an unforgettable experience that meets their needs for fun and excitement, as well as their budget.”
Dog sledding is one of the unique winter excursions available at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.
Dog sledding is one of the more unique and exciting excursions offered at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Widely regarded as the ultimate Canadian experience, participants can either relax while a guide commands a team of dogs through mountain forests, or the more adventurous can mush their own team. The experience includes views from incredible peaks, lots of snow and man’s best friend. For a more budget-friendly option the Snowshoe Fondue excursion is sure to please. It combines two Canadian favourites into one amazing tour. Participants experience a magical journey through snow covered forests and beautiful views of mountains and the valley. They learn about animal tracks, winter birds, mountain geology and much more. After the trek, a warm pot of chocolate fondue and hot drinks are waiting by the fire. The excursions are led by two naturalists with more than 10 years of combined experience leading wilderness adventures. Andi Dzilums and Jocelyn MacGregor ensure every trek is safe, educational and unforgettable. Some programs are complimentary for guests of the resort while a few programs have a fee attached to them. This year, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is offering a B.C. Rockies Winter Menu of Activities that guests can choose from to add to their stay. A 10 per cent discount is available on select excursions if booked prior to arrival at the resort . More information on booking packages can be found at www.fairmonthotsprings.com The programs at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort are designed to be enjoyable for all ages—young and old alike are fascinated by the natural wonders that exist in this part of Canada. The tours promote eco-tourism by providing responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment. The goal of these programs is to bring travellers and the local community together in a way that will promote the preservation of natural areas for future generations to enjoy. Winter B.C. Rockies Adventures In addition to the Dog Sledding and Snowshoe Fondue, other activities include:
KIDZ S’MORESHOE This short (40 minute) and easy snowshoe tour is designed with kids in mind. They learn about animal tracks and scat and discover the amazing creatures that are able to bear the harsh winter. Afterwards, they enjoy a warm fire, s’mores and marshmallows.
SNOWMOBILING Led by expert guides, participants sled from the base of a mountain to its peak, while experiencing powders bowls and incredible views. This tour is ideal for the whole family and caters to any level of experience.
HELI-SKIING It’s a powder dream come true! Participants in these excursions take a heli-ski/boarding tour led by some of the world’s best mountain guides to access wide open alpine slopes, scenic glaciers and gladed forests dusted with annual snowfalls of up to 1,100 cm/36 feet.
POWDER SKI DAYS Guests at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort can join weekly ski adventures to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort and Panorama Ski Resort to ski some of the best terrain in big powder. Participants can save some time and rent from Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Ski Hill the day before.
PADDLE & ROCK PAINTING A great option for colder days, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s naturalist will help participants paint a rock or hand-crafted paddle that will capture the beauty of the BC Rockies.
HOODOOS WINTER HIKE This hike is a “must-do” while visiting the BC Rockies. One of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s naturalist will take guests on a geological journey that begins 800 million years ago and shifts through events of chaotic mountain building and carving glaciers. Guests discover the amazing geology of the Hoodoo formations while enjoying one of the best views in the valley. Online Media Centre: http://dhzmedia.ca/page663.htm (fact sheet, backgrounder, photos)
For more information please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.975-4040 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca About Fairmont Hot Springs - www.fairmonthotsprings.com In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference centre. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia.
-30-
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Fairmont Hot Springs Top Choice in Columbia Valley- New Strategy Pays Off
January 5, 2010 – Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Looking back at 2009, a year dominated by blow out sales, resort bankruptcies and industry carnage, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort (FHS) offers one of few success stories. Following a new sales strategy focusing on real recreational buyers, not investors and speculators, FHS launched its Mountainside Ridge home sites in June of last year with amenity based incentives including golf, ski and hot springs passes. Highlighting existing amenities and its BC Rockies Adventures program, which includes interpretative hikes, snowshoe fondues, educational kids camps, dog sledding and many other outdoor mountain adventures, all led by professional naturalists, enabled FHS to target buyers not wanting to wait to enjoy all the perks of a recreational property ownership. Targeting end user buyers resulted in the resort’s Mountainside Ridge neighbourhood outselling all other comparable products in the Columbia Valley. Based on sales statistics compiled by Fairmont Hot Spring Resort, the sales team at Mountainside Ridge sold the most home sites in the Columbia Valley. With 11 home sites sold and $1.6 million in sales, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is the top choice for buyers in the Columbia Valley. “Our analysis of the post credit crisis real estate market determined that our sales strategy should focus on families not investors,” Dan Oliver, resort sales specialist at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “This year we made our home sites more attractive to resort end users and fortunately with three golf courses, the family ski hill and natural mineral hot springs all in operation, we have the facilities to do that.” Buyers are able to take advantage of the privileges that come with purchasing in an established resort community. A voucher pack for 60 golf tee times, 60 ski lift tickets and 60 swim passes for the natural mineral hot springs was included with every home site. In addition, buyers were given five two-night stays at the lodge at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort so they can easily monitor the progress of their new vacation home. The package is valued at more than $10,000. “Buyers in the market for a vacation home recognized the value of the package we are offering and were excited to build at an established resort,” Richard Haworth, vice president of real estate development at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “They were able to see and use the amenities they were buying into and that inspired a lot of confidence in the purchase.” Prices were also adjusted to make the home sites more accessible to families, with prices starting at $114,900 for 1/3-acre home sites. Further solidifying the view that end users are the dominating force in the market, many home site owners are already submitting building plans for approval despite a flexible construction schedule allowing owners to break ground up to five years after purchase. Sales statistics were compiled through a comprehensive market analysis of sales and listings for home sites building in the Columbia Valley - Radium to Canal Flats. This area encompasses 65 km made up of six communities with approximately 7,000 permanent residents. The statistical period covers the prime selling season from June to October 2009. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers 45 holes of golf with Mountainside, an 18-hole par 72 CPGA, the stunning 18-hole Riverside golf course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop and Creekside, a par 3, 9-hole golf course. Located In the heart of British Columbia's Columbia Valley, on Hwy 93/95, Fairmont Hot Springs is one hour north of Cranbrook, B.C. and three hours west of Calgary. Online Media Center at: http://dhzmedia.ca/page663.htm (factsheet, backgrounder, photos) For more information please contact: Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.975.4040 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca About Fairmont Hot Springs (www.fairmonthotsprings.com) In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is a historical four-season destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia. -30-
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Dog Sled Won’t Fit Under the Tree? Visit Fairmont Hot Springs Instead
December 21, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is bringing back their popular Eight Days of Christmas with an expanded schedule of fun-filled family activities from Christmas Eve to New Years Day.
Many new activities are being offered this year during the Eight Day of Christmas including New Year’s Eve dog sledding tours. This ultimate winter experience allows guests to relax while a professional guide leads the dog team through the mountains, or be adventurous and take command of their own sled. The package includes transportation, a guide and a snack for $185 for adults and $145 for children.
Also new to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is a family skating rink just outside the main lodge. It gives guests the chance to skate surrounded by mountain peaks and Christmas lights. Use of the skating rink is included with a stay at the resort along with use of the natural mineral hot springs.
“We’re continually working to create the ultimate B.C. Rockies experience and what better way to do that then to bring the ultimate winter activity to the Eight Days of Christmas,” Marion Garden, marketing manager at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “With dog sledding now available and our new family skating rink, we expect families to truly have an unforgettable Christmas here at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.”
The Eight Days of Christmas kicks off on Christmas Eve with the much anticipated annual Torchlight Parade that sees dozens of blazing torches wind their way through the darkness at the Family Ski Hill. A dazzling fireworks display will follow the parade.
Christmas Day at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort includes a chance to ski with Santa Claus at the Family Ski Hill and swimming at the public hot pools is free all day with a donation to the Columbia Valley Food Bank.
“It’s a great opportunity for parents to reinforce the spirit of giving this holiday season, by showing their children how to help those less fortunate,” Garden says.
Eight Days of Christmas Overview: December 24th – Christmas Eve 1 - 3 p.m. Family Snowshoe Tour 5:30 - 7 p.m. Torch Light Parade and Fireworks Display 8 - 9 p.m. Christmas Carol Karaoke
December 25th – Christmas Day From 10 a.m. Santa on the Slopes 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Public Hot Pools Free swim with donation
December 26th – Boxing Day From 10:30 a.m. Snow Snake Hunt 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fairmont Hot Springs Winter Olympics 5 - 6:30 p.m. – Starry Sky Snowshoe 7:30 - 9 p.m. Christmas Bingo Night
December 27th 10 a.m. - Noon Family Christmas Crafts 1 - 4 p.m. Kids’ Christmas Adventure Camp 7 – 9 p.m. Kids’ Movie Night
December 28th 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Snowshoe Fondue 2 - 4 p.m. Family Snowshoe Tour 5 p.m. Festive Spirits Wine Tasting
December 29th 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Powder Day at Panorama
December 30th 10 a.m. New Year’s Party Makeup Tip Session at the Spa 10 a.m. - 12p.m. Kids Geo Hunt 7-9 p.m. Family Movie Night
December 31st – New Years Eve 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Dog Sledding 7 - 9 p.m. Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party 6:30 - 1:30 a.m. New Year’s Eve Gala 9:30 p.m. - 3 a.m. New Year’s Eve Party with DJ ‘T’
For more information please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.975-4040 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca
About Fairmont Hot Springs - www.fairmonthotsprings.com In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia.
-30-
Thursday, December 17, 2009
New Family-Friendly Features Opening at Fairmont Hot Springs Ski Hill
December 17, 2009 – Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – The newly upgraded ski hill at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is opening this weekend, providing a better family-friendly ski experience than ever before.
The resort has invested in a new 91 metre (300 foot) Magic Carpet lift that is now up and running at the base of the mountain to enhance the learning experience for novice skiers and snowboarders. There is now also a dedicated area around the Magic Carpet for the ski school and for those new to the sport.
The enhancements are making Fairmont Hot Springs Resort an even better choice for families looking for a stress-free B.C. Rockies getaway. Parents can either join their children on the slopes, or relax by the fire in the warmth and comfort of the Ski Chalet while keeping a watchful eye on their kids—as all runs funnel into view of the Chalet.
“We’ve worked hard during the off season to further improve the facilities here at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and we are very excited for guests to enjoy an even better learning experience,” Peter Harding, ski operations manager at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “We’ve removed the intimidation factor and our excellent ski school staff will have you skiing or boarding like a pro in no time.”
The lifts will start running December 18 at Fairmont Hot Springs and close April 11, weather permitting.
With a total of 13 groomed runs, ranging from green to blue in skill level, the resort is the perfect place for family and novice skiers to hone their skills. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is within easy driving distance of Kimberley, Panorama, Fernie and Kicking Horse ski resorts. The confidence gained at the Fairmont Hot Springs family ski resort can quickly be transferred to other hills for young and old alike. To take advantage of excellent value room packages and lift tickets at Fairmont Hot Springs phone 1.800.663.4979.
For more information please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.975-4040 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca
About Fairmont Hot Springs - www.fairmonthotsprings.com
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference centre. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia.
-30-
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Pre-Season Prices Entice Buyers at Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa
November 18, 2009, Kimberley, B.C. – Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa in Kimberley, B.C. is enticing prospective vacation homeowners with their pre-ski-season price specials on a limited number of studio, one and two bedroom suites.
The newest and classiest resort in the Kootenays opened this year and homeowners will be able to enjoy a full ski season at Mountain Spirit for the first time. Despite a sluggish economy, it’s full steam ahead in Kimberley with $11 million being spent on roads and infrastructure and a $6 million Conference Centre and Paralympic Training Facilty breaking ground last month. Delta is also continuing it’s flights three times aa week from Salt Lake City to the newly expanded Canadian Rockies International Airport.
Special prices are available on selected suites until December 19 - opening day at Kimberley Alpine Resort. One studio, two one bedroom and eight two bedroom suites are included in this offering with pre-season savings up to $94,000 for whole ownership and up to $16,000 on quarter ownership purchases. Until Dec. 19, one bedroom suites start at $398,900, two bedroom $458,900 and quarter ownership on a one bedroom suite at $98,900 and two bedroom at just $119,900.
“These incentives are a great opportunity for those who know what a fantastic ski destination Kimberley is as well as those looking for an exceptional vacation property,” Allyson Blake, director of real estate marketing at Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa, says. “With our prime ski-in, ski-out location, ski season is our peak sales season. But if buyers wait until the lifts start up, they’ll be too late for these special prices.”
All suites are ready for occupancy and include a custom furniture package, appliance package, a furnished terrace and premium window treatments. Homeowners will also enjoy main floor ski lockers, underground heated parking, a complimentary two year membership in the exclusive Resort to Resort home exchange program, an optional rental pool managed by Bellstar Hotels & Resorts along with access to fitness facilities and the year round heated pool and hot tub, opening soon. Plans are also underway for a 6,000 square foot spa and a slope-side gourmet restaurant and patio.
These pricing incentives come at a great time for investors as the B.C. Real Estate Association has reported the real estate market is gaining momentum in B.C.
“Upward momentum in consumer demand continued unabated in September,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist, in an October press release. “Low mortgage interest rates and renewed confidence in real estate assets has propelled BC home sales to a level not seen in two years.”
According to the BCREA, September posted the highest number of B.C. MLS® residential sales for that month since September 2005, and the third highest ever recorded for the month of September.
“The market indicators are very good heading into the New Year and we expect a lot of interest when ski season begins,” Blake says. “These limited time prices are a great chance for buyers to get ahead of the wave.”
Visit www.mountainspiritresortandspa.com or call 1-877-427-7330 for more information or to arrange a tour of Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa.
For more information or to arrange a hosted media visit to Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa, please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.229.9219 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.975.4040 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca
About Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa (www.mountainspiritresortandspa.com) Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa is a boutique spa resort offering ski-in, ski-out condominiums at the Kimberley Alpine Resort. Located in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Mountain Spirit will combine a 6,000 square foot spa, great perks and an ideal location to create the ultimate resort experience. Spa-inspired from inception, the resort is located in the heart of Kimberley Alpine Resort and boasts a true ski-in-ski-out location. It will feature a slope-side restaurant and patio, year round outdoor heated pool and will be the only resort spa in Kimberley. Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa offers recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation.
-30-
Thursday, November 12, 2009
What’s Your Frequency? Quantum Biofeedback at Calgary Clinic Leads to Better Health
November 12, 2009, Calgary, Alta. — A unique wellness centre created to promote overall well being through therapeutic methods that enable individuals to feel and look their best without prescriptions, chemicals, injections or surgery is now offering Quantum Biofeedback Therapy.
Biofeedback therapy is the measurement of the body’s subtle frequencies for the purpose of conducting a health assessment and developing therapies for ailments. Biofeedback therapy has helped people suffering from migraines, chronic pain, arthritis, depression, immune disorders, eating disorders and other ailments.
The biofeedback used at Evolution Wellness is the SCI Operating System or “SCIO”. The SCIO is a machine and database that measures and analyses your body’s frequencies. Science has shown that the body is indeed electric; at the cellular level, instruction comes from electrical impulses. Therefore electrical reactivity in the body can be measured via responses to impedance, amperage, voltage and frequencies.
SCIO “Quantum” Biofeedback has evolved as it offers Electro Physical Reactivity(EPR) testing, an innovative method for taking inventory of the body’s unique stress profile. During a ninety minute session the SCIO scans the body for reactions to over 11,000 signatures related to compounds including minerals, vitamins, toxins, allergens, viruses, pathogens, herbal supplements, amino acids, bacteria, fungus, parasites, and others.
Using the body’s electrical system, the SCIO scans the body like an anti-virus program for a computer. This allows for a non-invasive rapid assessment measuring frequency responses which are measured against normal baselines to identify the participant’s acute and chronic imbalances. The body electric is drawn towards nutrition and repelled by toxins and the ability to correct imbalances by harmonizing aberrant frequencies leads to improved wellness.
Responses outside the normal ranges can offer insights into causes that impair health and performance. Corrections can be delivered to reduce or retrain stress responses; an important capability that has a profound and beneficial effect on health and well being.
Biofeedback was used at the Beijing Olympics, 2008. After exhaustive review and validation by Chinese Physicians, the SCIO became the technology used with over 200 athletes on the Chinese National and Olympic teams for three months prior to the Beijing Games. The SCIO was used to fine tune performance, manage pain, re-educate muscles and monitor stress for the athletes. This project continues today under the supervision of a research group at the Sports Hospital of the National Research Institute for Sports Medicine.
Evolution Wellness Centre was created by Adele Engel, who developed the centre around her own journey “to feel and look my best without prescriptions, chemicals, injections or surgery.”
“Addressing my own health and aesthetic concerns led me to discover non- invasive treatments and unique natural products” says Engel, “Researching and partaking in these treatments and products produced such a positive effect on my own health, I started a wellness centre to pass my knowledge on to others.”
All services and products at Evolution Wellness are non-invasive treatments that promote healing, decrease stress, enhance personal energy and beauty and promote positive change.
Evolution Wellness Center is located in downtown Calgary at 400E, 1040 - 7 Avenue SW. To book an appointment, visit www.evolutionwell.ca or call 403 313 -1865.
For more information or to arrange hosted media treatments, please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +1.403.229.9219 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
-30-
Thursday, October 29, 2009
New $6-million Kimberley Conference Centre Ups Potential Rentals at Mountain Spirit
October 29, 2009, Kimberley, B.C. – Tomorrow’s official ground breaking ceremony for the new $6-million Conference Centre and Paralympic Training Centre being built at Kimberley Alpine Resort is proof that research is key when investing in resort property. Owners at Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa, right next to the Conference Centre site, are optimistic that the influx of sports and corporate travel to the Conference Centre will increase the popularity of the resort’s optional rental pool.
“The owners who participate in the rental pool are very excited about the progress being made on the centre,” Allyson Blake, director of real estate marketing at Mountain Spirit, says. “They did their research before deciding to buy in a four season destination that had plans for a centre of this calibre."
The year-round, $6-million dollar facility is designed with both disabled and able-bodied athletes in mind. It will include meeting rooms, an audio-visual department and a conference space to hold 500 people.
Funding for the centre is coming from the City of Kimberley, federal and provincial infrastructure grants, a $300,000 grant from the Columbia Basin Trust and $150,000 from the Southern Interior Development Trust. The centre is being built by New Dawn Developments (the builders of Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa) and is expected to be completed by October 2010.
The conference and training centre is expected to become a key economic driver for Kimberley. Leisure travellers and tourists have long contributed to the local economy, but business travellers have not. Conference delegates often fill hotel rooms during the shoulder season and mid-week travel when leisure travel is traditionally low. Conferences are also booked in advance, providing a secure source of income regardless of economic fluctuations.
Research compiled by Vann Struth Consulting for the City of Kimberly pegs the daily spending of conference delegates at approximately $125 per day on top of the accommodation costs. The same research expects the conference centre to boost spending in Kimberley by more than $5 million per year—more than double the current level.
“The development of the Paralympic Training and Conference Centre opens up new options to increase our shoulder season business by targeting a growing meetings market that that would not otherwise be attracted to Kimberley,” Cathy Robinson, operations manager for Bellstar Hotels and Resorts , the rental manager for Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa. “The combination of Mountain Spirit’s ski-in, ski-out location, along with the upcoming 6,000 square foot spa and slope-side restaurant— all right across the street from the new centre—should ensure we are a top choice for conference delegates.”
Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa features a true ski-in, ski-out location in the serene Purcell Mountains at the base of Kimberley Alpine Resort. It will feature a 6,000 sq. ft. spa, fine dining, year round outdoor heated pool and hot tub and fully furnished suites in the up-and-coming vacation destination of Kimberley, B.C. Membership in the exclusive Resort to Resort vacation exchange program is included with every purchase.
Activity is ramping up at Kimberley Alpine Resort in preparation for another outstanding ski season. Last season KAR received the Visitor’s Choice Award being voted the Overall Favourite Resort in the Pacific North West from onthesnow.com and the 2009 Best of Business Award for Ski Area in the East Kootenay Region. The mountain is set to open on December 19 with a preview weekend set for December 12.
For more information or to arrange a hosted media visit to Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa, please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.229.9219 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.975.4040 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca
About Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa (www.mountainspiritresortandspa.com)
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa is a boutique spa resort offering ski-in, ski-out condominiums at the Kimberley Alpine Resort. Located in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Mountain Spirit will combine a 6,000 square foot spa, great perks and an ideal location to create the ultimate resort experience. Spa-inspired from inception, the resort is located in the heart of Kimberley Alpine Resort and boasts a true ski-in-ski-out location. It will feature a slope-side restaurant and patio, year round outdoor heated pool and is the only resort spa in Kimberley. Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa offers recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation.
-30-
Monday, October 19, 2009
Magic Carpet Expansion Adds to Family Fun at Fairmont Hot Springs
October 19, 2009,
Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort announced
today they are continuing to build the ultimate B.C. Rockies experience
with a significant investment to make their ski hill even more family
friendly. A 91 metre (300 foot) Magic Carpet lift is being installed at
the base of the hill to enhance the learning experience for novice
skiers and snowboarders.
Investment in the lift is expected to
break six figures and it will be built directly in front of the Ski
Chalet—making it easy for parents to supervise their children. The new
lift takes the intimidation out of learning to ski and snowboard by
enabling learners to simply shuffle onto a moving conveyor belt,
instead of navigating high-speed chairs and awkward T-bars.
“Families are our focus during the
ski season and this new Magic Carpet will further enhance our popular
ski school,” Peter Harding, ski operations manager at Fairmont Hot
Springs Resort, says. “We’re confident that this new addition will
convince even the most tepid of skiers to give it a try. Of course once
they do they’ll be hooked!”
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is also
dedicating the area around the Magic Carpet for their ski school and
for those new to the sport. Children and adults alike will benefit from
having an area dedicated to improving their skills and gaining
confidence.
The family ski hill at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is expected to open on December 18 and close April 11, weather permitting.
With a total of 13 groomed runs,
ranging from green to blue in skill level, the resort is the perfect
place for family and novice skiers to hone their skills. The
intimidation factor is removed and friendly ski school staff makes
taking to the slopes an exciting and rewarding experience for
youngsters of all ages. Parents can either join their children on the
ski hill, or relax by the fire in the warmth and comfort of the ski
chalet while keeping a watchful eye on their kids—as all runs funnel
into view of the chalet.
In addition to group or individual
beginner lessons, the resort offers a variety of programs to help
develop skills and increase confidence. The Kids Adventure Club
provides both instruction and games to keep kids entertained for hours
on end. The Fairmont Hot Springs Ski School has a wide array of skiing
and snowboarding programs for all ages operated by certified Canadian
Ski Alliance Instructors.
One of the main advantages of a stay
at Fairmont Hot Springs is its central location. The resort is within
easy driving distance of Kimberley, Panorama, Fernie and Kicking Horse
ski resorts. The confidence gained at the Fairmont Hot Springs family
ski resort can quickly be transferred to other hills for young and old
alike. To take advantage of excellent value room packages and lift
tickets at Fairmont Hot Springs phone 1.800.663.4979.
