“This rating as the top Canadian hotel by the knowledgeable readers of Travel + Leisure is an early Christmas gift for our team,” said Charles McDiarmid, managing director of the Wickaninnish Inn. “As travelers begin to consider their many options for the upcoming year we want all to know we remain as committed as ever to honouring their choice with high quality, personalized service and a genuine experience all at an even better value than ever before, which we are sure will translate into lifetime memories.”  This rating precedes the Inn’s week-long annual closure in January, where major refurbishing and renovations are executed as part of the Inn’s mandate to continuous improvement.

Travel + Leisure’s T+L 500 World’s Best Hotels is a compendium of its reader’s survey, where hotel facilities, location, service, restaurants, and overall value are rated online. In addition to giving the Wickaninnish Inn top category rankings, Travel + Leisure recommends snuggling up “next to your fireplace with a Pacific Northwest Pinot Noir and the binoculars that are provided in each room.”

The Wickaninnish Inn is joined in Travel + Leisure’s influential rankings by fellow Canadian Relais & Châteaux resorts The Post Hotel in Lake Louise, Alberta, and Quebec City’s Auberge Saint-Antoine, ranking second and third, respectively.

Complete results of Travel + Leisure’s T+L 500 World’s Best Hotels 2011 will be published in Travel + Leisure‘s January 2011 issue, with a preview available now at http://www.travelandleisure.com/tl500/2011

About the Wickaninnish Inn
The Wickaninnish Inn, perched on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino, has been a Relais & Châteaux member property since 1997. A year-round destination exemplifying “rustic elegance on nature’s edge”, the Inn is owned and managed by the McDiarmid family of Tofino, and is exclusively located on beautiful Chesterman Beach. Each of the 75 oceanfront guest rooms and suites welcome guests with a gas fireplace, soaker tub, locally-created art, an individual balcony and of course a beach or ocean viewscape. The Wickaninnish Inn is home to The Pointe Restaurant and Ancient Cedars Spa, voted “Best Resort Spa Overall” in 2008 by the readers of Travel + Leisure Magazine. Contact the Inn on property reservations team 24 hours a day by calling 1.800.333.4604 or visiting www.wickinn.com.

Head to the Hills this Holiday Season

There’s nothing like a snow white Christmas in the mountains complete with twinkling lights, roasted chestnuts and the laughter of children. The holiday season is around the corner and Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna, British Columbia is looking forward to welcoming guests and families with a host of festive activities sure to ignite your holiday spirit.

From a visit from Old Saint Nick himself and moonlit sleigh rides, to a heart-warming Christmas Eve parade and a New Year Eve celebration for all ages, Big White is the holiday hot spot for the whole family to enjoy.

Light up the night
On Friday, December 10, Big White is the place to be to kick off the holiday season. The annual Big White Light up lights up the night with 17,00 colourful lights – one for each bed on the mountain – lit throughout the Village. To keep you warm, revellers can enjoy a hot chocolate and some roasted chestnuts while getting into the spirit of the season.

A Christmas Eve Parade with Santa
Celebrate the giving season with Santa and friends. Santa has scheduled a special last minute visit during Big White’s Christmas Eve parade before he takes off to make his important deliveries. Big White’s very own ski pros will speed down the mountain and through the village for the resort’s famous torch light parade. An indoor church service in the Village Center Mall will be followed by fireworks and much, much more.

“Oh what fun it is to ride…”
Join “Tom, Jerry & friends” for a traditional Canadian Sleigh Ride through the wilderness and winter’s landscape covered in deep snow. Come aboard on an old-fashioned horse-drawn sleigh through the pristine Big White landscape for a true Canadian winter adventure.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a bang
The Village at Big White will be bursting with laughter as the New Year rolls in. Come celebrate with the whole family in Happy Valley with kids games, music, dancing and fun for everyone. At 8:00 pm for the kids and midnight for the bigger kids, a fireworks display will light up the night sky.

All the holiday festivities are complemented by Big White’s regular program of activities that includes craft night, bingo, bonfires, fireworks and much more offered throughout the winter season. In the spirit of giving Big White is offering a special holiday season promotion this winter. Guests who book two nights accommodation over Christmas will receive the third night for free. For full details or to make a booking call Big White Central Reservations at 1-800-663-2772 and quote V1 at time of booking.

Located in the picturesque Okanagan Valley and a short 55-minute drive from Kelowna International Airport, the award-winning Big White Ski Resort is British Columbia’s second largest resort and boasts the most ski-in, ski-out accommodation in Canada. Blessed with sunny weather, dry powder and a mild average temperature, Big White is best known as a family friendly resort where kids and adults can all have fun. For more information, visit www.bigwhite.com or call 1-800-663-2772 for reservations and bookings.

