July / August 2009
Editor's Page - The Summer of Discontent
Written by Rosanna Caira
What a difference a year makes. At this time last year the hotel industry was sailing through a summer full of optimism. Sales were strong, people were travelling and economic indicators were good. Then a not-so-funny thing happened on the way to posting another solid year — September hit, the economy began to tumble, and the tide turned for the worst. The last quarter proved to be dismal, and what should have been a vintage year became mediocre at best.
Hotelier - Scott Dunlop
Written by Rosanna Caira
The Gak Eco Resort at Treasure Mountain
No one could mistake Scott Dunlop for being a typical hotelier. The native of London, Ont., didn’t attend hotel school and he’s never even held a hotel job. “My background is in education, with a healthy dose of entrepreneurship,” says the 39-year-old father of two. A few years ago, Dunlop bought a tract of land two-and-half-hours east of Vancouver with the intent to build an outdoor school for kids. But somewhere along the way he decided to create an eco-resort getaway instead.
Amiable Amenities
Written by J.D. Ney
Finding in-room amenities everyone can enjoy
Picture yourself walking into a standard guest room at your property. Now, apart from the bed, the lamps, the requisite chair and desk set, what do you see? More importantly, what does your guest see?
The business of in-room amenities is as varied as hotel properties themselves. At the top end, the products in the bathroom are spa-inspired, the TVs are huge high-tech set-ups and the linens luxe. Business travellers and those staying in more modest digs likely won’t see the spa gear, but then again, they aren’t necessarily looking for it. Fail to provide the proper wireless access, the right cable package or have some environmentally unsustainable practices and you might just lose a vacationer or a lucrative corporate client.
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