For more information please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.975-4040 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca
About Fairmont Hot Springs - www.fairmonthotsprings.com In the heart of the Columbia Valley,
Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort
destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in
the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its
mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge
with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort
and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river
rafting on the Columbia. -30-
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Wine Festival Puts Guests in the Judge’s Seat at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
October 8, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is offering guests the chance to sip, soak and judge B.C.’s finest wines as it hosts 8th Annual East Kootenay Wine Festival on November 7.
The festival has expanded to 27 B.C. wineries from last year’s 14, including Mission Hill, Inniskillin, Sumac Ridge Estates and Red Rooster. Following the success of last year’s festival, Fairmont Hot Springs is again giving guests the opportunity to judge the wines and select the winners.
Those who take part in the Wine Festival and Accommodation Package will be trained in the art of wine tasting before conducting their own blind taste tests to determine the winners. Categories include red, white, rose and dessert wines.
“This festival continues to be the must-attend event in the Kootenays,” Marion Garden, marketing manager at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “We had very positive feedback from last year’s festival where guests were able to take an active role in choosing the top wine so we’re offering the same opportunity this year.”
The festival will be held on Saturday, November 7 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.at the Lodge at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. The resort is offering a wine festival package to give guests a complete wine tasting experience for $390 per couple.
The Wine Festival and Accommodation Package includes:
• Two nights’ accommodation for two in a standard room
• Admission to the Wine Festival on Saturday, November 7th
• A wine-paired gourmet dinner in the Mountain Flowers Dining Room on November 6th. Last year’s winning wineries, Skimmerhorn and Rustic Roots, will present and discuss wines during dinner
• On November 7th there will be a tutorial on how to taste wines, followed by a blind taste test for each category.
The cost of the Wine Festival itself is $35 per person, including wine and snacks. Tickets are available by calling 1.800.663.4979 or 250.345.6000. There will also be a variety of door prizes that will include Fairmont Hot Springs Resort vacation packages.
“If you’re looking for a fun way to get introduced to wine tasting, this is the perfect opportunity to do it in a fun and relaxed atmosphere,” Garden says.
Online Media Center at: http://dhzmedia.ca/page663.htm (factsheet, backgrounder, photos)
For more information or for a hosted wine festival media trip (space limited) please contact: : Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.975.4040 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca
About Fairmont Hot Springs (www.fairmonthotsprings.com) In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is a historical four-season destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia.
-30-
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Fairmont Hot Springs Hosts “Fear of Frying” Episode
Aug. 12, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C.— The fun,
informative cooking show "Fear of Frying," just finished taping at
Fairmont Hot Springs. The culinary team is made up of Robyn MacGarva and Brian
George. They take cooking from "haute cuisine" to "my
cuisine" making creative dishes from simple and not-so-simple ideas. The
series is set to air in Canada on MenTV and SunTV in fall 2009, five days a
week. Show times are yet to be decided.
Fear of Frying co-host Brian George, most recognizable
from his role as Babu in the sitcom Seinfeld, signs autographs at Fairmont Hot
Springs Resort.
"Having the taping here was a great
opportunity," says Marion Garden, marketing manager at Fairmont Hot
Springs. "With all the recent developments and expansions, especially
within our food and beverage department, it was nice to be able to provide a
great set for the episode. It was a memorable experience for everyone."
The show is produced by Grant Patterson who is also
the creator and producer of the long running cooking show "Pasquale’s
Express." One of the hosts, Brian George, has been in television and movie
acting for 30 years. He can be most remembered by his role on hit comedy
sitcom, Seinfeld where he played "Babu." Wife and business partner,
Robyn, is a busy mother of two who balances two jobs as a cooking show host and
a flight attendant of a major American airline.
An episode of Fear of Frying being filmed at the
Mountainside Golf Course at Fairmont Hot Springs.
With recent renovations and upgrades, Fairmont Hot
Springs is no stranger to fine cuisine. With 13,000 square feet of newly
renovated restaurants, international and local chefs are dealing up savoury
dishes all year long. New chefs to the Rockies at Riverside are Adrian and Lara
McCormack, bringing flavour and flare from the UK.
Trained under Antony Warroll Thompson, celebrity chef
and creator of the Food Network, Adrian brings his impeccable culinary skills
to the kitchen at Fairmont Hot Springs. Lara’s front-of-house experience
operating some of the most prestigious pubs in the UK like J. Sheeky in London
and St. Andrews Links Golf Club House in Scotland, compliment Adrian’s kitchen
masterpieces and add a friendly flare to the recently upgraded golf eateries.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot
Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the
headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned
for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort
features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers
Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding,
fishing and river rafting on the Columbia.
-30-
Friday, July 31, 2009
Western Standard and 660 News Editor Moves to dHz Media
August 6, 2009, - Calgary, AB - dHz Media Inc. announced today that Matt Stuart, former editor of the Western Standard Magazine and former news editor at 660 News in Calgary, has been hired as a full time consultant to enhance dHz Media’s level of service to members of the press.
“Our goal as a company is to provide innovative and intelligent service, not only to our clients, but to the media as well,” Scott Henderson, managing director of dHz Media, says.
“By hiring a full-time consultant with experience in newspaper, magazine and broadcast media, we’re able to cater our services to a wide range of outlets. Matt’s proven writing skills ensure that the content we produce is high quality and meets journalistic standards.”
dHz Media opened its Calgary office in 2007. The PR firm specializes in business, technology, and travel media relations. It works in the resort and tourism industry, the development industry and the tech sector. dHz Media provides innovative marketing communications services for Western Canada’s finest resort destinations. Its core services, media relations, Internet marketing, community relations and social media outreach, consistently deliver a high return on investment.
Formed by Calgary native, Scott Henderson, dHz Media combines traditional writing methods with the latest digital marketing techniques to ensure a higher rate of successful media placement. Its clients include Zeidler Partnership Architects, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and The Rise in Vernon B.C. featuring a Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
dHz Media clients have been covered in: The ROBB Report, NY Times, LINKS magazine, USA Today, the Globe and Mail, the National Post, CBC: The National, Global National, CBC NewsWorld, CFCN, BCTV, CKNW, QR77, Alberta Venture, Esquire UK, BC Business, The Vancouver Sun, Toronto Star and the Calgary Herald.
“Our success has been attributed to our ability to take the initiative for clients and provide intelligent, innovative PR services. With the growth of our Calgary office, we are focusing on building a team of skilled consultants that represent the dHz Media brand values of innovation, intelligence and initiative,” Henderson says.
dHz Media also offers a global reach through its membership in the Iconic Network. Operating across North America and Europe, the Iconic Network is a collective of independent marketing and communications consultants that provide local and international public relations and marketing communications programs: www.iconicnet.co.uk
Online Media
Centre: http://dhzmedia.ca/page1014.htm
(backgrounders, photography) For more information: www.dhzmedia.ca or contact:
July 27, Vernon, B.C. – A summer-long real estate discount sale at
The Rise has reinvigorated the real estate market in Vernon, with 11 lots sold at the master-planned resort since
the beginning of June. Meanwhile, home buyer opportunities continue to increase
at The Rise with its Believe It!
discount pricing campaign for lake view homes and home sites.
Blend of Mediterranean influences shine through out show home at The
Rise.
Photo credit: Heath
Fletcher/Reddoorphoto.com
Land Launch Marketing created the
discount resort property program for The Rise after witnessing the success of
blowout sales in Vancouver. The company successfully started discount campaigns for two other
Okanagan resorts, and now they have found similar success at The Rise.
“It didn’t take long for potential
buyers to see the incredible value that is being offered here at The Rise,”
Greg Lowe, president of Land Launch Marketing, says. “We’ve even had some
existing owners come back to purchase more when they realize the future
potential of their decision.”
The resort features a now open Fred
Couples Signature Golf Course, 17 acres of vineyard, and LakeOkanagan beach club. The resort has reduced prices on all
inventories in its established neighbourhoods by as much as 30 per cent.
One buyer who returned to purchase
another home site, Bip Thind, a realtor in Vernon, says it’s one of the best opportunities he’s seen in
this buyer’s market.
“I purchased a home site last year
at market value, and my house should be finished by this September. But when I
saw the discounts they are now offering on other sites, I decided to invest
further,” Thind says. “With the real estate market trends starting to reverse,
it’s probably the last chance I’ll get to buy in at this price point.”
A survey from the B.C. Real Estate Association reports that
the real estate market is indeed turning. Findings revealed that four-in-ten
British Columbians plan or hope to purchase homes or properties within the next
five years, with about half of these potential buyers expecting to do so in the
next two years. The survey also revealed a steady uptrend in the B.C. real
estate market, spanning the last five months.
Discounts of 30 per cent
have been applied to the remaining nine home sites in the exclusive Watermark
neighborhood with homes sites reduced from 500,000 to 350,000. Seventeen
remaining homes and homes sites are included in the campaign with eight of
these situated in the Sagecroft and Clearview neighbourhoods.
The Believe It! sale will run all summer or
until the last home site sells in the established neighbourhoods. The campaign
also includes events like wine tastings and live music on Freddy’s Patio at the
Golf Club at The Rise.
The Rise is a master
planned vineyard resort with a signature golf course and approvals for 1200
units including homes, condos, and hotel. It is perched on a south facing
hillside in Vernon offering spectacular views of OkanaganLake. The resort features vineyards and
lakeside beach club. Its Fred Couples Signature Golf Course is now open and has
been receiving rave reviews.
Launched in 2005, The Rise currently consists of 131 homes and home sites
in six established neighborhoods. 200 home sites have been sold with 90 home
sites sold to a separate developer and there are 42 homes built or under
construction. $14
million has been invested on the golf course and a total of $105 million in the
resort community itself.
The Rise (www.TheRise.ca)
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development
Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, Okanagan’s premier golf and wine
resort community. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking OkanaganLake, The Rise is 735-acres and located
3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views
down the throat of OkanaganLake and features vineyards, lakeside
beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas,
and the Okanagan’s only signature golf course.
-30-
Friday, July 17, 2009
New Youth Day Camps Combine Golf Lessons with Survival Lessons
July 17, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Learning to golf has never been easier or more fun, thanks to the new Youth Golf and Adventure Programs at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Kids age seven to 14 can choose from eight exciting weeks for an unforgettable B.C. Rockies experience. This three day retreat gives youth the opportunity to learn golf from CPGA professionals, and experience the wilderness with B.C. Rockies Adventure guides.
With this new retreat we are giving kids a different experience with golf,” Peter Smith, director of golf, says. “We’re giving them an opportunity to try it, along with many other activities, so it’s much less intimidating than a three-day golf-intensive program.”
A CPGA professional at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort explains the finer points of golf to participants of a Youth Golf and Adventure Camp Photo Credit: Andi Dzillums
The retreat goes through July and August and costs $199.00 per person. The programs run July 21 to 23 and 28 to 30. Programs also run August 4 to 6, 11 to 13, 18 to 20 and 25 to 27. The days are packed with activities, which include two golf lessons with a CPGA professional, three rounds of 9-hole golf at Creekside Golf Course, three lunch meals, extensive adventure program, access to the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort public pool, a professional guide for the three days and a golf camp T-shirt.
Our goal at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is to provide a unique B.C. Rockies experience for kids that they will never forget,” Andi Dzillums, B.C. Rockies Adventure guide, says. “By providing a Youth Golf and Adventure Program, we can introduce many of the great activities that are available in the Columbia Valley, and kids can decide what they want to continue pursuing.”
Along with golf lessons, the program includes team building activities, bear awareness presentations, survival skills training, hiking, nature inspired crafts and other fun outdoor activities.
For inquiries or registration, call (250) 345-6049 or email eco-adventures@fhsr.com
B.C. Rockies Adventure Programs are designed to give guests an unforgettable experience by providing premier guided tours, educational programs and more. All Adventures are led by professional naturalists and certified guides, Andi Dzillums and Jocelyn MacGregor, who continually develop exciting experiences for the whole family.
With three courses, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers 45 holes of golf at its picturesque location on Hwy. 93/95 in the majestic B.C. Rockies, one hour from Cranbrook, B.C. and three hours west of Calgary, Alta. Riverside Golf Course is an 18-hole course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. The winding Columbia River creates a natural and peaceful water challenge as fairways roll gently along its sloping banks. Mountainside Golf Course is an 18-hole par 72 course with fairways skirting towering peaks and a view of Columbia Lake. This meticulously maintained mature course was the first 18-hole course to be built in the Columbia Valley. Creekside Golf Course is a par 3, nine-hole course that is the perfect choice for a family golf experience or those looking to learn the sport, or just brush up on their skills.
Online Media Centre: http://dhzmedia.ca/page663.htm (backgrounders, fact sheet, photography)
About Fairmont Hot Springs (www.fairmonthotsprings.com) In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia.
For more information please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.229.9219 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca
-30-
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Calgary’s Newest Wellness Centre Promotes Good Health Without Drugs or Surgery
June 30, 2009, Calgary, Alta.— A unique wellness centre created to promote overall well being through therapeutic methods that enable individuals to feel and look their best without prescriptions, chemicals, injections or surgery is now open in Calgary. Evolution Wellness Centre, offers treatments previously available only at the world’s most sought after spas including Estee Lauder spas, Elizabeth Arden Spas and the Ritz Carleton hotel chain.
Evolution Wellness is the only centre in Alberta to offer non surgical face lifts and anti-ageing facials with The Ultra™, a device that uses micro current technology to provide gentle electrical stimulation to trigger the body's natural skin enhancement chemicals at a cellular level. This amplifies the production of collagen and elastin to diminish fine lines, soften deep lines and improve definition in the jaw line. With the Ultra there is no “down-time” that accompanies surgical procedures. Clients feel and look their best without surgery, chemicals or injecting toxins.
In addition, to improve overall well being, Evolution Wellness offers a revolutionary health monitoring method called biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback therapy is the measurement of the body’s subtle electrical factors for the purpose of conducting a health assessment and developing programs for ailments. Biofeedback therapy has helped people suffering from migraines, chronic pain, arthritis, depression, immune disorders, eating disorders and other ailments.
The Evolution Wellness Centre was created by Adele Engel, who developed the company around her own journey “to feel and look my best without prescriptions, chemicals, injections or surgery.”
“Addressing my own health and aesthetic concerns led me to discover these non invasive treatments,” says Engel, “Researching and partaking in these treatments produced such a positive effect on my own health, that I realized I wanted to start my own wellness centre to pass my knowledge on to others.”
Ling Skin Care Products is another exclusive for Evolution Wellness. Developed by Ling Chan, these products have a devoted celebrity following including Meg Ryan and Uma Thurman. These products have been featured in major beauty magazines including Us, Marie Claire, Glamour, InStyle and Cosmopolitan. Originating in select spas in Manhattan, Ling Skin Care is now available at Evolution Wellness in Calgary.
All therapeutic methods at Evolution Wellness are non-invasive treatments that promote healing, decrease stress, enhance personal energy and promote positive change.
According to the Spa Industry Statistics 2006 Fall Survey, industry executives indicated that there is a “revolution” in cosmetic procedures and consumers can “look better without the need for cosmetic surgery.” (Source: www.experienceispa.com)
Evolution Wellness Center is located in downtown Calgary at 400E, 1040 - 7 Avenue SW. To book an appointment, visit www.evolutionwell.ca or call 403 313 -1865
For more information or to arrange hosted media treatments, please contact:
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Launches Value-Infused Home Sites
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
June 29, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is offering a limited quantity of value-packed home sites in their stunning Mountainside Ridge neighbourhood. The large 1/3 acre sites with awe inspiring views of the Rocky Mountains are now available starting at $114,900.
Buyers will also have the opportunity to immediately start taking advantage of the privileges that come with purchasing in an established resort community. A voucher pack for 60 tee times, 60 lift tickets and 60 passes for the natural mineral hot springs is included with every home site. In addition, buyers will be given five two-night stays at the lodge at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort so they can easily monitor the progress of their new vacation home. The package is valued at more than $10,000.
“We want to offer great prices on home sites and pack as much value into our offerings as we can, and we’re fortunate to have an established resort community that makes that possible,” says Richard Haworth, vice president of development for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. “You can purchase your home site on a Friday and then spend the weekend golfing one of our three courses, or relaxing in the hot springs at no charge.”
With mortgage rates at historic lows, Haworth is encouraging recreational property buyers who may be sitting on the fence, to take this opportunity to achieve their dream. Based on the 2009 Royal LePage Recreational Property Report, despite the economic downturn, there are still plenty of Canadians looking for the right opportunity. According to the report, 64 per cent felt that recreational property is a safe investment and 55 per cent are willing to make financial compromises to fulfill their dream.
“I don’t think you will ever see this kind of value in the recreational property market again,” Haworth says. “At today’s mortgage rates and prices, these home sites are very attainable and offer incredible value into the future.”
Using a current average mortgage rate of 4.25 per cent, with a 50 per cent down payment, buyers can expect to pay approximately $310 per month for a stunning mountain-view lot at Mountainside Ridge.
The home sites maintain a flexible construction schedule and guidelines to ensure buyers can build to suit their needs up to seven years after the purchase of their site. The goal of the design guidelines is to provide authentic Columbia Valley architecture with a modern and contemporary feel, while preserving the natural integrity of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and protecting buyers’ investments.
The resort also offers 45 holes of golf with Mountainside, an 18-hole par 72 CPGA, Creekside, a par 3, 9-hole golf course, plus the stunning 18-hole Riverside golf course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop.
Located In the heart of British Columbia's Columbia Valley, on Hwy 93/95, Fairmont Hot Springs is one hour from Cranbrook, B.C. and three hours west of Calgary.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is a historical four-season destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia.
-30-
Friday, June 19, 2009
Resort property blow out sales increase across B.C.
June 19, 2009, Vernon B.C. – Large scale real estate discount sales are spreading across B.C. as the development industry fights back against the worst recession in recent times. Home buyer opportunities are increasing as The Rise announced today the details of its “Believe It!” discount pricing campaign for its lake view homes and home sites. The resort features a now open Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, 17 acres of vineyard, and Lake Okanagan beach club. The resort has reduced all inventory in its established neighbourhoods by as much as 30%.
The Fred Couples Signature Golf Course is currently a nominee for Score Golf’s Best New Golf Course in Canada Award, but buyers will get the chance to review the course on their own as the summer long sale includes special privileges for new home owners and unlimited golf for one year at the Okanagan’s only signature course.
Land Launch Marketing created the discount resort property program for The Rise after witnessing the success of blowout sales in Vancouver. The company has successfully started discount campaigns for two other Okanagan resorts: The Cottages at Secret Point and Okanagan Mountain. Similar campaigns have also been launched in the Shuswap, Vancouver Island and the Kootenays.
“It’s time for home buyers to start believing in the opportunity presented to them since it is the consumer who benefits the most from these campaigns.” says Greg Lowe, president of Land Launch Marketing, “Discounts and low construction costs are creating opportunities for home buyers that could only have been dreamed about a few years ago.”
The Believe It! sale will run all summer or until the last home site sells in the established neighbourhoods. The campaign also includes events like wine tastings and live music at the Golf Club at The Rise.
“Already the discount campaign is picking up momentum and we’ve sold five home sites in three weeks.” says Lowe, “And why not? There are great deals on everything. For example, a 30% discount combined with today's construction savings means a difference of $300,000 on the cost of a higher end home in the Watermark neighbourhood at The Rise.”
Photo Caption...Photo Caption...Photo Caption...
Land Launch is bringing blow out sales to The Rise - Director of Sales, Ross McGaw (l-r) and Greg Lowe, President of Land Launch, in the Sagecroft Villas neighbourhood at The Rise. Photo credit: Jeff Bassett/Reddoorphoto.com
Discounts of 30% have been applied to 11 home sites in the exclusive Watermark neighborhood with homes sites reduced from 500,000 to 350,000. 30 homes and homes sites are included in the campaign. 14 homes and home sites remaining the Clearview and Sagecroft neighborhoods have been discounted between 10% and 30%.
The Rise is a master planned vineyard resort with a signature golf course and approvals for 1200 units including homes, condos, and hotel. It is perched on a south facing hillside in Vernon offering spectacular views of Okanagan Lake. The resort features vineyards and lakeside beach club. Its Fred Couples Signature Golf Course is now open and has been receiving rave reviews.
Launched in 2005, The Rise currently consists of 131 homes and home sites in 6 established neighborhoods. 200 home sites have been sold with 90 home sites sold to a separate developer and there are 42 homes built or under construction. $14 million has been invested on the golf course and a total of $105 million in the resort community itself.
The Rise (www.TheRise.ca) Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, Okanagan’s premier golf and wine resort community. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and features vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, and the Okanagan’s only signature golf course.
-30-
Monday, June 15, 2009
Elite designer's unique suites to be unveiled at grand opening
June 15, 2009, Calgary, Alta. – One of Canada’s leading interior designer’s latest project is being featured at the grand opening of Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa in Kimberley, B.C. in August. Andrea Raimondi, who has received national acclaim from both the National Post and Canadian House and Home Magazine as one of Canada’s fastest rising interior design stars, says she’s excited about the unveiling of her work.
“I love working with boutique resorts and hotel projects like Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa that give me the opportunity to explore new and exciting design prospects,” Raimondi, president of Calgary-based Ingenium Design Group Inc., says.
Voted one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Designers in Canada by the National Post, Raimondi, 32, has been in demand for a wide variety of projects, including residential and commercial offices, but she is finding her niche with the hospitality industry.
Renowned interior designer Andrea Raimondi has infused a relaxing spa experience into the suites at Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa on the slopes of Kimberley Alpine Resort.
FOR MORE PHOTOS AND TO ACCESS OUR NEW IMMEDIATE HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTO SERVICE CLICK ON THE PHOTO ABOVE
“It was obvious to us that Andrea had the talent we needed to meld the atmosphere of a ski-in, ski-out resort, with the relaxing and rejuvenating atmosphere that is essential for a spa resort,” Allyson Hunter, vice president of marketing for Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa, says. “It was a difficult design task that Andrea executed flawlessly.”
Using the stunning mountain landscape for inspiration, Raimondi reflected the region’s natural palette of soothing earth tones and melded them with spa-influenced design to create a sanctuary for owners and guests at the resort. Raimondi’s minimalist approach to detailing, coupled with exclusive finishing touches using crisp and fresh materials combined with a natural colour palette provides luxury and depth to the suites at Mountain Spirit.
“We were very committed to integrating the rustic mountain lifestyle with clean spa elements to appeal to a wide variety of people,” Raimondi, a third generation designer, says. “Our ultimate goal was to create a mountain getaway that is tranquil, soothing and somewhat unexpected in regards to detailing.”