Victoria Ghost Tour Now On Sale!

• On sale for $169 per person until Dec. 31 Includes:
• 2 nights at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort
• Get spooked on a 90 minute walking Ghost Tour
• Full details: www.destinationtours.ca 

• West Coast Storm Watching Tour Now On Sale!
  • On sale for $229 per person until Dec. 31 Includes:
  • 2 nights at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort
  • $50 dining voucher to be used at either Float Lounge or Fetch Restaurant (Both have ocean views!)
  • Full details:  www.destinationtours.ca  
     

• Expect Record Snow This Winter!
  • Environment Canada is predicting a much snowier and colder winter than normal, which is great news for skiers and riders! Ski trips are available from $249 per person

• Early Bird Ski Booking Deadline Is Approaching!
  • Early Bird’s get the worm, or in this case they receive a $25 discount and an early/late season  2 for 1 Whistler Blackcomb lift voucher (when booking by Nov. 5-12/10 depending on the tour). Have a group of 10+? Check out our group organizer incentives 

• New Destination Snow Web Site Now Live!
  • View our list of available trips on our NEW website: www.destinationsnow.com

New Family/Seniors Skiing and Snowboarding Zones
Slow Safety and education is always foremost at Big White Ski Resort and with that in mind a new program with rotating “Family/Seniors Skiing and Snowboarding Zones” will be set up each day throughout the season. Three runs will be selected each day and these runs will have signage, gated entry and the addition of extra slope watchers to ensure that speed, safe skiing and riding are monitored so that the most senior guests as well as families with small children can explore more than just the green runs on the mountain.

A Chilling Good Time: Challenge Yourself on Big White’s New Ice Climbing Tower
Big White has got a brand new activity this year: an Ice Climbing Tower in the Adventure Park at Happy Valley. The Ice tower will become a main attraction with a height of 60 feet! The structure is built with 4 telephone poles cross-braced together then flooded with water that freezes into 3 feet of thick blue ice. There is a beginner side and three other sides for more advanced climbers or anyone who is looking for a challenge. This is an activity for all fitness levels and can satisfy anyone with an appetite for adventure! The Ice Tower will let you test your skills on the ice or watch others as they attempt to reach the top.

Time for the Whole Family

In today’s hectic world, we all need to remember to slow down and spend quality time where it counts. Be it spending the time with the people that we care the most about and bringing together multi-generations, or reuniting long lost family members and sharing family stories, families reunions are happily making a come back. Grandparents get some extra special love this year at Big White Ski Resort.  Grandparents who book before December 1, 2010 will receive 10% off regular retail pricing on all accommodation, lift tickets, rentals and lessons… for the entire family!

Big White and Kelowna to Welcome the World in 2011 for the International Children’s Games

Big White Ski Resort and Kelowna will welcome the world January 25 through 31, 2011 for the International Children’s Games. The event will attract about 1,000 athletes, age 12 to 15 in seven sports including skiing, skating, curling, and for the first time, hockey and speed skating. The 2011 games in Kelowna marks the first time these winter games will be held outside of Europe.

TELUS Park

Rated as the ‘Best Place to session a precision terrain park’ by the 2009 SBC Ski and Snowboard Resort Guide, Flynn Seddon, Big White’s Director of Terrain Parks promises that the 2010/11 rails and urban inspired features will definitely live up to this kudos. The TELUS Park is also open till late throughout the season for light-lit night park sessions.

Globe Café Expansion

Inspired by distant travels, the Globe Café and Tapas Bar is popular with guests and locals alike. The casual ambience of this upmarket restaurant is undergoing development to double its capacity for the upcoming 2010/11 winter season. Jude Brunt and her team are excited for the development and are eagerly creating a new menu to accompany the launch of the expansion.

Greater choice and convenience

The Market, which is conveniently located in the heart of the village is undergoing change to provide greater choice for its guests. A new deli-inspired take-away area named “MGS” will offer guests the convenience of freshly prepared snacks, sandwiches and treats whilst on the move. The introduction of The Market’s first retail store will offer soft goods, custom t-shirts and other ski and snowboarding apparel with an emphasis on value.

Located in the picturesque Okanagan Valley and a short 55-minute drive from Kelowna International Airport, the award-winning Big White Ski Resort is British Columbia’s second largest resort and boasts the most ski-in, ski-out accommodation in Canada. Blessed with sunny weather, dry powder and a mild average temperature, Big White is best known as a family friendly resort where kids and adults can all have fun. For more information, visit www.bigwhite.com or call 1-800-663-2772 for reservations and bookings.

