The Penticton Travelodge will be undergoing some renovations as it is re-branded as a Coast Hotels and Resorts, expected to open next April.

“The location is perfectly placed actually to be a coast hotel,” said Gordon Ferguson, who overseas all hotel operations for property owner Locations West Investment Group. “The Coast has great historical experience in both the leisure market, corporate traveller and convention business. We have the existing waterslide, indoor pool, full service resturant right next to the convention centre for those delegates but we also are one block away from the new arenas and one and half blocks away from Okanagan beach so we certainly can tap into all those market segments and are excited to do that under this new brand.”

Coast Hotels and Resorts announced the long-term franchise agreement with the Locations West Investment Group, who also own the Ramada Inn and another hotel in Okanagan Falls.

Locations West investment Group is a privately owned and operated development company incorporated in 1975. Based out of Penticton, the company manages a diverse development portfolio in the South Okanagan consisting of residential subdivisions, office and industrial buildings, condominiums, hotel and recreational properties.

“We are thrilled to become part of Coast Hotels and Resorts,” said Robin Agur, president of Locations West Investment Group. “Coast Hotels and Resorts has a very strong market presence in western Canada and the US which is where the majority of our traffic comes from, so this re-branding fits nicely with our long-term vision for the property.”

So far they are not releasing any plans to expand but with the slower months ahead for the tourism industry in Penticton, Locations West Investment Group plans on taking advantage of the downtime to finish renovations to the hotel rooms. This will include new furniture packages, carpet and paint.

“There is the ability to expand there but we don’t have those plans ready to announce,” said Agur, whose family has lived in the Okanagan for five generations. “This will definitely be a tier up in terms of quality of product and service that is delivered.”

Agur said he is thrilled to become a part of Coast Hotels and Resorts and the re-branding fits nicely with the long-term vision for the property. For Coast Hotels and Resorts the acquisition boosts their complement of properties located throughout B.C., Alberta, Northwest Territories, the Western United States, Alaska and Hawaii. The addition of the Coast Penticton Hotel will complete a busy year for Coast Hotels and Resorts, as this will be the fifth opening in an eight-month period. Properties in Chilliwack and Lethbridge opened this year and will open in Whistler (2009) and downtown Vancouver (2010). Already they own, manage and franchise 43 hotel and resort properties.

“The addition of the Penticton property gives Coast Hotels and Resorts another appealing leisure destination that complements our Kamloops, Kelowna and Osoyoos properties and a leading market position along the Thompson Okanagan Trail,” said Graeme Barrit, president of Coast Hotels and Resorts. “With the hotel’s attractive location adjacent to both the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and the South Okanagan Events Centre there’s tremendous potential for this property to capture a larger share of both the business and convention market.”