Raimondi is the founder of Ingenium Design Group Inc., a boutique design firm established in 2000 that has made a significant impact on the design scene in Western Canada. In 2006 it was voted one of the Top 10 design firms in Canada as reported by the National Post. Ingenium’s other projects include celebrity chef Michael Noble’s newest restaurant, Notable, in Calgary’s historic neighbourhood of Montgomery, and the upscale Mission Crossing condo development in Calgary’s inner city, with units starting at $1.6 million.
For more information or to arrange a hosted media visit to Mountain Spirit Resort and Spa, please contact:
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa is a boutique spa resort offering ski-in, ski-out condominiums at the Kimberley Alpine Resort. Located in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Mountain Spirit will combine a 6,000 square foot spa, great perks and an ideal location to create the ultimate resort experience. Spa-inspired from inception, the resort is located in the heart of Kimberley Alpine Resort and boasts a true ski-in-ski-out location. It will feature a slope-side restaurant and patio, year round outdoor heated pool and is the only resort spa in Kimberley. Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa offers recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation.
-30-
Friday, June 12, 2009
Ladies-Only Thank You - Golf Getaways for Women Launched at Fairmont Hot Springs
June 12, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – If you’re looking for the perfect ladies-only golf getaway, you can enjoy a B.C. Rockies experience at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort with their new Ladies Only Golf Retreats.
These getaways are for beginners and experienced players alike, offering two separate packages. The Ladies Only golf retreat is $329 per person for four people and is available June 16 to 20 and June 23 to 27. This two-day package is reserved for experienced golfers who want to continue improving their skills.
The Ladies Only Learn to Golf retreat is $300 and is also available June 16 to 20 and June 23 to 27. It is the perfect opportunity to begin learning golf in a relaxed and unintimidating setting.
“This is the perfect B.C. Rockies experience for women who want to get out, improve their golf and enjoy time with friends,” Harrison McKay, director of marketing for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “Not only are the golf courses in great shape, but the new gourmet dining experience, spa and natural mineral hot springs make it an unforgettable getaway.”
The Ladies Only retreat includes two night’s accommodation for four people, in two standard mountain view rooms with two queen sized beds (pool view, suite, loft, kitchenette upgrades available), two rounds of golf per person (including golf cart), two golf clinics taught by one of the CPGA professionals, unlimited use of the driving range, 20 per cent off regular priced retail in both golf stores and unlimited access to the mineral hot springs, guest pool complex featuring steam room, sauna and hot and cold pools.
The Ladies Learn to Golf retreat is designed for beginners to have fun while learning golf. This package includes gold club rentals, four clinics taught by a CPGA professional, an accompanied 9-hole round of golf and unlimited practice on the driving range. Guests will also be accommodated for two nights in two standard mountain view rooms for four people, with two queen sized beds and unlimited access to the mineral hot springs and pool amenities.
Under the leadership of Peter Smith, the new director of golf, a new golf experience is being created at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort as they invest in the future and refine their amenities. For the last 11 years Smith has been director of golf for Greywolf at Panorama and was named Golf Professional of the Year by the BCPGA in 2005.
“We want to make sure we provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for women to come out to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and begin learning to play golf,” Peter Smith says. “Golf shouldn’t be intimidating and this is just another way to encourage more women to take up the sport.”
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is also offering the Classic Golf Getaway for $320 per person (based on double occupancy). It includes two night’s accommodation, two rounds of golf, breakfast and unlimited use of the natural mineral hot springs and pool complex.
With three courses, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers 45 holes of golf at its picturesque location on Hwy. 93/95 in the majestic B.C. Rockies, one hour from Cranbrook, B.C. and three hours west of Calgary, Alta.
The Riverside Golf Course is an 18-hole course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. The winding Columbia River creates a natural and peaceful water challenge as fairways roll gently along its sloping banks.
Mountainside Golf Course is an 18-hole par 72 golf course with fairways skirting towering peaks and a view of Columbia Lake. This meticulously maintained mature course was the first 18-hole course to be built in the Columbia Valley.
Creekside, the par 3, nine-hole golf course, is the perfect choice for a family golf experience or those looking to learn the sport, or just brush up on their skills.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of $1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
For more information please contact:
Scott Henderson dHz Media +403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart dHz Media +403.229.9200 matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca
-30-
Monday, June 01, 2009
Vancouver Blow Out Sales Hit Okanagan: Land Launch at The Rise
June 01, 2009, Vernon, B.C. – The Rise announced today that Land Launch Marketing has been selected to market the existing real estate inventory in its established neighbourhoods. Land Launch was the first to bring liquidation style selling to the Okanagan with its recent sale for the Kelowna Mountain project.
As a result of the worldwide recession, liquidation real estate sales are a growing trend as several successful blowout sales have been conducted in Vancouver this year. One such sale for the Onni Group of Companies sold more than 350 condos in eight weeks. Liquidation sales work when a developer has large inventories and can justify large discounts.
Land Launch moves to The Rise after four record sales years at Predator Ridge where most recently they sold out two phases of the Osprey Green town home project in 2008. Land Launch has selected to work with The Rise because the resort development has the type of product that is selling today: liquidation priced property.
“We have received more interest for our Kelowna liquidation sale than we have for all other campaigns this year. In three weeks, we have had $10 million in sales,” says Greg Lowe, president of Land Launch Marketing. “We are at The Rise to achieve the same level of success.”
In October 2008, The Rise, a 735 acre development with master plan approval for 1,200 units, was listed for sale with Marshall MacLeod of CB Richard Ellis in Vancouver. In December 2008, The Rise was awarded protection from its lenders and creditors by the Supreme Court of B.C. using the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act for a period of nine months. The developer is currently operating the resort and the completed golf course while it works through its financial difficulties.
“Today’s real estate buyer is savvy and demands deeply discounted pricing,” says Lowe, “With the financial situation the developer is in at The Rise, now is the time for great deals. A new owner, with an improved capital structure, is not likely to be as motivated to offer large discounts.”
Marshall MacLeod, of CB Richard Ellis, reports that “we have a number of qualified buyers seriously considering the opportunity to acquire The Rise.” He further indicates that he expects to have a contract in place soon.
The resort’s Fred Couples Signature Golf Course has been open for the season since April and it is generating rave reviews. Recently, Score Golf magazine named The Golf Club at The Rise a nominee for its 2009 Best New Golf Course in Canada Award. $14 million has been invested on the golf course and a total of $105 million in the resort community itself. The resort offers a beach club on Lake Okanagan and while plans for a winery are currently on hold, the resort has 17 acres of vineyard with Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir and Riesling vines. The first harvest last year produced a quality of grape that has created rave reviews from the winemaker.
With over $310 million of recreation property sold since 2002 in the Okanagan, California and Washington, Land Launch attributes its success to knowing what the market wants.
It is currently devising a liquidation sale for The Rise that will be launched in early June 2009.
The Rise (www.TheRise.ca) Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, Okanagan’s premier golf and wine resort community. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and features vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, and Western Canada’s first Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
-30-
Monday, June 01, 2009
Zeidler Architects Challenge Vancouver Businesses to Support Unicef’s Unite for Children Campaign
June 1, 2009, Vancouver, B.C- Zeidler Partnership Architects is challenging Vancouver’s business community to come out and support UNICEF’s 2nd Annual Unite with Art Auction and Gala that benefits children battling AIDS and works to halt the spread of the pandemic. The firm is calling on Vancouverites to step up and purchase tickets to the Gala and bid on stunning works of art from top Canadian artists. Proceeds from the event are going directly to help stem the global AIDS pandemic through UNICEF’s Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS initiative.
Tickets are $150 and may be purchased online at www.unitewithart.com or by calling UNICEF at (604) 874 - 3666 ext. 8125.
Zeidler Architects is a national, founding sponsor for the event which combines fine art, fabulous food and top entertainment to bolster UNICEF Canada’s Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign. UNICEF’s goal is to halt and begin to reverse the spread of the deadly disease by 2015 through efforts to expand health care services and prevention measures – particularly the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children. Proceeds from the Unite with Art Auction and Gala will benefit this campaign.
“The war against AIDS can seem unwinnable at times, but stopping the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children is very achievable,” Stephen Carruthers, managing partner at Zeidler Partnership Architects, says. “There are simple steps that can be taken, with proper funding, to ensure a child is not born with a death sentence because their mother was infected. This is an opportunity for the business and arts community in Vancouver to step up and really help save children.”
The Unite with Art Auction and Gala was launched in June 2008 to raise financial support and bring awareness to UNICEF’s campaign. More than 350 of Vancouver’s leading art collectors responded, and raised $275,000 for the cause.
The event is the brainchild of Julie Lee, Arthouse Gallery director and Unite with Art executive director, as well as Alison Lawton, chair of UNICEF Canada’s Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign.
Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS is the largest campaign ever initiated to bring attention to the impact that HIV/AIDS has on children and youth.
WHO: Founding National Sponsor Zeidler Partnership Architects - Benefiting UNICEF Canada’s Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign.
WHAT: A spectacular evening of art and advocacy, the gala will feature silent and live auction items. More than 90 donated works from acclaimed artists including: Fred Herzog, Chris Jordan, Greg Girard, Angela Grossmann, Gabryel Harrison, Christian Nicolay, Joe Fafard, Annie Pootoogook, Brent Comber and David Wilson, among others will be up for bid.
The event will also feature local designers including Obakki, Omer Arbel, LemonPark, Michael Gotziaman, John Fluevog, Kelly Deck, and Inform Interiors to name a few.
The evening will include host bar, live entertainment, cuisine by the city’s best restaurants and a dessert reception
WHEN: 6 p.m. until midnight, June 3, 2009
WHERE: The former Storyeum in Gastown, 151 West Cordova Street, Vancouver, B.C.
HOW: Tickets are $150 and may be purchased online at www.unitewithart.com or by calling UNICEF at (604) 874 - 3666 ext. 8125.
Zeidler Partnership Architects is listed as one of the top global practices in the world by BD World Architecture Magazine. Zeidler has been established in Canada for over 53 years with offices in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria with five other offices worldwide.
Zeidler has over 240 employees, many of whom have been with the firm for 10 to 30 years. This award-winning firm’s projects range from large, mixed-use complexes, office towers, performing arts centres, health care facilities, residential and hotel buildings.
The firm’s major body of work is in Canada and the United States with a significant international presence developing in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign aims to provide support, care, protection, and treatment to millions of children afflicted with HIV/AIDS, so the spread of this pandemic can be halted by 2015. The campaign builds on UNICEF’s already extensive work for children’s health and focuses efforts on four key areas:
• Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; • Providing pediatric treatment; • Protecting and supporting children affected by HIV and AIDS; • Providing information and services to adolescents and young people so they have the knowledge they need to prevent infection.
Through fundraisers such as Unite with Art and the generous donation of time, resources, and money by participants, UNICEF can achieve its goal of reaching 80 per cent of children who have been affected by AIDS, and reducing the global percentage of young people living with HIV by 25 per cent globally. UNICEF is determined to make this the last generation of children to bear the brunt of AIDS.
Fast Facts
• More than 6,000 young people aged 15 to 24 are newly infected with HIV every day. • Nearly 2.3 million children under the age of 15 live with HIV, mostly due to mother-child transmission. • A child under the age of 15 dies of an AIDS-related illness every two minutes of every day. • More than 15 million children have lost one or more parents to AIDS; over 12 million of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa. • Only 23 per cent of HIV-positive mothers are receiving medicines that will help prevent their unborn child from contracting HIV. UNICEF’s goal is to provide appropriate services to 80 per cent of HIV-positive women. • Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS is the largest campaign ever initiated to bring to the world’s attention the impact that HIV/AIDS has on children and youth.
• The campaign aims to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015, through efforts to expand health care services and prevention measures.
Eco-tours Promote Appreciation of Nature and Conservation
May 25, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Spring has arrived in the Columbia Valley, and that means a exciting new line up of eco adventures and wilderness pursuits tour packages at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. The tours are designed to promote the safe and responsible appreciation of the natural wonders in the B.C. Rockies. This year the eco adventures have been carefully planned to provide a fun and affordable getaway for families.
“An incredible family vacation doesn’t have to be far away or cost a fortune. We’re working to provide a fun and educational B.C. Rockies experience for a family that is also affordable,” Harrison McKay, marketing manager for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “This is a vacation destination that will not only entertain the entire family, but leave them with new skills and knowledge that they won’t get anywhere else.”
The excursions are led by two naturalists with more than 10 years of combined experience leading wilderness adventures. Andi Dzilums and Jocelyn MacGregor ensure every trek is safe, educational and unforgettable. Some programs are complimentary for guests at the resort while a few programs have a fee attached to them. All activities are also available for a fee to visitors not staying at the resort. Accommodation-inclusive “B.C. Rockies Experience” packages are available for couples and families.
The programs at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort are designed to be enjoyable for all ages—young and old alike are fascinated by the natural wonders that exist in this part of Canada. The tours promote eco-tourism by providing responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment. The goal of these programs is to bring travellers and the local community together in a way that will promote the preservation of natural areas for future generations to enjoy.
The Amazing Bear Presentation
This unique program that is held in a traditional tepee is a must for those fearful of the B.C. Rockies largest predator. Using props like bear skulls and claws, guides teach visitors about the integral role bears play within the eco system and how humans can enjoy the wilderness experience while avoiding contact with its more fearsome residents.
Astronomy
Get away from the city lights and enjoy discovering the mysteries of the universe with one of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s interpretive guides. Take in the beauty of the night and hear the myths, legends and objects linked with the star-filled sky above.
Guided Eco Treks
Explore the B.C. Rockies’ best destinations with Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s knowledgeable naturalists. Hikes range from basic to challenging and will lead you on a fun, informative journey of breathtaking mountain views and wildlife discovery. Enjoy the supreme landscapes while learning about the fascinating geology and ecology of the area. Hikes available for 2009 include the Interpretive Hoodoos Hike and Wetland Discovery Walk. Alternative hikes are available upon request.
Guided Paddling Tours
Discover the gem of the Columbia Valley; the longest connected wetland in North America! Enjoy the fantastic landscape, fun on the water and unsurpassed bird watching opportunities. Observe eagles, ospreys, heron nests and much more. This is the perfect opportunity for everyone to enjoy nature at its best from a canoe or kayak. No experience necessary.
Nature Art Clinics
Art clinics offered by Fairmont Hot Springs Resort allow you to relax while capturing your favourite features of the B.C. Rockies. Families can enjoy rock or paddle painting under the guidance of an instructor who provides stencils and supplies along with tips on technique. The finished work of art is sure to be a lasting memory of your B.C. Rockies experience.
The Wild Hot Springs Driving Tour
Enjoy this interpretive drive through White Swan Provincial Park and to the Lussier Hot Springs. During the tour there are many stops for pictures, short walks, interpretive stories and even a dip in the wilderness Lussier Hot Springs. Be sure to bring your camera and bathing suit for this one-of-a-kind tour.
Campfire Dessert in a Tepee
Campfire cooking has never tasted so good! Join the campfire chefs at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort for this delicious adventure and learn how to cook more than just s’mores. Before dessert take a stroll with local black bear habitat where a guide takes you into the world of the local black bears. Afterwards, settle down inside a traditional tepee to learn and sample the decadent secrets of cooking unique desserts over campfire coals. Your camping trips will never be the same!
Kids and Family Nature Discovery Camp
Join Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s naturalists for an afternoon of games, crafts, animal tracking ,bug catching and much more.
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s Naturalists
Jocelyn MacGregor has worked as a guide and nature interpreter for more than eight years and has found her niche in the mountains. She received her Biology degree from Trent University and is certified in Wilderness Advanced First Aid and Mountain Parks Heritage. MacGregor’s goal is to help the public understand why they should appreciate and preserve natural areas, and believes this can be achieved through exciting and memorable experiences in the outdoors.
Andi Dzilums is an avid outdoorsman whose interest in geology can turn a dull rock into an ancient relic from a time of mountain building and carving glaciers. He is certified by the Wilderness First Aid and Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association. Dzilums is an experienced fisherman, camper and skier with an infectious passion for the outdoors.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of $1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
-30-
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Kids Open Hummingbird Beach Resort With Dock Jump
May 19, 2009, Sicamous, B.C. – The Hummingbird Beach Resort held its grand opening on May 16th over the long weekend as all construction and landscaping are now complete. Hummingbird launched the return to the classic cottage summer when it released its collection of lakefront town homes, cottages and cabin sites last year at on Mara Lake, B.C.
To commemorate the milestone, many of the kids from the families of the new home owners conducted a dock jump through ribbon to open the new community. The day of family-focused fun included beach games and a sand castle building contest for the kids. Families interested in joining the community at Hummingbird toured cabins and experienced the unique lakeside lifestyle.
PHOTO CAPTION... PHOTO CAPTION... PHOTO CAPTION... Kids Open Hummingbird Beach Resort with Dock Jump Photo credit: Matt Blaeser
Over 200 people turned out for the grand opening and the high turnout of homeowners and buyers indicates the current recreational property market is favouring a return to its traditional roots: a cabin on the lake.
“It’s so exciting to see our vision of a family community on Mara Lake being realized at Hummingbird Beach Resort,” Steele Jordan, president of Mara Lake Estate Ltd, says. “With the resort finished we’re in a great position to continue welcoming new families who can start building memories here.”
This year’s grand opening follows a successful sales launch last summer at Hummingbird where 31 residences where sold in one day, despite a cooling recreation property market in British Columbia.
The interest in the grand opening is not surprising, in 2008 a RE/MAX’s Recreational Property report, found that the Shushwap area is gaining in popularity with property buyers due to its accessible price tag and its close proximity to Calgary, the Okanagan Valley, Vancouver, and the Fraser Valley.
The report found today’s buyers, are buying primarily for recreation and enjoyment purposes, which is the vision behind Hummingbird’s low density and functional design.
Hummingbird Beach Resort is a waterfront retreat that harkens back to the traditional lake homes that many parents will remember from their childhood. Without compromising comfort, Hummingbird Beach Resort combines luxury with practicality and community with privacy to create the ideal family getaway.
Hummingbird Beach Resort is located on Swansea Point, Mara Lake, about 10 minutes south of Sicamous – the Houseboat Capital of Canada.
Mara Lake Estates. Ltd Hummingbird Beach Resort is a Mara Lake Estates Ltd. development. This private company’s owners have strong roots in the Okanagan and a passion for quality real estate. Inspired by fond memories of spending summers by the lake as children, and deriving great joy from reliving the experience with their own children, has shaped the developers’ vision for Hummingbird Beach Resort. Great care has been taken to preserve the natural beauty of the site, to build town homes and cabins of exceptional quality, and to transform Hummingbird Beach Resort into a valued family tradition. Local trades completed the bulk of the building as part of the developer’s commitment to supporting the community.
-30-
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Rec Property Returns to its Roots
April 29, 2009, Sicamous, B.C. – Early indicators in the recreation property market are pointing to a rise in the popularity of traditional and practical vacation homes. Hummingbird Beach Resort, a four season, lakefront resort on Mara Lake, is offering a unique hybrid of cottages, cabins and town homes, and seeing a large amount of interest in their unapologetically simple, nostalgic offering.
According to Steele Jordan, president of Mara Lake Estates Ltd, developer of the Hummingbird Beach Resort, interest is high for unique beachfront community, particularly with young families.
“The speculators are completely out of the market so now we’re getting a lot of interest from families who are looking for a secure development that they can start building memories at this summer,” Jordan says, “We’re able to offer them a vacation home that is ready now. They can literally walk through the resort, pick the one that meets their needs, and move in.”
Crystal clear waters of Mara Lake as seen from the Hummingbird Beach Resort
FOR MORE PHOTOS AND TO ACCESS OUR NEW IMMEDIATE HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTO SERVICE CLICK ON THE PHOTO ABOVE
The Hummingbird Beach Resort was one of the few recreational property success stories in 2008, when it sold 1/3 of its resort last June. Its decision to adhere to a simple, low-density development model, focused on celebrating the Mara Lake tradition of family, community and leisure has been a hit with buyers. There is no build out as construction at Hummingbird is completed and the project is financially secure.
The Resort is designed to appeal to vacationers who are looking for an easy, simplified holiday experience that emphasizes memorable family experiences on the Shuswap lakes. Tucked away from the busyness of life, it is located near the Town of Sicamous, the house boating capital of Canada.
Hummingbird provides family vacationers with a variety of recreational home options designed with high architectural integrity and quality without breaking the bank. The ultimate objective is for buyers to be able to invest in their family. The site for the Resort is located on a former family owned and operated seasonal lakeside campground and there is a long tradition of community that extends to the entire Swansea Point community.
“Hummingbird has been designed to be the perfect family getaway location,” Jordan says. “We have already seen friendships develop from those who moved in last year and we receiving several referrals from happy homeowners anxious to have their friends and family join them this summer.”
With its warm year-round climate, excellent fishing, horseback riding, water skiing and house boating, Hummingbird Beach Resort offers families a quality alternative to the frenzy of activity commonly found at high-density resort properties. Its proximity to several ski resorts, snowmobile trails and heli-skiing makes the resort attractive to those seeking four season recreational activities. Hummingbird provides a quieter, simpler way of life for those wishing to escape and spend their summers with their family in quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Mara Lake Estates. Ltd Hummingbird Beach Resort is a Mara Lake Estates Ltd. development. This private company’s owners have strong roots in the Okanagan and a passion for quality real estate. Inspired by fond memories of spending summers by the lake as children, and deriving great joy from reliving the experience with their own children, has shaped the developers’ vision for Hummingbird Beach Resort. Great care has been taken to preserve the natural beauty of the site, to build town homes and cabins of exceptional quality, and to transform Hummingbird Beach Resort into a valued family tradition. Local trades completed the bulk of the building as part of the developer’s commitment to supporting the community.
-30-
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Best New Golf Course Nominee Opening this Weekend
April 15, 2009, Vernon, B.C. – The Golf Club at The Rise, a Fred Couples signature golf course, is teeing off its first full season this weekend in Vernon B.C. The stunning course has been nominated for Best New Golf Course by Score Golf .
The golf course opened to critical acclaim last June with Couples and Calgary Flames Captain Jarome Iginla golfing the inaugural round.
To celebrate their first full season, The Golf Club at The Rise will open on April 17 with an opening week special of $49 until April 23. Terry Yacyshen, resort general manager at The Rise, says the course has only gotten better since last year’s opening.
“The course has really matured beautifully since last year and despite its challenging design, we’ve carefully managed the natural grasslands to make it much friendlier for the mid to high handicappers,” Yacyshen says. “With five tee boxes for every hole, everyone can enjoy this beautiful course.”
Described by international luxury lifestyle magazine, the Robb Report, as being one of Canada's top new golf courses, The Golf Club at The Rise merges breathtaking scenery with challenges and opportunities for every level of golfer. Integrated into the rugged natural topography of the Vernon highlands.