Barbecue Academy is a sizzlin’ getaway weekend featuring the very best recipes and techniques from my latest book, Barbecue Secrets DELUXE! It’s an entertaining and informative combination of a hands-on workshop and gourmet grilling demonstrations that will supercharge your outdoor cooking skills and introduce you to the smoky world of real, Southern-Style championship barbecue.

What’s more, I’m proud to report that Barbecue Academy has some world-class sponsors to help bring you a memorable experience. We’ll be cooking on genuine Weber equipment – the gold standard of outdoor cooking. And throughout the weekend you’ll taste some of the finest Canadian and global wines, from Sumac Ridge Chardonnay to Ravenswood Zin, and refresh your thirst with cold, crisp Budweiser and Bud Light.

The ultimate barbecue experience
The Barbecue Academy package includes:
Accommodation in a deluxe room at the Fairmont Banff Springs for a minimum of two nights
Friday: an opening reception
Saturday: an all-day, hands-on championship barbecue workshop featuring a classic barbecue feast for lunch
Sunday: a half-day grilling and planking demonstration with delicious wine pairings with each dish
A complementary copy of my book with each Barbecue Academy package
An amazing program to take your barbecue skills and your taste buds to the next level

Here’s a more detailed look at the curriculum of this Institute of Higher Grilling:

DAY ONE: Friday, August 20th

“Meat and Greet” 6.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.

Join us for a casual opening reception where you’ll meet me and your fellow participants, enjoy delicious appetizers and a sip on a feature signature cocktail from Barbecue Secrets DELUXE!

DAY TWO: Saturday, August 21st
“Secrets of Championship Barbecue” 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
This is the weekend’s main event: an all-day, hands-on southern-style barbecue workshop laced with tall tales and hickory smoke and finished with sweet, tangy sauce. Students will split into teams of two to four, with each team having exclusive use of a brand new Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker for the day. Think of it as my barbecue boot camp, where you’ll learn to prep and cook competition-quality chicken and ribs and get indoctrinated into the ways of the Barbecue Lifestyle. A highlight of the day will be a barbecue feast for lunch featuring classic pulled pork sandwiches and Texas-style brisket with great sides and a lip-smackin’ dessert. At the end of the day, we’ll have a fun contest in which teams will present the meats of their labour to be judged by a specially selected panel according to the rules of championship barbecue. Cheap plastic trophies will be handed to the winners — just like in a real barbecue contest! Whether you want to do some training to enter a real barbecue contest or want to be a champion in your own back yard, this day will change your life. Here’s what past participants in this workshop have said about it:

“Ronnie is hilarious, knowledgeable and leads a great workshop.”

“It has improved my understanding, my technique, my confidence and my end product immeasurably.”

“This was an exceptional workshop filled with the science, the art and the lifestyle of barbecue.”

DAY THREE: Sunday, August 22nd

“Essentials of Everyday Grilling” 10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m

This luxurious three-hour cooking demonstration will feature my best grilled and planked dishes, sides and desserts, all paired with superb Vincor wines, including the classic barbecue-friendly Ravenswood Zin. The menu is varied and extensive; by one o’clock everyone will be completely full and satisfied. Here’s what folks have told me about past grilling demonstrations:

“Excellent, excellent, excellent. Oh yes – exceptionally yummy!”

“Come hungry!”

“Do it! Open your culinary tastes.”

At the end of day three, all participants will receive special barbecue goody bags and official personalized diplomas signifying their completion of the workshop and their new understanding of the tools, techniques, lifestyle and philosophy of Southern-style Barbecue, grilling and plank-cooking.

Before departing, you can enjoy the hotel or the town of Banff in the afternoon. A variety of activities are available to you including a round of golf on the famed Stanley Thompson course, a spa treatment at Willow Stream Spa, a nature “photo walk,” shopping in Banff, or even a fly-in fishing experience on the Bow River.

So, there you have it. Whether you’re a foodie or a barbecue fanatic, a wine lover or an adventure traveler, Barbecue Academy promises to be an unforgettable experience, just waiting to happen for you. All you have to do is enroll, which I suggest you do now, because participation is limited and we’re only a week away!

I hope to see you and your companion or gang of friends at Barbecue Academy at the Fairmont Banff Springs in the beautiful Canadian Rockies! If you’re on the edge of deciding and want to talk to me directly about the weekend, give me a call at 604-351-1999. To view a video invitation from me, click here.