The championship course was designed by Couples/Bates Design, an affiliation between Fred Couples and award-winning golf course architect Gene Bates. Construction for the 18-hole signature course was by BMR Golf, whose credits also include the award-winning Greywolf at Panorama Mountain Resort and The Dunes in Kamloops.
Players can expect a round filled with awe-inspiring views, challenging holes and impeccably maintained greens and fairways. The Golf Club at The Rise strives to provide the best experience for any level of golfer. With five tees at every hole, players can continually improve their skills on a championship course, without being intimidated in the beginning.
For a complimentary media tee time at The Golf Club at The Rise, please contact:
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, Okanagan’s signature resort community. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and features a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, hotel and Western Canada’s first Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
Quick Facts
Summary: Perched 1,000 feet above Okanagan Lake, this spectacular layout will accommodate golfers of all abilities. With generous landing areas and five sets of tees on every hole, The Golf Club at The Rise will offer a balance of variety, enjoyment and challenge. Each hole is distinct in its character with dramatic elevated tees and breathtaking views of Okanagan Lake on 12 of 18 holes.
Design: Fred Couples (Signature Design)
Architect: Gene Bates
Construction: BMR Golf
Season: April through October
Holes: 18
Yardage: 6,884
Par: 72
Tees per hole: 5 (minimum)
Longest hole: The par-5 9th hole stretches to almost 600 yards. The hole has an elevated tee and plays downhill all the way, which makes it play a little less than its true yardage.
Challenging hole: At 438 yards, the par-4 8th hole demands both accuracy and distance. With the least generous landing area of any of the par-4 s this hole does not let up until the very end. A conservative approach and some handy short-game skills will pay big dividends on this hole.
First Golf Course to Open this Year - Ski and Golf in Same Day
Fairmont Hot Springs Opening First in the Columbia Valley with New Celebrity Flavour
March 23, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is the place to be this year for a unique B.C. Rockies experience. Riverside Golf Course is the first Resort course to open in the Columbia Valley on March 26.
Thanks to Fairmont Hot Springs’ unique location on the warm side of the Rockies, you can head up the mountain to ski at the family ski hill in the morning, and catch a round of 18 holes in the afternoon.
“We’re in such a special place here in the Valley where the climate gives us a window of time where skiing and golfing in the same day is very practical,” Harrison McKay, marketing manager for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “It’s truly a B.C. Rockies experience like none other.”
Golfers looking for an affordable getaway can get two nights’ accommodation and two rounds of golf for $279, starting March 26.
Under the leadership of Peter Smith, the new director of golf, a new golf experience is being created at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort as they continue to invest in the future and refine their amenities. For the last 11 years Smith has been director of golf for Greywolf at Panorama and has also been the head professional and managed The Springs Golf and Country Club in Radium, B.C. In addition he was named Golf Professional of the Year by the BCPGA in 2005.
This year’s golfers will be treated to a new food and beverage experience at the Mountainside and Riverside courses, thanks to a new husband and wife management team. Head Chef Adrian McCormack and his wife Lara are taking the helm at Riverside’s clubhouse, and bring a celebrity flavour to the menu. McCormack apprenticed in the U.K. under renowned celebrity chef and creator of The Food Network, Antony Worrall Thompson, and brings nearly 20 years of experience to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.
Lara is a restaurant management professional with worldwide experience. She has worked in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the U.K., including St. Andrews Links Clubhouse in Scotland, and J. Sheekey’s in London. The duo is teaming up to operate the newly named Dapper’s Landing restaurant at Riverside, The Rockies at Riverside gastro-pub and Mountainside Clubhouse. All of the dining options have been renovated for the new golf season and have new menus created by the McCormacks.
“Our menu philosophy brings you a fresh, seasonal menu created by chefs with a passion to bring simple, flavourful dishes to satisfy all palates.” McCormack says. “We believe in supporting local producers in British Columbia and Alberta to bring the best quality and flavour to the table.”
With three courses, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers 45 holes of golf at its picturesque location on Hwy. 93/95 in the majestic B.C. Rockies, one hour from Cranbrook, B.C. and three hours west of Calgary, Alta.
The Riverside Golf Course is an 18-hole course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. The winding Columbia River creates a natural and peaceful water challenge as fairways roll gently along its sloping banks.
Mountainside Golf Course is an 18-hole par 72 golf course with fairways skirting towering peaks and a view for Columbia Lake. This meticulously maintained mature course was the first 18-hole course to be built in the Columbia Valley.
Creekside, the par 3, nine-hole golf course, is the perfect choice for a family golf experience or those looking to learn the sport, or just brush up on their skills.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of $1.3 billi
New Director at the Columbia Valley's Largest Golf Resort
Peter Smith Moves from Greywolf to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort March 2, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, the largest golf operator in B.C.’s Columbia Valley, is excited to welcome Peter Smith as their new director of golf operations.
Smith will be responsible for golf operations at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s two championship courses, Mountainside and Riverside Golf Courses, and its nine-hole Creekside Golf Course.
“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to stay in the Columbia Valley and to take on the challenge of uniting two championship courses under one banner,” Smith says. “This season will be very busy and we will have several exciting announcements coming up.”
For the last 10 years Smith has been director of golf for Greywolf at Panorama and has also been the head professional and managed The Springs Golf and Country Club in Radium, B.C. In addition he was named Golf Professional of the Year by the BCPGA in 2005.
“This is an exciting step forward for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and we are confident that Peter Smith will continue to help us create more of a good thing here,” Guy Chartier, president of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “With more than 30 years of experience in the golf industry, Peter will be invaluable as we continue to create a B.C. Rockies golf experience like no other,”
With three courses, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort offers 45 holes of golf at its picturesque location on Hwy. 93/95 in the majestic B.C. Rockies, one hour from Cranbrook, B.C. and three hours west of Calgary, Alta.
The Riverside Golf Course is an 18-hole course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. The winding Columbia River creates a natural and peaceful water challenge as fairways roll gently along its sloping banks.
Mountainside Golf Course is an 18-hole par 72 golf course with fairways skirting towering peaks and a view for Columbia Lake. This meticulously maintained mature course was the first 18-hole course to be built in the Columbia Valley.
Creekside, the par 3, nine-hole golf course, is the perfect choice for a family golf experience or those looking to learn the sport, or just brush up on their skills.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of $1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
Dog Sledding, Winter Survival, Dinner in an Igloo: The Ultimate Winter Experience
Fairmont Hot Springs resident naturalists deliver thrilling eco-adventures.February 24, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is pleased to announce the resounding success of its winter eco adventures and wilderness pursuits tour packages. The tours are designed to promote the safe and responsible appreciation of the natural winter wonders in the B.C. Rockies.
The excursions are lead by two naturalists with more than 10 years of combined experience leading wilderness adventures. Andi Dzilums and Jocelyn MacGregor ensure every trek is safe, educational and unforgettable. Some programs are complimentary for guests of the resort while a few programs have a fee attached to them. Accommodation-inclusive “B.C. Rockies Experience” packages are available for couples and families. More information on booking packages can be found at www.fairmonthotsprings.com“
Our certified and experienced wilderness guides have a true passion for the outdoors and they have created a winter B.C. Rockies experience like no other,” says Harrison McKay, marketing manager at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, “People don’t need to be afraid to enjoy winter in British Columbia. We want to give them the chance to learn how to enjoy these activities safely and responsibly.”
The programs at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort are designed to be enjoyable for all ages—young and old alike are fascinated by the natural wonders that exist in this part of Canada. The tours promote eco-tourism by providing responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment. The goal of these programs is to bring travellers and the local community together in a way that will promote the preservation of natural areas for future generations to enjoy.
WINTER SURVIVAL SKILLS What does it take to survive the cold Rocky Mountain Winter? Find out with our survival specialists. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live in the wild – this tour is for you. Build a shelter, start a fire, and find food and water.
DOG SLEDDING Take part in the ultimate Canadian experience. Participants can relax while a guide takes them through mountain forests or the more adventurous can mush their own team. The experience includes views from incredible peaks, lots of snow, and man’s best friend.
DINNER IN AN IGLOO One of the most unique tours offered in Canada includes snowshoe tour, tobogganing, campfire time, dinner and drinks in a real igloo. The menu includes crème of squash soup, homemade bread, BBQ wild salmon, scallop potatoes, vegetables and homemade dessert.
SNOWSHOE FONDUE Two Canadian favourites are combined into one amazing tour. Participants experience a magical journey with Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s resident naturalists through snow covered forests and beautiful views of mountains and the valley. They learn about animal tracks, winter birds, mountain geology and much more. After the trek, a warm pot of chocolate fondue and hot drinks are waiting by the fire.
FAMILY ECO-PLAY Join our naturalists for a short hike to learn about animal tracking then warm up during paddle and rock painting. The morning ends with a family boat race in the hot pools.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI INTRO This instructional ski lesson is the perfect activity for the novice to advanced cross-country skier. Great trails, expert coaching, fun and adventure make this an experience participants will not forget. The ski school is directed by Lyle Wilson who was an Olympic cross-country ski coach for Canada in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Games. Lessons take place on Nipika's professionally groomed 50- kilometre trail system.
SNOWMOBILING Sled from the base of a mountain to its peak, while experiencing powders bowls and incredible views. This tour is ideal for the whole family and caters to any level of experience.
HELI-SKIING It’s a powder dream come true! Take a heli-ski/boarding tour led by some of the world’s best mountain guides to access wide open alpine slopes, scenic glaciers and gladed forests dusted with annual snowfalls of up to 1,100 cm/36 feet.
POWDER SKI DAYS Guests at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort can join weekly ski adventures to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and ski some of the best terrain in big powder. Participants can save some time and rent from Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Ski Hill the day before.
Zeidler Partnership Architects to design Camrose Performing Arts Centre
New arts centre has potential to transform Camrose into festival town
Calgary, February 13, 2009: Zeidler Partnership Architects has been selected to design the University of Alberta's Performing Arts Centre at the Augustana campus in Camrose. The facility will provide performing space for local arts groups, schools and touring groups, as well as for the University. It is slated for completion in late 2010.
“The new performing arts centre could help turn Camrose- a smaller city close to three urban areas- into a festival town like Niagara on the Lake or Tanglewood,” says Steven Carruthers of Zeidler Partnership Architects. “The whole idea of a prairie town having such a facility is as revolutionary as building the Banff School of Fine Arts in the late 1940’s, and look what happened there. It’s the power of an idea that moves people.”
Zeidler is recognized as a world leader in performing arts centre design, with an impressive 80 centres to their credit. “Creating a first-class performing arts facility is one of the most complex architectural undertakings possible, demanding a high level of specialized expertise,” adds Zeidler’s Marilyn Palmer. “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the University of Alberta, the City of Camrose and Camrose County to create a highcalibre facility for Camrose.”
At almost 40,000 square feet, the Camrose Performing Arts Centre will be constructed in two phases. Phase one will feature a 550-seat main theatre and audience chamber. Phase two will add a black box theatre, drama studio and additional support spaces for performances. On completion, the centre will offer a top-quality, flexible performance and arts space. The facility will also conform to LEED Silver standards of sustainability.
Zeidler is known throughout North America for its performing arts centres, including the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the Living Arts Center in Mississauga, the Premier Dance Theatre at the Queen’s Quay Terminal in Toronto, the Kravitz Centre in Florida, and the Long Centre for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas. “Dreyfoos Hall in the Kravis Center provides North America with an opera house truly suitable for the performance of opera." says Brian Dickie, former General Director of the Canadian Opera Company. "I have no doubt at all that Verdi would have been delighted with what has been achieved, and I am now looking forward to hearing the operas of Wagner performed in North America in a suitable building for the first time ever.”
For the Alberta project, Zeidler will engage Halsall Associates as structural engineers, HH Angus and Associates as mechanical and electrical engineers and Focus Corporation as civil engineers. Zeidler’s Victoria office will act as landscape architects.
Zeidler Partnership Architects is an international architectural firm with Canadian offices in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto. The firm is Architect of Record for The Bow, EnCana’s corporate headquarters in Calgary, the largest sustainable commercial project in North America, and the Bison Courtyard in Banff, the first LEED Gold building in a national park.
Nationally the firm’s projects include the design of Vancouver’s iconic Canada Place, Toronto’s Trump Tower, Ontario Place, Eaton Centre and Hospital for Sick Children. For more information about the firm, please visit www.zeidlerpartnership.com.
For more information please contact: Scott Henderson, dHz Media +1.403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca -30-
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
New Photo Contest in the Kootenays has Luxury Vacation up for Grabs
Forgetting Your Camera Could Cost You this Ski Season. February 10, 2009, Kimberley, B.C. – Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa, Kimberley B.C’s only spa resort, is excited to announce the inaugural Spirit of Kimberley Photo Contest.
This two-month contest is now underway and allows amateur and professional photographers alike to take to the outdoors in the heart of the Kootenays to capture the spirit of Kimberley with their cameras. The grand prize for the Spirit of Kimberley Photo Contest is a one week stay at Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa or a 2009/10 season’s pass for Kimberley Alpine Resort. Runner-ups can win ski and snowboard gear among other great prizes.
“We know this is an amazing four-season vacation destination with a host of recreational activities, but we want to see what other people find most special about Kimberley,” says Allyson Hunter, vice president of marketing at Mountain Spirit.
Shutterbugs can enter their photos in three categories: Nature, Adventure and Family. The winning photos and runner-ups will be displayed in the lobby of Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa.
Skiers and boarders heading to Kimberley Alpine Resort this Family Day long weekend should also keep their eyes open for the Mountain Spirit Resort Spa Girls who will on the slopes snapping photos of skiers and providing free souvenir photos of skiing at Kimberley courtesy of Mountain Spirit.
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa features a true ski-in, ski-out location in the serene Purcell Mountains and will feature a 6,000 sq. ft. health and wellness spa, fine dining, year round outdoor heated pool and hot tub and fully furnished suites in the up-and-coming vacation destination of Kimberley, B.C.
Fractional ownership starts at $86,900 and full ownership starts at $382,900, resulting in a wide range of options to match nearly any vacation home buyer’s budget. Everything from studios to three bedroom suites and penthouses are available and a membership in the exclusive home exchange program, Resort to Resort, is included with every purchase.
Kimberley is steadily gaining popularity thanks in part to the expansion of the Canadian Rockies International Airport, which is now accepting Delta Airlines flights from Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a short 20 minute drive from Kimberley.
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa is a boutique spa resort offering ski-in-ski-out condominiums at the Kimberley Alpine Resort. Located in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Mountain Spirit combines a 6,000 square foot spa, great perks and an ideal location to create the ultimate resort experience. Spa-inspired from inception, the resort is located in the heart of Kimberley Alpine Resort and boasts a true ski-in-ski-out location. It will feature a slope-side restaurant and patio, year round outdoor heated pool and is the only resort spa in Kimberley. Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa offers recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation.
About Kimberley, B.C.
Kimberley B.C. is nestled in the Purcell Mountains, overlooking the majestic Rockies in the heart of the Kootenay Region of British Columbia. The mountain town is becoming more popular as an international resort destination as there are now direct flights from Salt Lake City, Calgary and Vancouver. Kimberley’s world class ski resort features 1,800 acres of ski-able terrain, 80 runs, and night skiing with North America’s longest night skiing run.
A small town with a rich mining history, skiing in Kimberley began when a ski club formed in the early 1930s. Kimberley began to transform itself into a tourist destination in the 1970s. The Canadian Rockies International Airport is now completed and is 20 minutes from Kimberley. Construction is also underway on a 350 person conference centre and Paralympics training centre at Kimberley Alpine Resort.
First of its Kind Learn-to-Ski Package Offers Skiing, Soaking and Sweetness
Fairmont Hot Springs caters to families by combining ski lessons with snowshoe fondue
January 27, 2009, Fairmont, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is excited to launch the first Family Learn to Ski Package that combines ski lessons, a snowshoe chocolate fondue and soaking in its natural mineral hot springs. Guests can enjoy a family adventure including accommodation, lessons, lift passes, equipment rentals and passes to its natural mineral hot springs. This package is perfect for a family of four (two adults and two youth or children) that is new to skiing or boarding and wants to enjoy a worry-free learning experience.
The package includes two nights accommodation for four (in a standard two-queen-bed room), lessons on two mornings, lift passes for two days, equipment rentals for two days, a free continental breakfast and optional snowshoe fondue (starting at $670). Access to the swimming pools and the exclusive guest pools complex, featuring steam room, sauna, hot and cold plunge pools, and private outdoor hot mineral pool are also included.
“Learning to ski shouldn’t be a financial burden for families,” Harrison McKay, marketing manager at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, says. “We’re working to make a B.C. Rockies experience that is accessible to families and provides a sweet experience they’ll never forget.”
With a total of 13 groomed runs, ranging from green to blue in skill level, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is the perfect place for novice skiers to hone their skills. The intimidation factor is removed and friendly ski school staff makes taking to the slopes an exciting and rewarding experience for youngsters of all ages. Parents can either join their children on the ski hill, or relax in the comfortable lodge while keeping a watchful eye on their kids—as all runs funnel into view of the chalet.
After a morning ski lesson, guests have the option of switching gears and participating in an afternoon snowshoe fondue while hitting the slopes again the next day for another lesson. Fondue participants will experience a magical journey with Fairmont Hot Springs Resort’s resident naturalist through snow covered forests with beautiful views of the mountains and the valley. They learn about animal tracks, winter birds, mountain geology and much more. After the trek, a warm pot of chocolate fondue and hot drinks are waiting by the fire. As this is an optional activity families are charged an extra nominal fee of $40 for adults and $20 for children.
The Fairmont Hot Springs Ski School has a wide array of skiing and snowboarding programs for all ages. Its Ski School staff is certified by the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance and in addition to beginner lessons, the Ski School offers a variety of programs to develop skills and increase confidence. Next Step for skiers and snowboarders builds skills required for green and blue runs and the Confidence Club provides the skills for tackling black runs. The Kids Adventure Club provides instruction and games to keep kids entertained.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of $1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
Resort Spa in Kimberley Responds to Changing Market with Try Before You Buy
January 27, 2009, Kimberley, B.C. – Vacation home buyers are finding peace of mind this year at Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa. The only resort spa in Kimberley, B.C. is responding to the changing market by giving prospective buyers the chance to try before they buy and experience the best of what the Kootenay region has to offer.
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa is the latest destination for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation in the Kootenay region and it is meeting the needs of today’s recreation property buyer with “ready right now” spa-inspired, ski-in and ski-out resort condominiums. Mountain Spirit is opening the doors of its first phase in February to allow buyers to ensure the right fit.
“Many purchases in the recreation property market are made before the project even breaks ground. Mountain Spirit is ready right now and we want buyers to be confident in their purchase decision.” Allyson Hunter, vice president of marketing at Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa, says. “Most purchasers wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it first and we feel the same way about our suites.”
Nine suites will be available starting March 1 for a nominal fee for a maximum of two nights for the perfect weekend getaway at the luxury resort at the base of Kimberley Alpine Resort. Availability is limited and those interested in arranging a Try Before You Buy suite should contact Allyson Hunter at 1-877-427-7330 or email allyson@mountainspiritresortandspa.com
“We can tell people that a ski-in, ski-out location is ideal, but until they see that the first step out the door is into their skis, they don’t realize how convenient it really is. After that you can’t imagine staying anywhere else.” Hunter says.
Fractional ownership starts at $86,900 and full ownership starts at $382,900, resulting in a wide range of options to match nearly any vacation home buyer’s budget. Everything from studios to three bedroom suites and penthouses are available and a membership in the exclusive home exchange program, Resort to Resort, is included with every purchase.
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa features a true ski-in, ski-out location in the serene Purcell Mountains, and will feature a 6,000 sq. ft. health and wellness spa, fine dining, year round outdoor heated pool and hot tub and fully furnished suites in the up-and-coming vacation destination of Kimberley, B.C.
Its resort spa will tap into the emerging spa tourist market. The Canadian Tourism Commission has reported that the spa tourist is a consumer segment that has yet to come even close to reaching its full potential in Canada. (Source: Canadian Tourism Commission (“CTC”) 2006 Canadian Spa Sector Profile).
Kimberley is steadily gaining popularity thanks in part to the expansion of the Canadian Rockies International Airport, which is now accepting Delta Airlines flights from Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a short 20 minute drive from Kimberley.
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa is a boutique spa resort offering ski-in-ski-out condominiums at the Kimberley Alpine Resort. Located in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Mountain Spirit combines a 6,000 square foot spa, great perks and an ideal location to create the ultimate resort experience. Spa-inspired from inception, the resort is located in the heart of Kimberley Alpine Resort and boasts a true ski-in-ski-out location. It will feature a slope-side restaurant and patio, year round outdoor heated pool and is the only resort spa in Kimberley. Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa offers recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation.
St. Nick Launches 8 Days of Christmas with Family Fun at Fairmont Hot Springs
What Would You Do After a Night of Delivering Presents? Santa Skis and Soaks
Monday, December 15, 2008
Half Off for Half Pints as Fairmont Hot Springs Ski Hill Opens
December 19 is opening day with half price skiing, tons of prizes and free hot soak with every lift ticket December 15 2008, Fairmont, B.C. - Fairmont Hot Springs Resort announced today that December 19, 2008 will be the official opening of the 2008-2009 season at its family ski resort. The day will kick off with half-price skiing for all and tons of prizes and giveaways.
Best of all, each lift ticket is also good for complimentary admission to the natural mineral hot pools.
This kick off offer is only the beginning of what will be a value-filled season for families at Fairmont Hot Springs. Ski area lift tickets for adults are reasonably priced at $40, kids under the age of five ski for free, children six to twelve pay only $24 and a youth ticket is $30. (Save 50% off these prices for opening day). Throughout the entire season lift tickets are good for admission to the natural mineral hot pools.
Fairmont Hot Springs has the largest therapeutic mineral hot springs in Canada; it is a unique amenity not found at any other ski resort in the area. After a day on the slopes skiers can warm up in the hot springs without leaving the comfort and convenience of the resort. With free skiing for the kids, affordable family lift tickets and free admission into the hot springs, Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is the one of the most affordable ski getaways in the Canadian Rockies for families.
The family learn to ski package is $640 for two nights accommodation and includes two days of morning ski/ board lessons for the entire family with two days of equipment rentals. Harrison McKay, marketing manager for the resort says, "Family fun is number one at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. Not only do we have on-hill winter fun, there are numerous activities through our Eco Adventure Program that are designed to educate, inspire and offer loads of fun for the whole family.”
With a total of 13 groomed runs, ranging from green to blue in skill level, the resort is the perfect place for family and novice skiers to hone their skills. The intimidation factor is removed and friendly ski school staff makes taking to the slopes an exciting and rewarding experience for youngsters of all ages. Parents can either join their children on the ski hill, or relax by the fire in the warmth and comfort of the Lodge while keeping a watchful eye on their kids—as all runs funnel into view of the chalet.
The Kids Adventure Club operates under the philosophy that children learn best with others. In addition to group or individual beginner lessons, the resort offers a variety of programs to help develop skills and increase confidence. The Kids Adventure Club provides both instruction and games to keep kids entertained for hours on end. The Fairmont Hot Springs Ski School has a wide array of skiing and snowboarding programs for all ages operated by certified Canadian Ski Alliance Instructors.
One of the main advantages of a stay at Fairmont Hot Springs is its central location. The resort is within easy driving distance of Kimberley, Panorama, Fernie and Kicking Horse ski resorts. The confidence gained at the Fairmont Hot Springs family ski resort can quickly be transferred to other hills for young and old alike. To take advantage of excellent value room packages and lift tickets at Fairmont Hot Springs phone 1.800.663.4979.
About Fairmont Hot springs (www.fairmonthotsprings.com) In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of 1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
Resort Spa Opens as Delta Offers International Connection to the Kootenays
Spa-inspired ski-in/ski-out Resort Spa targets untapped and growing spa tourism market December 11, 2008, Kimberley, BC - On December 17, 2008, Delta Airlines will start its direct flight service from Salt Lake City to the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook and minutes from Kimberley Alpine Resort.
As one of the USA’s major airlines markets its newest four season resort destination in the Canada, Kimberley’s only resort spa is opening and targeting a growing number of spa tourists and recreational home buyers.
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa is the latest destination for recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation in the Kootenay region and it is meeting the needs of today’s recreation property buyer with “ready right now” spa-inspired, ski-in and ski-out resort condominiums. Its resort spa will tap into the emerging spa tourist market. The Canadian Tourism Commission has reported that the spa tourist is a consumer segment that has yet to come even close to reaching its full potential in Canada. (Source: Canadian Tourism Commission (“CTC”) 2006 Canadian Spa Sector Profile).
“Along with a world class ski resort, championship golf, and incredible recreational options, the Resort Spa at Mountain Spirit adds another reason for visitors to come to Mountain Spirit and Kimberley. Boasting the only resort spa in Kimberley, Mountain Spirit adds value for the home buyer looking to offset some of the costs of owning a vacation property through the professionally managed rental pool.” says Allyson Hunter, vice president of sales and marketing at Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa.
With a true ski-in, ski-out location, the Resort Spa will feature, a 6,000 sq. ft. spa and wellness centre, fine dining, year round outdoor heated pool and hot tub and fully furnished suites, Mountain Spirit is taking the guesswork out of purchasing a vacation home.
“Today’s buyer isn’t looking for the uncertainty of a three, five or 10 year build-out,” Hunter says. “They want to know the property they are investing in is going to follow through on its promises. We are highlighting the vacation suites that are ready right now to remind buyers that they can be using their suites this ski season.”
With fractional ownership starting at $86,900 and full ownership starting at $382,900, Mountain Spirit has a wide range of options available to match nearly any vacation home buyer’s budget. Everything from studios to three bedroom suites and penthouses are available and a membership in the exclusive home exchange program, Resort to Resort, is included with every purchase.
“Mountain Spirit offers great perks. With a Resort to Resort membership you can literally ski incredible Kimberley powder one weekend and tan on the beaches of the Bahamas the next,” Hunter says.
Buyers are offered the chance to own in a secure property in one of British Columbia’s up-and-coming destinations. Kimberley, B.C. is gaining in popularity with travellers from all over the world, thanks in part to the expansion of the Canadian Rockies International Airport, which will now accept flights from Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a short 20 minute drive from Kimberley.
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa is a boutique resort spa offering ski-in-ski-out condominiums at the Kimberley Alpine Resort. Located in the heart of the Kootenay region of British Columbia, Mountain Spirit combines a 6,000 square foot spa, great perks and an ideal location to create the ultimate resort experience. Spa-inspired from inception, the resort is located in the heart of Kimberley Alpine Resort and boasts a true ski-in-ski-out location. It will feature a slope-side restaurant and patio, year round outdoor heated pool and is the only resort spa in Kimberley. Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa offers recreation, relaxation and rejuvenation.
Zeidler Architects Add $1 Million to Bottom Line as New Mountain Resort Opens
December 11, 2008, Canmore, Alta. – Innovative design by Zeidler Partnership Architects has led to the overwhelming success of Silver Creek Lodge in Canmore, Alberta both from a design perspective, but also from a business perspective. With Zeidler maximizing available space and presenting concepts that fit seamlessly with the Town of Canmore design guidelines, the developer, Rockey Resorts Inc., was bonused 2100 square feet of profitable space, resulting in an estimated $1 million increase in saleable square footage for the condo hotel development.
Silver Creek Lodge is a Zen-inspired resort and spa designed by Stephen Carruthers and Tomasz Sztuk of Zeidler’s Calgary office. Zeidler Partnership Architects have done several mountain architectural restoration projects for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, and architectural motifs for Silver Creek were inspired by the works of legendary mountain architect Francis Rattenbury, who provided design concepts for the Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise at the turn of the 20th century.
“Too often we are viewed as a purely artistic faction of a development,” Stephen Carruthers, managing partner at Zeidler, says. “This is an example of how we can bridge the gap between design and the business goals of a project. But it requires innovative thinking and careful cooperation with the community.”
A combination of thoughtful planning and working with the Town of Canmore achieved the windfall. After presenting design concepts that fit the town’s vision, a discretionary floor area ratio allowance was granted to the developer of Silver Creek Lodge and more saleable square footage was added to the building.
Greg Gutek, president of Rockey Resorts Inc. and developer of Silver Creek Lodge says, “Zeidler delivered on two fronts: Silver Creek Lodge looks great and blends perfectly with the incredible mountain scenery offered by Canmore and their creativity added real value to our bottom line.”
Using a visually impressive, yet practical roof design, Sztuk and Carruthers created a functional space within the roofline of Silver Creek Lodge. This allowed the remaining structure to be effectively utilized for revenue generating suites and amenities.
“Many designers wouldn’t try to utilize roof space, particularly with building codes that limit their size, but we got creative and designed a space that met the criteria of the town, while also serving a purpose for the resort,” Carruthers says. “This shows how superior architectural design not only makes a building stand out, but is also an effective strategy to realize the full value of a project.”
Silver Creek was designed to project the Rocky Mountain aesthetic, which intimately ties it to its stunning location in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. The resulting architectural landmark provides a peaceful oasis for 75 luxury suites, fine dining and a rejuvenating spa.
Not only did the Silver Creek Lodge design impress the Town of Canmore, but it attracted high-profile restaurateurs to the mountain town. Witold Twardowski, whose past projects include Mescalero, Cilantro, and the River Café in downtown Calgary and The Ranche in Fish Creek Provincial Park, and who presently owns and operates The Reader’s Garden Café & Restaurant at the Lougheed House and The Mackay Place in Millerville, has collaborated with renowned sushi chef Tomo Mitsumo, to create The Wild Orchid Asian Bistro & Lounge, which opened on December 5th in Silver Creek Lodge.
Chef Mitsumo has spent more than half his life learning the intricate art of fine Japanese cuisine. Having studied and apprenticed in Osaka, Japan, Tomo came to Calgary in 2002 and has garnered a loyal following. His recent creation, “Blowfish” on 11th Avenue in downtown Calgary, is considered one of the most progressive Sushi restaurants in Alberta.
Located one hour away from Calgary, Alta., Silver Creek Lodge is a fusion of sound, texture, warmth and tranquility, brought into balance by the power and beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Inspired by Zen tradition, to bring attention, reverence and harmony to all things, Silver Creek Lodge offers a unique environment with all the comforts of a cosmopolitan lifestyle in 75 luxurious and unique condo suites.
About Zeidler Partnership Architects http://www.zrpa.com Zeidler Partnership Architects have been creating innovative designs that change the face of cities around the world since the 1880s. Current clients include Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, the Encana Bow Building in Calgary and Trump Towers in Toronto. Zeidler has established itself as the premier architectural firm in Canada and has gained worldwide accolades. Zeidler builds solid relationships with clients and the communities in which they design. Quality is the hallmark of a Zeidler-designed building and a dedication to the economic goals of a project drives them to create landmarks that are not only efficient uses of available space, but are completed on time and on budget. With 220 people worldwide and eight offices in Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, West Palm Beach, London, Berlin, and Beijing. Zeidler offers worldwide expertise with local application. It offers service for projects of nearly every scale, while maintaining local attention to detail. The result is an investment in quality design that evokes positive emotional responses from both users and the public at large. -30-
Friday, October 17, 2008
Canada's 1st Eco-Home Interpretive Centre Launched with Innovative Eco Homes
Established Developer Moves into Moderation with Innovative 'One Door.One Floor' Offer
October 22, 2008, Kelowna, B.C. – The Rykon Group, a visionary developer of communities known for their creativity and master planning, is eager to stimulate confidence in the real estate market with a bold decision to introduce a limited selection of one level townhomes at an astonishing sale price of $269,900 in its popular Sonoma Pines community.
"There is currently a lot of inventory in the Okanagan real estate market," states Adrian Block, CEO and president of The Rykon Group. "Yet buyers who are embracing the wait and see approach to snap up bargains may be disappointed." Block is familiar with recent sales analysis provided by the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB). The prices of townhomes are up 12.22% from the same time last year. Median prices for townhomes are currently $395,000 compared to $352,000 in 2007. And year-to-date averages and median residential prices in the Central Okanagan are statistically reflecting single digit increases that confirm positive growth.*
With Block's many years of experience in the development business with Rykon, he understands the importance of leading the market rather than following it. "As developers, we've enjoyed tremendous success in the Okanagan's growth in the past several years. Now that the market is beginning to moderate, we are ready to react proportionately with a product and a price point that buyers can feel confident in purchasing right now. This is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of the new economy by making wise investments in an established community like Sonoma Pines."
Only a select number of townhomes are being released in this phase. Two distinct floor plans are available offering approximately 1100 sq. ft of spacious living. The two bedroom, two bathroom interiors are efficiently designed and depending on the unit location, new homeowners will be able to choose between the scenic views of the Two Eagles 14th fairway, Mission Hill Winery and, Okanagan Lake.
"The Westside is rapidly growing," admits Block. "And finding affordable homes so near to the city centre is only going to get more difficult as land is swallowed up by commercial, retail, and higher density developments. Our residents love living at Sonoma Pines and I feel confident that those who invest in this offering now will also find tremendous satisfaction in their decision."
Sonoma Pines has undergone conscientious growth since its inception in 2004. Over 225 Santa Fe style homes and townhomes enjoy the convenience of living on a golf course and directly behind Governor's Landing, one of several new retail centre's of the Westside's expanding shopping district. "This is a one door, one floor concept," explains Block. "Where else can you step outside your front door and wash your car, take a bike ride or walk your dog or in a city-centric golf community for $269,900?"
Director of Sales, Shane Styles is excited about the response from residents and real estate professionals in the Sales Office. "People are clearly interested in making wise investments in real estate right now either for their retirement, vacation home or first home buyers." Rykon has offered sales details in advance throughout their extensive client list and the results are extremely positive.
"Inventory is limited," cautions Styles. "This is a rare opportunity to purchase a home in an existing community that is so near to everything that going out for dinner or picking up groceries doesn't have to be a planned event or a glug at the gas pumps."
"Sonoma Pines is one of the Westside’s best kept secrets," states Styles. "Living in this setting is beautiful and virtually maintenance free. Pets are welcome too."
*Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board Statistics (www.omreb.com)
The Rykon Group, a visionary developer of communities renowned for their creativity and master planning and is based in Vancouver and Kelowna. It has built projects in Western Canada and the United States for more than two decades. Rykon is locally known for Manteo Waterfront Resort, Kelowna’s finest waterfront resort, South Bay Landing, an elegant lakefront community in the lower Mission, Sommerville Corner in the Mission and is currently under construction with Invue, a 12-storey luxury condominium project near Orchard Park Mall, as well as, MORE MANTEO a unique waterfront real estate opportunity that is currently a development plan under application with the City of Kelowna. In the lower mainland, Rykon has successfully completed: Sussex House, a luxury condominium in White Rock, NEWS and NEWS North in New Westminster the award winning Monterra in Tsawwassen.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Sip and Soak Wine Package - Fairmont Hot Springs Hosts Wine Festival
Guests Choose Winners for the 7th Annual East Kootenay Wine Festival
October 7, 2008, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. - Fairmont Hot Springs Resort (FHSR) is offering guests the chance to sip and soak as it hosts the much anticipated 7th Annual East Kootenay Wine Festival on November 8th.
At least 14 B.C. wineries, including Mission Hill, Jackson Triggs, Gerringer Brothers and Burrowing Owl, will take part in the festival that draws visitors from all over B.C. and Alberta. Fairmont Hot Springs is putting a twist on this year’s festival by giving guests the opportunity to judge the wines.
Those who take part in the Wine Festival and Accommodation Package will be trained in the art of wine tasting before conducting their own blind taste tests to determine the winners. Categories include red, white, rose and dessert wines.
"This is the premier fall event in the B.C. Rockies region and we are very excited to be hosting it," Harrison McKay, marketing manager at FHSR, says. "People have been looking forward to this since early summer."
The festival will be held on Saturday, November 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.at the Lodge at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. FHSR is offering a wine festival package to give guests a complete wine tasting experience for $415 per couple.
The Wine Festival and Accommodation Package includes:
• Two nights’ accommodation for two in a standard room
• Admission to the Wine Festival on Saturday, November 8th
• A wine-paired gourmet dinner in the Mountain Flowers Dining Room on November 7th. Last year's winning winery will present and discuss wines during dinner
• On November 8th from there will be a tutorial on how to taste wines, followed by a blind taste test for each category.
The cost of the Wine Festival itself is $35 per person, including wine and snacks. Tickets are available by calling 1.800.663.4979 or 250.345.6000. There will also be a variety of door prizes that will include Fairmont Hot Springs Resort vacation packages.
"It's an opportunity for those who don’t necessarily know a lot about wine to learn with some of British Columbia’s finest wines and then go on to apply their skills in choosing a winner," McKay says. "It's a great challenge for both the tasters and the wineries."
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of 1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Canada's 1st Eco-Home Interpretive Centre Launched with Innovative Eco Homes
Alberta home builder debuts Canada’s most comprehensive and flexible green home building program
September 24, 2008, Calgary, A.B. – Lifestyle Homes, an innovative builder of quality homes, announced today the opening of the Elements Eco Home Interpretive Centre. The Centre is Canada’s first eco-home building interpretive centre and was built to launch Elements – the most comprehensive and flexible green home building program in the country.
The Centre will be open to the public on September 27 and it showcases the latest technology and trends in sustainable home building. It has been designed to educate home buyers and visitors can browse the interactive displays that explain the features and benefits of everything from high-tech geothermal and grey water systems, to alternative insulation and clay wall coverings.
“At the moment, we need to educate home buyers on the environmental options available to them. That is the primary function of the Interpretative Centre,” John Groothius, vice president of operations at Lifestyle Homes, says. “The Interpretive Centre will show people what can be done and it demonstrates the future of green home building. Making green home building accessible for the average person is the challenge right now - but it’s a challenge we’ve met with Elements.”
The Eco Home Interpretative Centre has been built by Lifestyle Homes in front of two of its Elements homes. Elements is a new green home building program being launched by Lifestyle Homes. With standards that exceed those of the Canadian Built Green certification program and a package approach that is scalable depending on the home buyers’ budget, Elements is the most comprehensive and flexible environmentally sustainable home building program in Canada.
Using the latest environmentally sustainable technologies and home building practices, Elements creates eco-friendly living without sacrificing style and design.
Photo Caption... Photo Caption... Photo Caption
The Elements Eco Home Interpretive Centre is Canada’s first eco-home building interpretive centre. It has been built into two show homes and is designed to educate home buyers. Visitors can browse the interactive displays that explain the latest technology and trends in environmentally sustainable home building.
“We’re proud to be taking a big step forward in providing environmentally sustainable homes in a flexible and comprehensive manner that will encourage more people to adopt green home building practices,” Groothius says, “The Interpretive Centre and Elements will show home buyers what options are available.”
The Elements home building program has four packages based on each element: Water, Air, Earth and Energy. Water provides a practical approach for using less water in the home and includes everything from insulating hot water lines to rain barrel conversion kits to grey water systems. Improved air quality is the focus of Air, which provides UV light treatment in the ductwork to kill bacteria, built-in HEPA filters in the ventilation system and a sensor-controlled garage fan that removes harmful vehicle emissions.
The Earth package revolves around reducing the use of natural resources. This includes insulation made from recycled products, carpets composed of recycled materials and building practices that result in only two pounds of waste per square foot of developed space for each Elements home. Energy is focused on reducing energy consumption in the home and offers everything from motion detectors to automatically switch off lights to geothermal heating and cooling systems.
To be accessible to all home buyers each component offers three different levels of packages to fit all budgets.
More information on Elements is available at the Online Media Centre for Lifestyle Homes located here: http://dhzmedia.ca/page863.htm
Elements also looks beyond the home and outside the Interpretive Centre there is an example of a Xeriscaping, a water conscious form of landscaping not widely used in Alberta. The Elements Interpretive Centre is one of the few places to see Xeriscaping in action in Alberta.
The two Elements homes constructed as part of the Interpretive Centre incorporate features from the sustainable home building program. The first home utilizes the features in the Earth package including alternative insulation made from recycled materials, recycled interior paints, and carpet produced from recycled pop cans - all without compromising on luxury and style.
The second house showcases items from Element’s “Air” package to produce a home that provides a clean and healthy environment. HEPA filters and UV light treatment keeps allergens and bacteria out of the air and low to no volatile organic compounds (VOC) are used in paints, glues and floor coverings. Visitors can tour the homes and see the technology in action after visiting the interactive interpretive centre.
Town of Okotoks Mayor Bill McAlpine says, “As a leader in sustainable development, the Town of Okotoks is making broad and comprehensive choices that recognize a strong reciprocal relationship between the environment and community development. Lifestyles Elements Eco-homes is an impressive illustration of how innovation and responsible environmental stewardship can benefit our community. On behalf of the Town, I would like to thank Lifestyle Homes for bringing this project to Okotoks.”
The Elements Eco Home Interpretive Centre is open to the public on September 27 and is free of charge.
ENVIRONMENTAL HOME BUILDING FACTS
The Elements Energy package provides the option for Geothermal heating and cooling systems
Geothermal systems are more than three times as efficient as traditional furnaces
Installing a geothermal heating system in a typical home is the environmental equivalent of planting 750 trees, or taking two cars off the road
Elements uses cellulose insulation which is made of 80 per cent recycled newsprint. The fibre is chemically treated with non-toxic borate compounds to resist fire, insects and mould
If all new homes in North America were insulated with cellulose more than 3.2 million tons of newsprint would be kept out of landfills
The Elements Air package combines HEPA air filters and UV light treatment
A study by the Air & Waste Management Association found the combination of a HEPA air filter and UV light treatment reduced bacteria by 80 per cent in a 3,072 cubic foot chamber
Buyers of a Lifestyle home can choose an option that provides a Xeriscaping consultation
Xeriscaping can lead to water savings of 30 to 80 per cent over traditional landscaping Elements utilizes environmentally sustainable interior design techniques throughout the home including recycled paints and reclaimed hardwood floors
Lifestyle Homes is an innovative builder of quality homes. For 10 years, under the direction of principal Ron Bird, they have built luxury homes with family friendly prices. Never compromising on quality, Lifestyle Homes has received the Golden Hammer Award from the Alberta New Home Warranty Program for never having an unresolved issue with a home buyer in 10 years. Its attention to detail and commitment to offering homeowners the very best continues with the new Elements eco homebuilding program.
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Monday, September 15, 2008
Hot Springs Season Heats Up Due to Health Benefits of Hot Pool Soaking
Natural Mineral Hot Springs at Fairmont Hot Springs Key to Health and Wellness Experience
September 15, 2008, FAIRMONT, B.C. – No more concerns about sunburns on the beach as fall at Fairmont Hot Springs means relaxation and rejuvenation without health risks. In fact immersing yourself in the mineral hot springs pools at the four-season resort and spa can actually improve your health.
Recent studies have shown a variety of health benefits can be expected from soothing soaks in natural hot springs and combining a hot mineral water soak with spa treatments is good for arthritis, heart health, and insomnia – as well as being a completely rejuvenating experience.
“That’s what makes us stand out.” Holly Brockmeyer, the spa manager at Fairmont Hot Springs, says. “We have therapeutic natural hot springs that enhance all of the treatments we offer.”
Brockmeyer says a hot soak improves the effectiveness of spa treatments, such as massage, by increasing blood flow and loosening tense muscle. She recommends arriving for appointments an hour early in order to enjoy this added amenity that improves the treatments provided at the spa.
The four season resort is undergoing a $1 billion expansion over the next 15 years. It has released a new neighborhood of home sites within walking distance of the mineral hot springs and it offers extensive spa treatments for guests and home owners in the Lodge.
“Visitors and home owners alike have taken full advantage of the natural mineral hot springs for decades,” says Harrison McKay, marketing manager for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, “Whether you are coming for a weekend or for a lifetime, the hot springs offer something very unique.”
Soaking in mineral hot springs has also been found to alleviate the symptoms of other ailments and may also play a role in preventative medicine.
The Arthritis Foundation in the U.S. published findings about the benefits of hot water dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow to hands, feet and the lower back, soothing the symptoms of arthritis. Another Israeli study published in 2001 found that soaking in hot springs containing sulphur improved the quality of life for those living with fibromyalgia.
The New England Journal of Medicine published studies that found repeated hydrotherapy treatments were beneficial to heart health in several ways. Improvements were reported in patients with cardiovascular diseases including diabetes. Many doctors were reported as saying hydrotherapy had potential to help prevent heart disease, particularly if it’s combined with proper diet and exercise.
The National Sleep Foundation in the U.S. also found that immersing yourself in hot water forces the body to cool itself by drawing blood away from the head and into the muscles and organs, alleviating insomnia. One study from the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine even found that hot soaks acted as an effective appetite suppressant, speeding weight loss.
While not common in Canada, hot springs therapy, or balneology, is a part of routine medical care in Europe and Japan. In Japan, nine different classes of hot springs have been established to help doctors target specific ailments. For example, calcium and sodium bicarbonate is said to improve circulation while Japanese doctors prescribe pools high in sulphur to relieve nasal congestion.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of 1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thanks to NONA - James Bridger will go to school in Vernon
Four year old with neurological difficulties benefits from local charity
August 14, 2008, Vernon, B.C. – When James Bridger was two his parents, Claire and Richard, instinctively knew something was wrong. Although there was no diagnosis, James was failing to meet first year milestones with his communication, gross motor skills and social skills. His parents were beginning to fear that he would require extended special support or even special support for life.
James is now four years old and despite experiencing delays in the development of his motor skills and social and communication skills, James will be attending kindergarten this year with his peers. For this, the Bridger’s can thank local charity, the NONA Child Development Centre.
With help from NONA and its child development programs, James and his family received the much needed support to help him with his developmental disabilities. Claire and Richard’s fear began to erase when James started the infant development program, to provide him with early social and communication skills, and they attended a course for parents to help with infant communication skills.
As James began to develop his skills, he then started NONA’s music therapy program. “It stimulated his desire to participate and communicate through song and games”, Claire explained. “Later he started regular speech therapy, and from a vocabulary of just a few words his verbal skills are now normal for his age”.
With regular physical and occupational therapy from NONA, James is able to participate in normal four year old activities with the friends he has made in his playgroup. He has even developed enough to attend kindergarten this September.
NONA helps local Okanagan children like James every day. This is why The Rise has made it the beneficiary of the Third Annual Moonlight Serenade Gala.
“We’re thankful to be the beneficiary for this year’s gala at The Rise. The funds raised during this event will go directly towards improving the lives of special needs children and their families.” Helen Armstrong, Executive Director NONA Child Development Centre, says.
The Moonlight Serenade Charity Gala is being held at the exclusive Watermark neighbourhood at The Rise and will begin with a champagne reception at 5 p.m. followed by a three-course dinner prepared by local caterer Gourmet to Go and accompanied by a selection of fine wines. After the meal a live and silent auction will be hosted by renowned local auctioneer and world champion Rod Burnett. Guests at the gala will then be treated to a blast from the past from the “Timebenders.” The band will take a musical trip through the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s with memorable tunes from Elton John, Abba, Madonna and many more.
“NONA makes such a difference in the lives of special needs families in the Okanagan and we want to contribute to their efforts,” Leona Snider, president and CEO of The Rise, says. “The Rise is pleased to help local charities and we know Vernon will support this wonder cause with their hearts and wallets. With great prizes to bid on at the Gala auction we are sure we will be able to raise a significant contribution to NONA.”
Tickets and opportunities to contribute auction items are available by contacting Karen Beaubier at (250) 542-5111 or 1-866-400-8488.
Event: Third Annual Moonlight Serenade Charity Gala Charity: North Okanagan Neurological Association (NONA) Date: August 23, 2008 Time: 5 p.m.
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, the Okanagan’s signature resort community. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and will feature a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, hotel and village centre, and Western Canada’s only Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
The Third Annual Charity Gala at The Rise Attracts Big Ticket Auction Items
July 28, 2008, Vernon, B.C. – The Rise, the Okanagan’s signature resort community, unveiled its big-ticket auction items today for the Third Annual Moonlight Serenade Gala for Charity and would like to thank local businesses for their overwhelming support. The gala is being held on August 23 to benefit the North Okanagan Neurological Association.
A wide variety of items have been put forward including works of art from local artists Doug Alcock and Patricia Lawton. Bidders will find everything from luxury all-weather patio furniture from Beachcomber Home Leisure Ltd., to must-have sports memorabilia, including an autographed photo of Tiger Woods and autographed jerseys from NHL stars Wayne Gretzky, Trevor Linden and Sidney Crosby, provided by West Coast Authentic.
The Golf Club at The Rise is also contributing to the list with a round for four on the Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, a nine-hole golf lesson and a chef-catered dinner for four at the Golf Club. CHBC will also auction off a round of golf with weathercaster Mike Roberts.
The Cellars at The Rise is donating three bottles of rare ice wine valued at $90 per bottle. But whether it’s jewellery or a gym membership, area businesses have ensured guests at the gala will have plenty to choose from.
“The business community in Vernon and the surrounding area has really rallied around this cause and are contributing to make this year’s gala the most successful one yet,” Leona Snider, president and CEO of The Rise, says.
Along with auction items, businesses have also sponsored the event itself, contributing to the food and entertainment for the evening.
“It’s a great opportunity to give back to the community during what has become the premier event of the summer here in Vernon,” Mark Budgen, a partner at Monashee Surveying and Geomatics, says of his company’s decision to sponsor the wine entrée for the gala.
Funds raised during the auctions will go to benefit the North Okanagan Neurological Association (NONA). For more than 33 years NONA has been providing specialized programs such as music therapy and physio-occupational therapy to more than 400 children a year in the North Okanagan. Their mission is to strengthen the abilities of children with special needs and enhance opportunities for them to participate in their community.
The must-attend event is being held at the exclusive Watermark neighbourhood at The Rise and will begin with a champagne reception at 5 p.m. followed by a three-course dinner, prepared by local caterer Gourmet to Go and accompanied by a selection of fine wines. After the meal a live and silent auction will be hosted by renowned local auctioneer Don Raffan. Guests at the gala will then be treated to a blast from the past from the “Timebenders.” The band will take a musical trip through the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s with memorable tunes from Elton John, Abba, Madonna and many more.
Tickets for the black-tie gala are $199 including tax and if previous years are any indication, a sell out can be expected.
Tickets and opportunities to contribute auction items are available by contacting Karen Beaubier at (250) 542-5111 or 1-866-400-8488.
Event: Third Annual Moonlight Serenade Charity Gala Charity: North Okanagan Neurological Association (NONA) Date: August 23, 2008 Time: 5 p.m.
For home buyers, The Rise has a wide variety of home site options available. Clearview—the first neighbourhood to be released—is now sold out, but four model homes are available for purchase. Home sites are still available in the neighbourhood of Sagecroft, which boasts beautiful lake views and backs on to a nature preserve. The exclusive, quiet and secluded neighbourhood of Watermark with its infinity edge to Okanagan Lake also has a few home sites still available.
The vineyard neighbourhood of Belago was just released this month and is the last phase of single-family home sites on the sunny south facing slope. Belago features large backyards with room for a pool along with stunning lake views and a chance to live among the vines.
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, the Okanagan’s signature resort community. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and will feature a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, hotel and village centre, and Western Canada’s only Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
Okanagan Families to Benefit from Annual Moonlight Gala for Charity at The Rise
Silent and Live Auction to Benefit the North Okanagan Neurological Association
July 15, 2008, Vernon, B.C. – The Rise, the Okanagan’s signature resort community, announced today that the Third Annual Moonlight Serenade Gala for Charity will be held on August 23 to benefit the North Okanagan Neurological Association.
Funds raised during the auctions will go to benefit the North Okanagan Neurological Association (NONA). For more than 33 years NONA has been providing specialized programs such as music therapy and physio-occupational therapy to more than 400 children a year in the North Okanagan. Their mission is to strengthen the abilities of children with special needs and enhance opportunities for them to participate in their community.
“We’re so pleased to be chosen by The Rise as the beneficiary for this year’s gala at The Rise. The funds raised during this event will go directly towards improving the lives of children with special needs and their families in the Okanagan community,” Helen Armstrong, Executive Director NONA Child Development Centre, says.
The must-attend event is being held at the exclusive Watermark neighbourhood at The Rise and will begin with a champagne reception at 5 p.m. followed by a three-course dinner, prepared by local caterer Gourmet to Go and accompanied by a selection of fine wines. After the meal a live and silent auction will be hosted by renowned local auctioneer Don Raffan. Guests at the gala will then be treated to a blast from the past from the “Timebenders.” The band will take a musical trip through the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s with memorable tunes from Elton John, Abba, Madonna and many more.
“We are very excited to partner with NONA this year for our Third Annual Moonlight Serenade Gala. Their work is making such a difference in the lives of families throughout the Okanagan and we want to contribute to their efforts,” Leona Snider, president and CEO of The Rise, says. “This event has been such a success for the past two years and we have no doubt the community will work with us again to support this cause with the same high level of enthusiasm.”
Tickets for the black-tie gala are $199 including tax and if previous years are any indication, a sell out can be expected.
Tickets and opportunities to contribute auction items are available by contacting Karen Beaubier at (250) 542-5111 or 1-866-400-8488.
Event: Third Annual Moonlight Serenade Charity Gala Charity: North Okanagan Neurological Association (NONA) Date: August 23, 2008 Time: 5 p.m.
For home buyers, The Rise has a wide variety of home site options available. Clearview—the first neighbourhood to be released—is now sold out, but four model homes are available for purchase. Home sites are still available in the neighbourhood of Sagecroft, which boasts beautiful lake views and backs on to a nature preserve.
The quiet, secluded neighbourhood of Watermark with its infinity edge to Okanagan Lake has a few home sites still available. This year The Rise will be releasing three new neighbourhoods of home sites around the expanded vineyard. Details on these neighbourhoods will be announced in July.
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, the Okanagan’s signature resort community. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and will feature a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, hotel and Western Canada’s only Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
Wine Lovers Rejoice: The Rise Launches New Community of Vineyard Home Sites
Belago offers vineyard living and ground floor investment opportunity
July 9, 2008, Vernon, B.C. – Wine lovers have a new opportunity to live beside their passion. The Rise, Okanagan’s signature resort community, announced today it is expanding its master planned golf and wine resort with the launch of the new neighbourhood Belago. The new neighbourhood features a limited release of 18 vineyard home sites.
Loosely translated, Belago means ‘beautiful lake view’ and the ¼ to ½ acre home sites are nestled into the hillside along The Rise vineyards. Each home site offers stunning views of Okanagan Lake and with prices starting at $399,900 Belago is the resort property wine connoisseurs have been waiting for. .
“This is a wonderful opportunity for those who are passionate about wine to be part of a growing community that feels the same way,” Leona Snider, president and CEO of The Rise, says. “Home owners at Belago will feel as though they own the vineyard as it is right in their backyard.”
With the vineyard expanding to 17 acres this summer, home owners at Belago will experience the growth of the vineyard and winery first hand. The Cellars at The Rise is the name for the family run winery and design details for the winery will be announced this year with construction scheduled to be completed in 2009. The Cellars at The Rise winery will include a visitor facility, VIP tasting room and private wine storage.
“Those who purchase in Belago will literally be able to watch their investment grow with the vines.” Snider says.
Belago is a neighbourhood with an estate feel, as the large lots allow for backyard swimming pools. With its central location and close proximity to all amenities, home owners at Belago retain their secluded piece of vineyard paradise—without sacrificing convenience. The sites also enjoy amazing views of the vineyard and Okanagan Lake. Belago is the final release of single family home sites on the sunny south-facing slopes at The Rise.
The Golf Club at The Rise is now open to the public. The Rise opened the Fred Couples Signature Golf Course with a course dedication by Fred Couples in June who teed off for the inaugural round with Calgary Flames captain, Jarome Iginla. Membership to the Golf Club is only available to home owners and membership has its privileges.
The Rise(www.TheRise.ca) Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, Okanagan’s signature resort community. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and features a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, hotel and Western Canada’s first Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
No Sign of Sales Slowdown for Premier Lakefront Resort
Hummingbird Beach Resort popular with cottage buyers
Sicamous, B.C., June 26, 2008 – rareEarth Project Marketing announced today one-day sales of approximately $15 million for the 81 cottage, 9-acre Hummingbird Beach Resort on Mara Lake, near Sicamous in the Shuswaps. Despite what some analysts have said about a cooling of the recreation property market in British Columbia, Hummingbird has received continued interest in the wide variety of vacation home options they have available.
Located only 464 km (5 hours) from Calgary, 764 km (8 hours) from Edmonton and 436 km (5.5 hours) from Vancouver, Hummingbird has been developed and marketed as the rebirth of the classic lakefront cottage community because of its design and location.
“Vacation home buyers are really starting to see the intrinsic value of purchasing in a low density recreation property,” James Askew, president of rareEarth Project Marketing says, while commenting on the popularity of their three-bedroom cabins and creek-side cottage sites, “Hummingbird’s cabins sold very well today because buyers are interested in a simpler style of resort home that allows them enjoy lakefront living right now.”
Hummingbird is located near the town of Sicamous, the houseboating capital of Canada, a quiet and warm lakeside community along Mara Lake and a long-time favourite for Albertans and British Columbians. For more than 40 years Hummingbird has drawn vacationers to Mara Lake with the old Hummingbird campground being a key vacation landmark.
“We were pleased to see so many young families purchase vacation homes at the Grand Opening,” says Steel Jordan, president, Mara Lake Estates Ltd. “The vision for the Hummingbird Beach Resort is about enjoying family fun on the lake right now. It’s exciting as even today, we saw new families getting to know each, while their kids were swimming in the lake.”
The recent sales success at Hummingbird reflect the findings in RE/MAX’s 2008 Recreational Property report, which found that the Shushwap area is gaining in popularity with property buyers due to its close proximity to both Calgary and the Okanagan Valley, while maintaining an accessible price tag. Indeed, the report found Albertans are still the driving force behind the recreation property market in British Columbia and they are buying primarily for recreation and enjoyment purposes, which is the vision behind Hummingbird’s low density and functional design.
With reports from the British Columbia Real Estate Association showing the market in B.C. tilting in the buyer’s favour, Askew says it’s more important than ever to offer products with long-term investment potential—such as waterfront resorts.
“As we’ve seen in the last day, there are still a lot of buyers out there, but you have to offer quality products and build with the buyer in mind,” Askew says.
After a busy grand opening yesterday, first day sales were brisk as 31 vacation homes were sold. The majority of home buyers were from Alberta, with Calgarians and Edmontonians leading the way. There are still prime lakefront cabins and town homes available, but as Hummingbird’s summer sales campaign ramps up, Askew doesn’t expect them to be on the market for long.
“Finding new move-in-ready vacation homes on the water is very difficult in B.C. so these will definitely be popular for young families,” Askew says. “You can purchase one of these homes today and spend the rest of the summer on Mara Lake without having to wait for construction to be completed.”
With more than $1.25 billion in premium real estate marketing and sales, rareEarth projects have gained a reputation for being among the best on the market, and Hummingbird Beach Resort is no exception. Working with the developer, Mara Lake Estates Ltd., rareEarth ensured that Hummingbird offers buyers a quality and unique alternative to more typical high-density condo style vacation properties found in the Okanagan.
With its warm year-round climate, excellent fishing, horseback riding, water skiing and houseboating, Hummingbird Beach Resort offers families a quality alternative to the frenzy of activity commonly found at other high-density resort properties.
Hummingbird Beach Resort offers buyers a selection of:
• High-end beachfront townhomes averaging 1,883 sq. ft.; (starting at $975,000) • Three bedroom cabins averaging 1,007 sq.ft.; (starting at $460,000) • Creek-side cottage sites averaging 2,400 sq.ft.; (starting at $325,000)
Resort Amenities include:
• 500 Ft. walk-on, sandy beachfront • Pool & hot tub • Private boat moorage • Hummingbird Creek • Warm lake • Southwest orientation
Mara Lake boasts: • Hot summers, mild winters • Sandy beaches and recreational trails • An extended golf season • Premier fishing • Hiking, horseback riding and water skiing • Direct access to nationally recognized snowmobiling
For more information and high-resolution images, please contact:
Scott Henderson, dHz Media Phone: +1.403.921.2001 Email: scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Matt Stuart, dHz Media Phone: +1.403.229.9219 Email: matt.stuart@dhzmedia.ca
Mara Lake Estates. Ltd Hummingbird Beach Resort is being developed by Mara Lake Estates Ltd., a private company whose owners have strong roots in the Okanagan and a passion for quality real estate. Inspired by fond memories of spending summers by the lake as children, and deriving great joy from reliving the experience with their own children, is what shaped the developers’ vision for Hummingbird Beach Resort. Great care is being taken to preserve the natural beauty of the site, to build town homes and cabins of exceptional quality, and to transform Hummingbird Beach Resort into a valued family tradition. Local trades are doing the bulk of the building as part of the developer’s commitment to supporting the existing community.
rareEarth Project Marketing rareEarth Project Marketing is a specialist in the creation, marketing and sales of luxury recreational real estate throughout the Pacific Northwest. Based in Vancouver, B.C. rareEarth’s professional and experienced team have sold over 1.25 billion dollars of prime real estate, bringing results and real value for its clients and partners. rareEarths’ success is attributed to its ability to collaborate with its clients to both create a market for a property by understanding what buyers are looking for in resort properties, and to ensure that the end result is a recreational community that offers many years of enjoyment for its owners.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Popularity of Cabin Townhomes Reflect Today's Resort Market
Mara Lake lakefront resort popular with families and ‘Right Now’ generation
Sicamous, British Columbia (June 24, 2008) Hummingbird Beach Resort, a beachfront resort on Mara Lake, today released details of its new beachfront cabin and town home resort. A unique hybrid of cottage, cabin and town home, Hummingbird is a completely different approach to the now typical Okanagan multi-storey condominium.
According to rareEarth Project Marketing, the exclusive listing agent for Hummingbird Beach Resort, interest has been high in the beachfront cabin and townhome concept, particularly with young families.
“Today’s buyer wants to enjoy the resort life right now,” says James Askew, president of rareEarth, “They don’t want to wait and they can start enjoying the cabin at the lake experience right now.”
Based on rareEarth’s market research and client feedback, it was found that many of today’s buyers are not as interested in the typical large scale resort amenities such as swim-up pool bars or multi-million dollar penthouse suites. Hummingbird Beach Resort instead chose to adhere to a simple , low-density development model, focused on celebrating the Mara Lake tradition of family, community and leisure.
Hummingbird has designed its beach resort to appeal to vacationers who are looking for an easy, uncomplicated holiday experience that emphasizes memorable family experiences on the Shuswap lakes. Tucked away from the busyness of life, it is located near the Town of Sicamous, the houseboating capital of Canada.
Hummingbird provides family vacationers with a reasonable entry cost recreational home option that was designed with high architectural integrity and quality to provide comfort and ease of access without having to break the bank of the buyer. The ultimate objective is for buyers to be able to invest in their family.
“Hummingbird is a very personal project for me” says George Crookshank, vice president of rareEarth Project Marketing. “My family has been a part of this community for over ten years now – we vacation here every summer. Hummingbird is exactly the type of development that my family, the Mara Lake community and the town of Sicamous have wanted to see developed for years.
“The people that holiday here are not about “appearances” as much as quality of experience. They don’t want to take an elevator to get down to the lake – they want to walk out their front door, carrying a air mattress, not worrying about whether or not they are tracking sand in the hallway.”
With its warm year-round climate, excellent fishing, horseback riding, water skiing and houseboating, Hummingbird Beach Resort offers families a quality alternative to the frenzy of activity commonly found at high-density resort properties. Hummingbird provides a quieter, simpler way of life for those wishing to escape and spend their summers with their family in quiet retreat from the busyness of the big city.
Hummingbird Beach Resort offers buyers a selection of:
• 500 Ft. Sandy Beachfront • 81 slip Marina • Pool & Hot Tub • Hummingbird Creek • Warm Lake • South West Orientation
Mara Lake boasts: • Hot summers, mild winters • Sandy beaches and recreational trails • An extended golf season • Plentiful fruit orchards • Warm Lake • Hiking, horseback riding and water skiing
Mara Lake Estates. Ltd Hummingbird Beach Resort is being developed by Mara Lake Estates Ltd., a private company whose owners have strong roots in the Okanagan and a passion for quality real estate. Inspired by fond memories of spending summers by the lake as children, and deriving great joy from reliving the experience with their own children, is what shaped the developers’ vision for Hummingbird Beach Resort. Great care is being taken to preserve the natural beauty of the site, to build townhomes and cabins of exceptional quality, and to transform Hummingbird Beach Resort into a valued family tradition. Local trades are doing the bulk of the building as part of the developers commitment to supporting the existing community.
rareEarth Project Marketing rareEarth Project Marketing is a specialist in the marketing and sales of luxury recreational real estate throughout the Pacific Northwest. Based in Vancouver, B.C. rareEarths’ professional and experienced team have sold over 1.25 billion dollars of prime real estate, bringing results and real value for its clients and partners. rareEarths’ success is attributed to its ability to collaborate with its clients to both create a market for a property by understanding what prospects are looking for in exclusive luxury properties, and to ensure that the end result is a recreational community that offers many years of enjoyment for its owners.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Starwood Capital Group and Marine Drive Properties announce 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea
First Eco-Luxury Global Hotel Brand, a Perfect Fit for Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort, home to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada
Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, BC (June 24, 2008) -- Starwood Capital Group LLC and Marine Drive Properties Ltd. CEO Elke Loof-Koehler announced today the development of the landmark hotel-condominium at Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort, home to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada.
The property is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia adjacent to the Pacific Rim National Park and will be known as the 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea. 1 Hotel and Residences is the first global hotel brand to combine the best of environmentally sustainable architecture and interior design with impeccable service and luxurious comfort.
Rendering of 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea, a $200 million eco luxury hotel and the most environmentally sustainable resort in North America.
Located at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the 1 Hotel site is the premier hotel property within Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort, the 370-acre master planned resort that features a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. The vision for Wyndansea, including the $200 million oceanfront hotel-condominium integrates sustainable design practices as part of a commitment to the environment and responsible living. Marine Drive Properties has designed the entire resort to meet LEED Gold Certification, the global rating system that is the benchmark for energy and environmental design.
The 1 Hotel includes 180 hotel-condominium suites and 95 Beach and Golf Villas. The 1 Hotel features a full-service eco-conscious spa, fitness facility and salt water pools. The restaurant and wine bistro will feature locally sourced foods and wine. Other resort amenities are expected to include a deep-water marina for luxury yachts and seaplane service from downtown Vancouver, a resort clubhouse, and the Wild Pacific Trail
“The 1 Hotel brand aligns perfectly with Ms. Loof-Koehler’s iconic master plan development at Wyndansea. We share a passion for style and luxury derived through sustainable design,” said Barry Sternlicht, chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, whose company owns and operates more than 800 hotels worldwide. "As I watch my children grow up and become responsible citizens, I have become more cognizant of what we are leaving behind and the personal responsibility we all share to help preserve and protect our environment. It is the perfect time for 1 and Wyndansea is the perfect place.”
The 1 Hotel brand is the brainchild of Barry Sternlicht who, during his time as CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, was credited with the revitalization of Westin Hotels & Resorts (led by innovations such as the Heavenly Bed) and the brand development of both St. Regis Hotels and “W” Hotels. The new Vancouver location will join a growing list of properties developing 1 Hotels around the world, including Seattle, New York City, Scottsdale and Washington DC.
“The addition of the 1 Hotels and Residences brand will confirm Wyndansea’s position as an international eco-luxury resort,” said Loof-Koehler who was attracted to the beauty of Canada’s west coast and its development potential in the 1990’s. “Marine Drive Properties has always been committed to sustainable development, and we are very happy to have found a hotel brand that shares our respect for the planet and its people.”
The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will be a Certified Signature Sanctuary with Audubon International, which is dedicated to educating, assisting, and inspiring millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. "Elke and the team at Wyndansea have been diligent in all aspects of the project, especially the golf course, to protect and enhance Ucluelet's natural environment," Jack Nicklaus said. "The introduction of 1 Hotels is further evidence of her commitment to an environmentally responsible approach."
Wyndansea was envisioned in strategic alliance with S&P Destination Properties, a world leader in the design, marketing and sales of resort and luxury real estate. “Wyndansea is one of the most stunning oceanfront sites in the world and a partnership with Starwood Capital Group’s 1 Hotel will make 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea a world leader in sustainable luxury real estate,” said Sid Landolt, President of S&P Destination Properties. Customer generation has now begun for the initial release of 1 Hotel condominium suites. A small collection of the resort’s most exclusive home sites is available today.
Additional information regarding Wyndansea is available at www.wyndansea.com or call 1-888 898-8568.
Wyndansea Online Media Centre:http://dhzmedia.ca/page375.htm (backgrounders, fact sheets, previous news releases and photography.)
Marine Drive Properties Ltd. is a privately owned corporation focused on Resort and Residential Development. Ms. Loof-Koehler has been creating superior real estate developments in British Columbia interior and Vancouver Island since 1990. Her most recent projects are located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island in the Village of Ucluelet. Tauca Lea Resort and Spa, an 81-suite Strata Resort with Restaurant and Spa, and Marine Drive Properties’ 100-acre Oceanfront Resort Development ,which includes a comprehensive strategy incorporating a 132-suite oceanfront hotel, residential, resort and vacation homes.
Starwood Capital Group Global, LLC is a privately-held global real estate investment firm based in Greenwich, CT (with its predecessor Starwood affiliates “Starwood”). Founded in 1991, Starwood specializes in the creation and acquisition of real estate-related investments on behalf of commingled investment vehicles that are sponsored and created by Starwood or its affiliated entities. Such real estate-related investments include residential and commercial land development, multifamily, hotel, office, retail, mixed-use, industrial, health clubs, golf and mezzanine debt. Starwood’s clients include public and private retirement programs, university endowments, foundations, international and high net worth investors. During the past sixteen years Starwood and its affiliates have invested approximately $6 billion of equity capital in transactions representing over $30 billion of asset value.
Starwood has led the formation and/or growth of several market leading companies including Groupe Taittinger and Societe du Louvre, Europe’s second largest hotel network; iStar Financial (NYSE: SFI), the leading publicly traded finance company specializing in commercial real estate mortgage, mezzanine and net lease financing; Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (NYSE:HOT), a leading global owner/operator of hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts which was merged into Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in January 1998; Equity Residential Properties Trust (NYSE:EQR), one of the premier US multifamily REITs; and National Golf Properties/American Golf Corporation, the largest owner/operator of golf courses and related facilities in the U.S., who, together with its private sister company, owned, leased or managed 255 golf courses.
S&P Destination Properties, LLC is an international full-service real estate company that specializes in the envisioning, design, marketing, sale and customer service for resort and luxury real estate properties. S&P is committed to bringing the finest real estate in the finest places on earth to those who appreciate the irreplaceable experiences that come with ownership.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Friday, June 20, 2008
"Fred Couples Opens The Rise with Jarome Iginla & NHL Friends"
Okanagan’s first Signature Golf Course now open after course dedication
June 20, 2008, Vernon, B.C. – The Golf Club at The Rise, a Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, opens today to the public and tee times can be booked immediately. PGA Tour fan favourite Fred Couples was on site this week to officially opened the Okanagan’s newest golf course and first Signature Golf Course with the “Freddy and Friends Course Dedication”. A self described hockey fan, Couples played the opening round at the Okanagan’s only Signature Golf Course with Calgary Flames captain, Jarome Iginla; Boston Bruin Chuck Kobasew; and former NHL’ers Brent Gilchrist and Jeff Finley.
Fred Couples conducted a golf clinic for media and invited guests and then hit the first ceremonial drive before playing the exhibition round. Wearing a wireless microphone, Couples provided commentary on each hole through a mobile loudspeaker for the crowd of 150 people, who followed the players around the course.
"The lake views up here are so incredible. I have such a passion for golf that we really wanted to take our time and build a course that is as stunning as its location," says Fred Couples, “It's exciting now that it's open because I know golfers from all over will want to get up here and experience it for themselves."
Freddy and Friends Course Dedication, The Golf Club at The Rise, a Fred Couples Signature Golf Course. (l-r) Former NHL'ers Jeff Finley and Brent Gilchrist, Fred Couples, Calgary Flames Captain Jarome Iginla, Boston Bruin Forward Chuck Kobasew.
Tee times can be booked immediately and the phone number to book is 250 545 7425 or people can email golfinfo@therise.ca. While membership in the golf club is only available with the purchase of real estate at The Rise, the golf course is open for the public to enjoy. Green fees during peak hours are $115 including golf cart, and twilight tee times are $65.
Described by international luxury lifestyle magazine, the Robb Report, as being one of Canada's top new golf courses, The Golf Club at The Rise merges breathtaking scenery with challenges and opportunities for every level of golfer. Integrated into the rugged natural topography of the Vernon highlands, the course incorporates five sets of tees to accommodate all golfers.
Walking the course with Fred Couples, was golf course architect Gene Bates. The championship course was designed by Couples/Bates Design, an affiliation between Fred Couples and award-winning golf course architect Gene Bates. Construction for the 18-hole signature course was by BMR Golf, whose credits also include the award-winning Greywolf at Panorama Mountain Resort and The Dunes in Kamloops.
“The course has turned out even better than we could have dreamed. It is a beautiful addition to the community we are building here at The Rise and a wonderful expansion of the recreation opportunities in Vernon,” says Leona Snider, the president and CEO of The Rise.
Speaking at the course dedication, Calgary Flames captain, Jarome Iginla said of the course, "The views are amazing and it looks like it's in mint condition. It's a course that I'll look forward to coming back to."
‘Freddy’s Friends’ are no strangers to the Okanagan as Jarome Iginla is a former player of the Kelowna Rockets, who are currently coach by Jeff Finley. Chuck Kobasew is a native of Osoyoos, while Brent Gilchrist is now a Vernon resident.
For home buyers, The Rise has a wide variety of home site options available. Clearview—the first neighbourhood to be released—is now sold out, but four model homes are available for purchase. Home sites are still available in the neighbourhood of Sagecroft, which boasts beautiful lake views and backs on to a nature preserve.
The quiet, secluded neighbourhood of Watermark with its infinity edge to Okanagan Lake has a few home sites still available. This year The Rise will be releasing three new neighbourhoods of home sites around the expanded vineyard. Details on these neighbourhoods will be announced in July.
Virtual flyovers of The Golf Club at The Rise, a Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, were produced using satellite imagery, aerial photography and on-site footage and can be viewed at: http://therise.ca/virtual-tour.php
The Rise (www.TheRise.ca) Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, Okanagan’s premier golf and winery resort. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and features a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home sites and villas, hotel and village centre and Western Canada’s first Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Friday, June 20, 2008
"Fantastic" Event Planned for Canada Day at Fairmont Hot Springs
Fairmont Hot Springs Community hosting its first sprint triathlon and family fun day
June 20 2008, FAIRMONT,B.C – The business community of Fairmont Hot Springs is making Canada Day truly fantastic by hosting Fairmont’s Fantastic 3—a sprint triathlon. Food and beverage sales at the event will benefit the community, with partial proceeds going to the Fairmont Lions Club.
“We want to mark Canada Day with an event that brings this community and families together” Says Wendy Booth, president of the Fairmont Business Association. “The event will be challenging but it will be a lot of fun.”
The family affair kicks off at the ski hill from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on July 1 and will include live music, activities for children, face painting, a climbing wall, crafts and sports races. A Farmers’ Market, beer garden, barbecue and cash bar ensure there is something for everyone. The fun-filled event will be capped off at dusk with a stunning display of fireworks. Special room rates at Fairmont Hot Springs for this event start at $164 per night for participants and spectators. To encourage families to come and take part, kids stay free with unlimited use of the natural mineral hot springs.
The triathlon starts at the Fairmont Hot Springs pools at 12 p.m. It begins with a 600 metre swim, followed by a seven kilometre bike ride and finishes with a five kilometre cross-country run at the top of the ski hill. The cost for participants in the triathlon is $49 for individuals and $79 for a team of three. The entrance fee includes an event T-shirt, hamburger or hotdog, beverage, tons of prizes and a participant gift bag. There will be plenty of water and fresh fruit for participants and team themes are encouraged to have a shot at the “Best Dressed” prize.
“This is a great day for families to come out and enjoy spending time together in a beautiful location with great activities whether you’re a spectator or participant, it’s an opportunity to give back to the Fairmont community,” says Lucy Halford, vice president of operations, at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. “We are delighted to play a part in such a great community event”.
Those wishing to register for the triathlon should call (250) 345-4550 or email info@columbiarafting.com
Plans are under way for a $1 billion dollar expansion of the resort over the next 15 years. Included in the master plan is an expansion of the natural mineral hot springs, an enhanced spa and wellness centre with newly designed hot springs pools, hotel and condominiums. Additionally 1500 acres has been set aside for a variety of resort property options. Blessed with stunning views and the largest therapeutic mineral hot springs in Canada, the revitalized Fairmont Hot Springs will feature an outdoor event plaza and walking trails linking the entire community.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of 1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Reflection Point Launch Heats Up Waterfront Market in Osoyoos
Locations West brings experience & tradition to Osoyoos with community
Osoyoos, BC (June 04, 2008) The Locations West Investment Group announced today the launch of Reflection Point, a $25 million waterfront community in Osoyoos, British Columbia. Reflection Point, on the shore of Osoyoos Lake, is a private waterfront estate development that will accommodate exquisitely crafted homes on 9.5 acres. Phase one of Reflection Point includes 12 waterfront and 6 non-waterfront homesites, showcasing gorgeous views of the lake, the surrounding vineyards, the nearby orchards & hills.
Reflection Point is being developed by Reflection Point Developments Inc., a privately owned and operated development company controlled by the Locations West Investment Group. Locations West Investment Group is a visionary development consortium and one of the Okanagan’s most respected companies. Locations West has a longstanding tradition for developing superior properties in the Okanagan. Some current projects include: Ramada Inn and Suites Penticton, Skaha Lakeside Resort, Penticton Convention Hotel, Royal LePage Locations West and it is partnering on the Naramata Benchlands and the Agur Lake Kid’s Camp.
Located in the heart of Canada's premier wine growing region and along 1800 feet of the warmest fresh water lake in Canada, Reflection Point is one of the few premium recreational properties actually on Osyoos Lake waterfront. Just minutes from the town centre, each Reflection Point home will be designed to express the sophisticated, understated elegance that is the foundation of the “Okanagan Lifestyle”.
“Osoyoos is one Canada’s most sought after vacation destinations because of its natural beauty and with the scarcity of premium waterfront property in the area we think interest in Reflection Point will be high.” says Robin Agur, president, Locations West Investment Group.
Reflection Point features many private and public amenities, including a proposed neighborhood dock and community park. It is one of the few luxury lakefront properties to recognize the recreational future of Osoyoos and the South Okanagan, and is already attracting interested buyers from Calgary to Vancouver.
Offering favorable pricing and good value for buyers, waterfront homesites start at $895,900 and non-waterfront sites starting at $319,900. Interested parties can go to www.ReflectionPoint.ca and register to receive notification of the reservation policy and additional release dates.
Often referred to as “Napa of the North”, Osoyoos is nestled in the heart of the south Okanagan, bordering on Washington State, only 400 km from Vancouver and 730 km from Calgary.
Osoyoos boasts: • 56% of all BC vineyards • 80% of all BC grape growing • Canada’s warmest lake • Canada’s only desert • Hot summers, mild winters • Soft sandy beach line & recreational trails • Extended golf season • Plentiful fruit orchards
Reflection Point is an exclusive $25 million, 9.5 acre, private community of exquisitely crafted waterfront homes on Osoyoos Lake. Located in the heart of Canada's premier wine growing region and along 1800 feet of lakefront, Reflection Point is being developed by Reflection Point Developments Inc., a privately owned and operated development company controlled by the Locations West Investment Group.
Locations West Investment Group is a visionary development consortium that has long recognized the remarkable potential of the South Okanagan and is committed to ‘raising the bar’ to promote the highest possible quality of development that is in tune with the area’s natural beauty. Based in the Okanagan and founded in 1971, Locations West is a privately owned company that offers a diverse portfolio including: residential subdivisions, office and industrial buildings, retail centres, condominiums, and recreational properties. Locations West has a long tradition of business credibility, good corporate citizenship, an established reputation in the local community, and building and development expertise throughout the Okanagan Valley.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Rise Cellars Expands Vineyard by 12-Acres and 22,000 Vines
Total now 17 acres as vineyard's first harvest in the Fall
May 29, 2008, Vernon, BC – The Rise, Okanagan’s premier golf and winery resort, announced today that it is expanding its vineyards and planting 22,000 vines this month and aims to have the planting completed by the end of June.
The Cellars at The Rise is the winery and vineyards for the master-planned resort community featuring a Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, private lakeside beach club and several neighbourhoods of homes and home sites.
With details being announced on the design of its winery being released this year and the expansion of the vineyards, The Cellars at The Rise promises to be a significant tourist draw for Vernon and positions The Rise as Okanagan’s leading resort destination for golf and wine.
“The expansion of the vineyards is an important milestone for The Rise,” says Leona Snider, president and CEO of The Rise, “The Rise continues to deliver on its promise to create a resort destination that offers the best of the Okanagan lifestyle and vineyard living.”
In June, The Rise will announce details of its new vineyard community and its first new release of home sites since 2006. More than 200 units have been sold at The Rise and its Fred Couples Signature Golf Course opens in June. A course dedication with Fred Couples is being held on June 18th.
The Rise Cellars is a family-run winery, and Snider’s son, Jason Rannelli, is overseeing the ambitious 12-acre expansion. The process has been carefully planned to ensure the infrastructure is in place before the vines are planted. A drip irrigation system is now in place for the vines and when the expansion is complete there will be an overhead system to provide the vineyard with a reliable source of water.
The Rise Cellars successfully completed the ground preparation for planting last year. Ground preparation is a process vital to the success of the vineyard. The soil was carefully aerated during the dry part of the year to ensure loose and non-compacted soil would greet the young plants.
“You don’t want to plant the vines until you are sure you have an irrigation system in place that will have water readily available to the vines as soon as they’re in the ground,” says Jason Rannelli, manager of The Cellars at The Rise.
The rows were systematically staked with steel poles giving the vines strong support as they mature into freestanding vines. The row direction was established and Rannelli says the “slope and exposure of the location is perfect.”
By the end of the month, 22,000 Gewurstraminer, Pinot Noir and Riesling vines will have a home in the latest addition to The Cellars at The Rise vineyards. The vineyard now consists of 17 acres of assorted red and white grapes and another six acres will be planted next year.
The final project will showcase a state-of-the-art gravity-fed winery, and will feature a significant underground facility complete with a winery visitor facility, barrel caves, VIP tasting room, and private wine storage.
As the B.C. wine industry continues to gain the world’s respect and recognition for its quality wines, The Cellars at The Rise is working to take this to the next level by combining the best in golf and wine to create the perfect resort destination for wine connoisseurs and golfers.
The Rise (www.TheRise.ca) Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, Okanagan’s premier golf and winery resort. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon , British Columbia . The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and will feature a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, hotel and village centre, and Western Canada’s only Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
INvue Launches Final Phase and Redefines Condo Living In Okanagan
Iconic luxury condominium offers roof top pool and unparalleled lifestyle options
May 27, 2008, Kelowna B.C. – The Rykon Group, a visionary developer of communities renowned for their master planning and architectural distinction and owner/operator of Manteo Resort, Kelowna’s finest waterfront resort, announced a strategic partnership with Kelowna developer John Ross and are pleased to offer Kelowna resort inspired living.
InVue is a 14-story, 92 home luxury condominium that embraces urban living while offering the resort setting of the beautiful Okanagan. Rykon’s record of delivering quality, value and service excellence lends itself well to the inherently special nature of design style and sophistication being developed at InVue. It includes many lifestyle enhancements not seen before in the Okanagan Valley.
With amazing views of Okanagan Lake and the city of Kelowna from its rooftop pool and outdoor theatre, InVue offers buyers an unparalleled resort lifestyle with urban conveniences such as fitness centre, yoga studio, guest suites and onsite dog wash. InVue has commercial retail space and luxury condominiums in a prime location close to shopping, walking and bicycle trails.
Photo Caption... Photo Caption... Photo Caption...(more photos on request)
InVue luxury condominium features roof top pool, outdoor theatre, fitness and spa.
“InVue is the most iconic building being built in Kelowna and soon it will become an architectural landmark in the Okanagan,” says Adrian Block, president and CEO of The Rykon Group. “The Rykon Group is known for developing projects with distinctive architecture and for offering home buyers an appealing lifestyle so we are very excited to be involved with InVue. The InVue luxury condominiums are of a standard not typically seen in the Okanagan.”
InVue has a glass-curtain and concrete design with triangular balconies that maximize views. Its sleek design and rooftop pool provide an urban elegance to the city skyline. Construction is well underway on the iconic condominium and expected to be finished by mid 2009.
The size of the luxury condominium building is 130,000 square feet with residential suites on the third to14th floors. The 36 remaining homes are mostly two-bedroom suites ranging up to 1,231 square feet and large lofted penthouses up to 2,497 square feet.
Interested parties can register at www.InVueliving.com for more information on release dates.
• Kelowna’s housing starts surged in February 2008 compared to the year before due mainly to the multi-family sector (condominiums). • February’s recent surge in multi-family construction pushed housing starts to the highest level since April 2005. • More first time buyers are turning to townhomes and condominiums • Buyers seeking resort property are the fastest growing segment of Kelowna’s condominium market. home construction and real estate sales set more records in 2007.
Contacts:
Scott Henderson, dHz Media 403.921.2001 scott.henderson@dhzmedia.ca
Holly Wood, dHz Media 403.466.3482 holly.wood@dhzmedia.ca
Online Media Centre: http://dhzmedia.ca/page736.htm (fact sheet, backgrounders, photos, etc.)
InVue is an iconic, 14-story luxury condominium that embraces urban living in a world famous resort destination. It is being developed by The Rykon Group and offers residential suites and commercial retail space in a prime location in Kelowna close to both shopping, walking and bicycle trails. Modern and elegant, the condominium caters to convenience and indulgence with lifestyle enhancements including a roof top pool and theatre, fitness centre, yoga studio, guest suites and onsite dog wash. InVue offers sophisticated living for individuals and couples who wish to transition into a resort lifestyle without foregoing the conveniences of urban life.
The Rykon Group, a visionary developer of communities renowned for their master planning and architectural distinction is based in Vancouver and Kelowna. It has built projects in Western Canada and the United States for more than two decades. Some projects include: the Manteo Waterfront Resort, Kelowna’s finest waterfront resort, Sussex House, a luxury condominium in White Rock, NEWS and NEWS North in New Westminster, South Bay Landing, an elegant community in the lower Mission District of Kelowna and the award winning Monterra in Tsawwassen.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Monday, May 26, 2008
Fairmont Hot Springs Announces 1st Release of $1 Billion Expansion
Home sites in high demand as four season mountain resort launches mountainside home sites
May 26, 2008, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C.- Fairmont Hot Springs announced today that it is releasing 56 view home sites in its first phase of real estate development. Fairmont Hot Springs is a master planned four season resort undergoing a $1 billion expansion.
Acquired by Ken Fowler Enterprises in 2006, Fairmont Hot Springs has been working to develop an additional 1,500 acres to enrich the community with a variety of housing, from single family home sites, town homes, to resort condominiums. Its first release is targeted at those looking for a ground floor recreational property opportunity as the mountain resort undergoes its expansion and rejuvenation.
Photo Caption... Photo Caption... Photo Caption...(more photos on request)
Photo caption: With a natural mineral hot springs and spa, ski hill and 45 holes of golf, Fairmont Hot Springs is a four season mountain resort.
With an all natural mineral hot springs and spa, a ski hill and 45 holes of golf in full operation, Fairmont Hot Springs offers home buyers the chance to immediately enjoy great amenities and recreational activities that take years to create at other resort communities.
"The home sites we are releasing are perched on a ridge overlooking the Columbia Valley. They are all 1/3 acre and will be linked to the village by the valley trail system being started this year," says Paul McIntyre, the director of sales and marketing for the real estate development at Fairmont Hot Springs.
"These are some of the largest and prettiest home sites available in the Columbia Valley today."
The sites, starting at $170,000 are nestled into the mountainside at the northwest end of Fairmont. They overlook the vast Columbia Valley in one direction, and stare up at the majestic Rocky Mountains in the other.
Buyers will not be limited to the type of homes they can build on the sites. Design guidelines will ensure the natural integrity of Fairmont Hot Springs is maintained throughout the development and buyer’s investments are protected. The goal of the design guidelines is to provide authentic Columbia Valley architecture with a modern and contemporary feel.
McIntyre says interest in these home sites was already high even before today’s announcement.
"We're excited as the word of mouth on the expansion has been overwhelming. We already had over 500 registrations on the website requesting information about the homesites," he says.
Along with the 56 mountainside home sites, four quiet and secluded home sites on the Columbia River are also being released. These home sites are set off by their own private entry lane.
"Part of the appeal is that it is the first offering from Fairmont Hot Springs in a long time. There's a lot of recreation property in the Columbia Valley, but nothing like this,” McIntyre says, “We are building on the historic tradition of an established and well-loved community,"
Fairmont Hot Springs master plan includes relocated and newly designed hot springs pools, a new village centre with luxury hotel condominiums and expanded dining and shopping options along with an enhanced spa and wellness centre.
Fairmont Hot Springs now also offers 45 holes of mountain golf with Mountainside, the 18-hole par 72 CPGA-rated golf course and Creekside, the par 3, 9-hole golf course, plus the newly acquired 18-hole Riverside golf course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop.
Plans are also underway to evaluate the ski area for an expansion, with the possibility of adding a gondola and an additional 700 vertical feet of skiable terrain. Located In the heart of British Columbia's Columbia Valley, on Hwy 93/95, Fairmont Hot Springs is one hour from Cranbrook, B.C. and three hours west of Calgary.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 2,600 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of 1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Eco-Elegance Wedding on The Rise
Bride proves eco-friendly wedding still high on glamour May 13, 2008, Vernon, BC - On the forefront of what could be the latest trend in weddings, a wedding held at The Rise, Okanagan’s premier golf and winery resort, proves that an eco-friendly occasion can be as glamorous as any other.
In making a commitment to each other, Bride Barb McKechnie and Groom Jeff Boschert also made a commitment to the environment. They were determined to have an Eco-Elegant wedding, so with every planning decision, environmental options were put at the top of the list.
Photo Caption... Photo Caption... Photo Caption...(more photos on request)
Eco Elegance at The Rise: Bride Barb McKechnie and Groom Jeff Boschert
Hybrids replaced limos at the wedding and all waste produced was recycled or composted wherever possible. Barb’s environmental conscience is due, in part, to her professional life where she has been a sales rep for an environmentally friendly product that offers wooden disposable cutlery as an alternative to plastic. She wanted to incorporate that into the wedding, and decided on recyclable wedding favours – wooden cutlery with their names and wedding date burned on them.
When it came to selecting the location, Barb was impressed with The Rise’s approach to environmental sustainability and knew it was the perfect venue – even before she and Jeff were engaged. “They are preserving a lot of the landscape, not developing it all and I like that. Plus, I was up there for a business function and saw the view and thought, ‘This would be the most beautiful spot for wedding photos’”
The Rise is a 735-acre golf and winery resort near Vernon, British Columbia, and is becoming well-known for its environmental stewardship. More than 200 units have been sold, and every home will be heated and cooled with a ground source geothermal system, greatly reducing energy consumption.
Leona Snider, president and CEO of The Rise, was pleased to welcome the first wedding at the resort. “We want to congratulate the bride and groom, and we’re honoured that they chose to have this happy event at The Rise. We’ve always said The Rise will have a strong sense of community and this is the start of many beautiful memories that will be created here.”
While the environment is important for the developers at The Rise, it’s also at the heart of the community. Before starting the resort destination in 2005, The Rise undertook the most extensive environmental study in the Okanagan Valley. One third of the land is being preserved, one third developed, and one third dedicated to the Fred Couples Signature Golf Course, which is opening for the first time this year. Irrigation for the golf course uses reclaimed water from the city of Vernon’s treatment plant.
“We’re doing what we can. We’re not wearing cotton dresses or anything, but we’re doing what we can when there was the option,” says Barb. The invitations, for example, were printed on recycled paper. “I got RSVP’s back with notes on them saying how beautiful they were.”
Barb also works as a wedding planner. As somewhat of a pioneer in Eco-Elegance, she hopes this will become a new trend in weddings. “Especially in the Okanagan because there are lots of destination weddings here. Weddings are pretty wasteful events when you look back on them… so if there’s any way to reduce that whether by giving useful items as your favours, or using organic ingredients, or food from local producers, it all helps.”
All this means a sustainable community and certainly the Eco-Elegant location the Bride and Groom were looking for. The Rise is not yet taking reservations for weddings, but will start next year.
“When the Bride pitched her idea for an Eco-Elegant wedding this year, we wanted to participate since we share the same values regarding the environment,” says Terry Yacyshen, resort general manager, “Once people see the pictures from this wedding we expect others will want to make their day equally as special.”
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, the Okanagan’s premier golf and winery resort. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking OkanaganLake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of OkanaganLake and will feature a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, hotel and village centre and Western Canada's only Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Monday, May 12, 2008
$42 Million Mara Lake Waterfront Resort Launched by Vancouver Developer
Hummingbird Beach Resort: Rebirth of Classic Family Vacation Retreat
Sicamous, British Columbia (May 12, 2008) rareEarth Project Marketing released details of the much-anticipated $42 million, 9-acre Hummingbird Beach Resort on Mara Lake, today. Located only 436 km (5.5 hours) from Vancouver, Hummingbird is billed as the rebirth of the classic waterfront vacation retreat because of its design and location. Buyers are offered a wide selection of property choices that can be purchased and enjoyed immediately and throughout the summer of 2008.
Located near the Town of Sicamous, the houseboating capital of Canada, and in a quiet and warm lakeside community along Mara Lake, Hummingbird Beach Resort was designed to harken back to the classic cottage lakefront vacations popularized in Hollywood movies. “This is one of those places that families will long for and look forward to returning with their families as each summer comes and goes” says James Askew, president of rareEarth Project Marketing.
“What is unique in our experience is that the resort was built to completion before going to a sales launch. People will be enjoying time with their families at Hummingbird this summer. They won’t have to wait, like with so many high priced resorts, to experience the life on the water or the peace and comfort the Mara Lake area brings.”
With over $1.25 Billion in premium real estate marketing and sales, rareEarth projects have gained a reputation for being among the best on the market, and Hummingbird Beach Resort is no exception. Working with the developer, Mara Lake Estates Ltd., rareEarth ensured that Hummingbird offers buyers a quality and unique option to conventional, high priced resort properties found in the Okanagan.
With its warm year-round climate, excellent fishing (Rainbow, Dolly Varden, Kokanee, and Lake trout), horseback riding, water skiing and houseboating, Hummingbird Beach Resort offers families a quality alternative to the frenzy of activity commonly found at other upscale resort properties. Hummingbird provides a quieter, simpler way of life for those wishing to escape and spend their summers with their family in quiet retreat from the busyness of the big city.
Hummingbird Beach Resort offers buyers a selection of:
• 12 high-end Beachfront Townhomes averaging 1,883 sq. ft.; (starting at $960,900) • 4 three bedroom stand alone lakefront cabins, 1388 sq. ft; (starting at $1.2 million) • 31 three bedroom Cabins averaging 1,007 sq.ft.; (starting at $460,900) • 33 Creekside Cottage Sites averaging 2,400 sq.ft.; (starting at $245,900)
Resort Amenities include:
• 500 Ft. Walk-on, Sandy Beachfront • Pool & Hot Tub • Private Moorage • Hummingbird Creek • Warm Lake • South West Orientation
Mara Lake boasts: • Hot summers, mild winters • Sandy beaches and recreational trails • An extended golf season • Warm Lake • Premier fishing • Hiking, horseback riding and water skiing • Direct access to nationally recognized snowmobiling
Mara Lake Estates. Ltd Hummingbird Beach Resort is being developed by Mara Lake Estates Ltd., a private company whose owners have strong roots in the Okanagan and a passion for quality real estate. Inspired by fond memories of spending summers by the lake as children, and deriving great joy from reliving the experience with their own children, is what shaped the developers’ vision for Hummingbird Beach Resort. Great care is being taken to preserve the natural beauty of the site, to build townhomes and cabins of exceptional quality, and to transform Hummingbird Beach Resort into a valued family tradition. Local trades are doing the bulk of the building as part of the developers commitment to supporting the existing community.
rareEarth Project Marketing rareEarth Project Marketing is a specialist in the marketing and sales of luxury recreational real estate throughout the Pacific Northwest. Based in Vancouver, B.C. rareEarths’ professional and experienced team have sold over 1.25 billion dollars of prime real estate, bringing results and real value for its clients and partners. rareEarths’ success is attributed to its ability to collaborate with its clients to both create a market for a property by understanding what prospects are looking for in exclusive luxury properties, and to ensure that the end result is a recreational community that offers many years of enjoyment for its owners.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Fairmont Hot Springs Launches Million Dollar Brand
New brand reflects the revitalization of the four season family resort
April 30 2008, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. - Fairmont Hot Springs announced today the launch of a new visual identity and brand for the historical mountain resort and hot springs. New owner, Ken Fowler Enterprise, is undergoing a billion dollar expansion of the popular resort and has developed a new brand to reflect its vision for a four season family resort centered on recreation, community, and health and wellness.
“We hope for Fairmont Hot Springs to become one of the world’s most recognized destinations – we wanted the visual elements of the new identity to represent the attributes of a world class resort.” says Ken Fowler, Chairman and CEO of Ken Fowler Enterprises.
The new brand concept has three main elements: rejuvenation, family/community and recreation. These elements match the reasons why the resort has attracted Canadian and International visitors and home owners since the late 1800s. It has always promoted a lifestyle that celebrates recreation, family and health, as Fairmont has the largest therapeutic mineral hot springs and offers accommodations, golf, skiing, and health and wellness Spa.
“Creating the new brand and logo was tough because the old one with the warm orange, yellow and light blue sun has almost become a Valley icon,” says Paul McIntyre, Director of Sales and Marketing for Fairmont Hot Spring, “However, we wanted a symbol that would reflect the new direction and vision for the resort.”
As part of a rebranding process, a new logo, wordmark and tagline were created. The full logo consists of the wordmark with three wavy blue vertical lines above it symbolizing steam from the hot springs, the resorts many rivers and streams, and in its frozen form, the trails at the resort’s ski area. The wordmark is in blue and grey to represent the water and the mountains.
The new tagline is “Immerse Yourself” and was coined to emphasize the resorts’ biggest reasons why people visit – and stay.
“The new tag line works on so many different levels,” notes McIntyre, “You can come to Fairmont Hot Springs to physically immerse yourself in the hot springs, you can immerse yourself in the new community growing out of the existing resort and you can immerse yourself in the recreational and cultural activities that abound.”
McIntyre continues, “The expansion is about creating more of a good thing at Fairmont and the branding needs to communicate this message. People all over the world come to Fairmont to rejuvenate in the mineral hot springs, to enjoy the spectacular mountain setting, to partake in the finest recreational activities, and to be with their families.”
The expansion includes a new design of the natural hot springs, an enhanced spa and wellness center, expanded hotel and condominiums. The master plan also includes a village centre with retail shops, restaurants, outdoor event plaza and walking trails linking the entire community.
Fairmont has purchased the Riverside Golf Resort and is now the largest golf operator in the Columbia Valley. Plans are underway to evaluate the ski area for an expansion, adding a gondola and additional 1000 vertical feet of skiable terrain. Details of the first release of home sites will announced soon.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 3000 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, and river rafting on the Columbia. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well- managed companies and annual revenues in excess of 1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Ski and Golf on Same Day at Fairmont Hot Springs Starting at $88
Great family value ski packages this March for Easter March 11, 2008, FAIRMONT HOT SPRINGS, B.C. - This March, treat the family to a getaway on the warm side of the Rockies at Fairmont Hot Springs. Packages start at $88.00 per-person based on double occupancy and include lift tickets for two at the Fairmont ski area, children under 12 stay and ski for free and children older than 12 are $28.00 per child. After a day on the slopes families can spend time relaxing at the natural, mineral hot springs, and are encouraged to visit as often as they like during their stay.
The ski school offers organized lessons to polish up your spring skiing style and the Fairmont Fun Camp is perfect for the little ones to learn with other children. Parents can watch the action on the slopes while enjoying a hot toddy by the fire in Desperado’s Lounge.
Few places on earth can boast the unique opportunity that spring in the Rockies brings to Fairmont Hot Springs and the Columbia Valley, the ability to ski and golf the same day. After a morning of skiing on the sun drenched runs at the Fairmont ski area, impatient golfers can catch an early season round of golf in the afternoon on the Riverside golf course, early season weekend rates apply and are $80.00 per person.
Get more than a chocolate buzz this Easter and take advantage of the March rates. In the Mountain Flowers Dinning Room, there is a spectacular Easter Sunday Brunch and family Easter egg hunts for hotel guests, at a cost of $18.95 per adult and children under 4 are free.
For more information on the spring skiing package or to book reservations please call 1.800.663.4979
Fairmont Hot Springs in the Columbia Valley is a historical four-season resort destination that has been a perennial favorite with Western Canadians for over 50 years. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs the 3000 acre resort features a 137 room lodge with spa and conference center. The resort offers championship golf; skiing, hiking fishing and horseback riding.
Plans are under way for a billion dollar expansion over the next 15 years. Included in the master plan is an expansion of the natural hot springs, an enhanced spa and wellness centre with newly designed hot springs pools, and a new resort/retail village with luxury hotel and condominiums. Blessed with stunning views and the largest therapeutic mineral hot springs in Canada, the revitalized Fairmont Hot Springs will feature an outdoor event plaza and walking trails linking the entire community.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 3000 acre resort features a 137 suite lodge with spa and conference centre. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and ski school, hiking trails, horseback riding, fishing, and river rafting on the Columbia. The resort is undergoing a $1 billion expansion and is developing 1500 acres for a variety of housing options. FHS is owned by Ken Fowler Enterprises, a private investment firm with over $200 million invested in a broad spectrum of well-managed companies and annual revenues in excess of $1.3 billion. KFE is also developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario.
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Bear Mountain Resort GM Moves to The Rise in Vernon
GM to Open Fred Couples Signature Golf Course This Year February 21, 2008, VERNON B.C. –The Rise, Okanagan’s premier golf and wine resort, has named Terry Yacyshen as resort general manager. Yacyshen’s responsibilities at the four season resort include The Golf Club at The Rise featuring the Fred Couples Signature Course, the winery, a boutique hotel and the Beach Club.
Yacyshen joins The Rise, whose Fred Couples Signature Golf Course was recently named by the ROBB Report as one of top new resort courses in the world, after holding the position of resort general manager at the Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa. This spring, Yacyshen will manage the opening of The Golf Club at the Rise and oversee operations during its first year.
“This type of opportunity doesn’t come along often,” says Yacyshen, adding that he is looking forward to a dynamic environment at The Rise. “With Western Canada’s first Fred Couples Signature Golf Course and its vineyards, winery and Beach Club, The Rise has it all. Creating and maintaining operations for such a world class resort will be challenging and rewarding.”
Offering the most spectacular golf experience in Western Canada, The Golf Club at The Rise is the culmination of a ten-year partnership between legendary golf designer Gene Bates and one of the tour’s most popular players, Freddy “Boom Boom” Couples. With five tees on each hole, the Par 72, 7000+ yard championship course offers breathtaking views of the Okanagan Valley wilderness. The course has been integrated into the rugged natural topography of the Vernon highlands and is designed to accommodate golfers at every level.
For the past six years, Yacyshen managed the capital projects and operational aspects of one of the biggest resort developments in western Canada. A native of Brandon, Manitoba, he entered the golf and hospitality industry as a golf professional with the Calgary Golf Country Club and received associate professional designation at the Red Deer Golf & Country Club. Yacyshen also played competitive golf including several satellite tours such as the Space Coast, Caribbean, Golden State as well as Canadian tours. After two years of competition, he moved to Valley Ridge in Calgary. Seeking a year-round opportunity, he later moved to Victoria where he became head professional at the Royal Colwood Golf & Country Club, followed by a move to the Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Golf Resort & Spa, also in Victoria.
“Terry brings a wealth of experience to us at The Rise in both opening the only Signature Golf Course in the Okanagan, and also in overseeing a truly remarkable year-round resort,” notes Leona Snider, president and ceo. “I am sure that he will help us move The Rise to new heights with his exceptional golf credentials and strong resort expertise.”
The Rise (www.TheRise.ca) Okanagan Hills Development Corporation
Okanagan Hills Development Corporation (OHDC) is building The Rise, the Okanagan’s premier golf and winery resort. Perched on a south facing hillside overlooking Okanagan Lake, The Rise is 735-acres and located 3.5 km west of the city centre in Vernon, British Columbia. The Rise offers spectacular views down the throat of Okanagan Lake and will feature a winery, vineyards, lakeside beach club, several enclave neighbourhoods consisting of home-sites and villas, hotel and village centre and Western Canada’s only Fred Couples Signature Golf Course
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good news stories on business, resort real estate, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Time Sensitive Boomers Drive Recreational Property Market
rareEarth research on buyer preferences good news for the economy Vancouver, British Columbia (February 14, 2008) Research released today by luxury resort real estate sales and marketing firm, rareEarth Project Marketing, reveals consumer confidence is high in resort real estate and that the Okanagan is the #1 choice of Western Canadians.
James Askew, president of Vancouver-based rareEarth Project Marketing, has been responsible for over 1.25 billion dollars of prime resort real estate sales in the Okanagan, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, and resorts across North America.
According to Askew, Baby Boomers and Young Families with time sensitive needs will continue to fuel the recreational property demand.
"Boomers have a built-in urgency to purchase resort real estate while they are still active, while their grandchildren are still young, and while they can still enjoy the true benefits of spending quality time with friends and family.” says Askew. “Boomers recognize that the prime window of opportunity is only 10 or 15 years for them, so rather than be lead by speculative market conditions, they’re choosing to just get on with life”.
“Similarly, the Young Family market segment feels a natural sense of urgency to find that special place by the lake, ocean or ski hill where they can enjoy cherished summers and, or winters together as a close family before the children grow up.”
rareEarth conducts extensive research for its developer clients on the recreational real estate market as an important part of rareEarth's proprietary real estate sales and marketing methodology, known as rareEarthWorksTM. Using this market intelligence, rareEarth advises its clients in the creation of resorts to ensure each resort community not only meets developers’ sales and revenue objectives, but also the short and long-term dreams of the buyers and their families.
Its survey, conducted in late 2007 over the western provinces, examines buyer preferences of those who are currently planning to buy recreational property.
Survey results include: • 80% of buyers will only consider buying recreational real estate offering whole ownership. • 56% do not have a second home currently but plan on purchasing one in the near future
When asked where they would buy a second home, the Okanagan was the clear favorite as 38% of those surveyed, said they would buy a second home in the Okanagan. 26% preferred Vancouver Island; and 17% preferred the Sunshine Coast.
According to Askew, the fact that 80% will only consider buying whole ownership properties is an indication of a good real estate economy since that requires a greater investment than fractional ownership. The findings are in sharp contrast to some recent speculation that the recessing US economy would hurt Canada’s recreational real estate market.
“Combine the sense of urgency with the emergence of the largest and wealthiest demographic in history who are deciding the time is now to secure their dream recreational property and we have a recipe for a continued and very strong recreational property market.”
Very important to Boomers and Young Families, according to Askew, is their ability to find the right property, in the right place and at the right time - not trying to buy at the perfect market cycle.
“If they find that special cottage or vacation home they’ve been dreaming of, they’d generally rather make the jump now to secure it, rather than waiting six months or a year to see if they can buy it for less later” says Askew, “these buyers realize that the true value proposition for recreational property is more the emotional, intrinsic value, not just the economic value".
Askew expects 2008 to be another steady and strong year for the high quality recreational property market segment. Says Askew, “Developers need to ensure they create and deliver well thought out and planned resort and vacation properties to meet buyer’s needs. All indications are that this year and the next few years at least, will be strong for recreational real estate in western Canada.”
rareEarth surveyed 500 people in late 2007 over the western provinces, who are planning on buying a second home in the near future to examine buyer preferences on behalf of its current clients.
rareEarth Project Marketing is a specialist in the marketing and sales of large-scale, premium resort real estate communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Based in Vancouver, B.C. rareEarths’ professional and experienced team has sold over 1.25 billion dollars of prime real estate.
Since its inception, rareEarth and its clients have experienced an enormous amount of success, attributed to this specialized approach and the ability to create inherent value for developers and future owners of premium recreational communities.
Some of their recent marketing and sales successes include:
* Black Rock Oceanfront Resort, Ucluelet * The Outback (Phase 1 and 2), Vernon * The Cove Lakeside Resort, Westbank * Whittakers, Pender Harbour * Watermark Beach Resort, Osoyoos * The Oswego, Victoria
-30-
**Permission-based News Release Distribution offered by dHz Media.**
To subscribe to a source of good stories on business, resort/real estate development, golf, wine and technology, please click here
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Fairmont Hot Springs Acquires Riverside: Plans $1B Expansion
New owner creating Master Plan for expansion of 3000 acre mountain resort
January 24, 2008, FAIRMONT HOT SPRINGS B.C. – Ken Fowler Enterprises (KFE), new owner of Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS), announced today that it has acquired the Riverside Golf Resort. The acquisition includes the Riverside golf course, an 18-hole Championship course, clubhouse, and 1000 acres of developable land. KFE is creating a Master Plan for the $1 billion expansion of Fairmont Hot Springs and it will include Riverside into its review and evaluation of the 3000 acre resort.
“The acquisition of Riverside Golf Resort is part of Ken Fowler Enterprises' plan to create more of a good thing at Fairmont Hot Springs,” said Richard Haworth, VP Development, Fairmont Hot Springs, “Riverside is an integral component of unifying Fairmont Hot Springs and the Master Plan will now reflect the entire land area.”
Fairmont Hot Springs’ Master Plan will include an expansion of the natural hot springs, an enhanced spa and wellness centre with newly designed hot springs pools, and a new resort/retail village with luxury hotel condominiums. Blessed with stunning views and the largest therapeutic mineral hot springs in Canada, the revitalized Fairmont Hot Springs will feature an outdoor event plaza and walking trails linking the entire community.
The Riverside Golf Resort was acquired from Riverside Golf Estates, owned by Don and Carol Seable. Don’s original vision helped to establish Fairmont Hot Springs as one of Canada’s finest golf communities. In 1998, Riverside golf course was awarded “Canada’s Golf Course of the Year” by the National Golf Course Owners Association.
“When we met Ken Fowler and his Team, we were so impressed with his sense of integrity, ambition and vision for the future of the community of Fairmont Hot Springs.” says Don Seable, President, Riverside Golf Estates, “We felt that he was the only person to carry out the dream my wife Carol and I shared with Lloyd Wilder, the original founder of Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.”
The Seables’ love for Riverside, their staff, guests and members was often cited in public and private. The Seable family extends its recognition and appreciation to all of the Riverside staff, past and present, for their contributions in making Riverside what it is.
Don states: “We know that Ken Fowler wants the entire community of Fairmont Hot Springs to benefit from the planning and investment that he and others will contribute.”
“The decision to sell a project we spent 20 years carving out of nothing was incredibly difficult. We would not have considered any offer if it did not unite Riverside with Fairmont Hot Springs.”
The Riverside golf course is an 18-hole course set on the majestic Columbia River with the rugged Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. The winding Columbia River creates a natural and peaceful water challenge as fairways roll gently along its sloping banks. At 6,507 yards long, the course is designed to CGPA standards. It is located on Hwy 93/95 in the majestic BC Rockies, one hour from Cranbrook and three hours west of Calgary.
Fairmont Hot Springs now offers 45 holes of mountain golf as Riverside will accompany Mountainside, the 18-hole par 72 CPGA-rated golf course and Creekside, the par 3, 9-hole golf course, both currently owned and operated by Fairmont Hot Springs.
FHS is also commissioning a study on ski hill expansion and evaluating enhancement for the existing Championship Golf Courses. The new master plan will provide details on the timeline for completion of new single family home sites, townhomes, condos and hotel rooms and the quantities available.
In addition to Fairmont Hot Springs, KFE is developing Red Leaves, the new, luxury resort community on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka, Ontario. KFE’s extensive experience in construction and development, food and beverage, and retail – core components of Fairmont Hot Springs – will be applied to the revitalization.
In the heart of the Columbia Valley, Fairmont Hot Springs (FHS) is a historical four-season resort destination located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River in the Rocky Mountains. World renowned for its natural beauty and its mineral hot springs, the 3000 acre resort features a 140 suite lodge with spa and conference centre. It offers Championship golf, ski resort and
Fairmont Hot Springs Opening First in the Columbia Valley with New Celebrity Flavour
Fairmont Hot Springs resident naturalists deliver thrilling eco-adventures.February 24, 2009, Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C. – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort is pleased to announce the resounding success of its winter eco adventures and wilderness pursuits tour packages. The tours are designed to promote the safe and responsible appreciation of the natural winter wonders in the B.C. Rockies. 
Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa, Kimberley B.C’s only spa resort, is excited to announce the inaugural Spirit of Kimberley Photo Contest.