Yours forever in smoke,

Banff’s Art- Eco Hotel, The Juniper, Celebrates the

Summer touring packages at Juniper Hotel & Bistro will have guests celebrating Banff’s 125 year  with light footprint self propelled tours, retro additions like cruiser bicycles and blue plate specials,  incentives to bring your own bike and the chance to learn more about one of the park’s most iconic inhabitants, the grizzly bear, all starting with soft touch on the wallet  rates as  low as CDN $165.00 per person, if booked Sunday – Thursday. 

An added soft touch? Return guests can book overnight stays for an additional 10 per cent off.

Living up to the title for being one of Banff’s most cycle friendly hotels, The Juniper’s small fleet of Electra Delux Relic and Norco Santiago Seven Speed Cruisers has just arrived. These three and seven speed bikes are perfect for gliding around town or the Vermillion Lakes and are available for ½ day or full day rentals.  The rental includes a helmet and lock.

Guests may use them on The Juniper’s Go Green Banff Sightseeing package, a self propelled tour that highlights Banff’s best experiences by foot, bike and canoe. Included is a full day bike rental, a Banff tour map, a one-hour canoe rental and a full breakfast.  Overnight rates begin at CDN$165 per person, based on double occupancy for overnight stays Sunday – Thursday.  ‘s top five must-see

The Juniper is perfectly situated for destination cyclists and the hotel is ideally located as a jumping off point for various loops and trails in and around the Banff town site. The Banff Mountain Biking and Cycling Guide is available from the front desk, and guests who check in with their own bikes will receive a Velo Voucher for two at the Wild Flour Bakery, Banff’s only organic bakery.  General Manager James Kendal is an avid cyclist, so he has even created a special Juniper tune up station, which includes a Park Tool™ Tuning & Wash Station and a back up tool kit with onsite mechanic support should guests require bike tuning advice. 

Guests preferring getting even closer to nature can sign up for the  Path of the Great Bear Experience with internationally renown bear specialist Reno Sommerhalder, a certified wilderness guide  with 20 years of field experience with bears. The goal of this one-of-a-kind experience is to explore and understand the difference between the myths and realities about grizzlies. How dangerous are they really? How can a bear slumber half the year without any food? This package is CDN$270.00 per person and includes a guided bear ecology hike and a gourmet lunch to go, based on double occupancy.

Summers in the Canadian Rockies bring long days and The Juniper Bistro is reinventing an age old tradition and bringing back “blue plate specials,” so guests can dine  early and get out and enjoy the evenings.  The CDN$30.00 three course meals are offered daily between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.  Menus change weekly and feature “Cross Roads Cuisine” a name inspired by the Bow Valley corridor, which bridges two abundant food baskets from the prairie grasslands to the Fraser Valley Delta. “Cross Roads” is drawn from the tradition of the first peoples who traveled between the salmon region to the West and the buffalo plains to the East, and used the current Juniper site as a resting ground and location to cache food.

About The Juniper Hotel & Bistro www.thejuniper.com 

Set at the base of Mt. Norquay at the edge of town, The Juniper Hotel & Bistro embraces all that Banff National Park has to offer – abundant wildlife, stunning vistas and a rich history. Originally created as a highway hotel in the 1950’s, in celebration of the opening of the TransCanada Highway, today the 52-room Juniper is the first hotel in North America to reflect Art Eco design.  This is a term coined by the Banff based design team from Arctos & Bird as the perfect way to describe the reclamation, recycling and re-use that characterized the 2003-2004 restoration of the hotel. Backing up its “eco” claim, The Juniper recently signed on to receive 100 per cent of its electricity needs from Bullfrog Power, a green electricity provider, and is also the first hotel in Banff to be approved by Ocean Wise, the Vancouver Aquarium’s rigorously monitored restaurant conservation program for purchasing seafood.

For more information people may go to www.thejuniper.com or call 1.866.551.2281

Canada’s boutique-hotel innovator, the family-led Groupe Germain extends its unique brand of hospitality nationally, to Western Canada, as the 143-room Hôtel Le Germain Calgary opens in January.

“We are thrilled to introduce our unique approach to genuine hospitality in Calgary with this remarkable opening rate,” says Hôtel Le Germain Calgary General Manager Christopher Vachon. “Everything we do aims to create a warm, comfortable ambiance for guests, where the attentive and personalized service is always considerate without ever being indiscreet. These are the little touches that are part of the Germain difference, making you feel like a special guest, each time you visit.”

The exquisite boutique accommodations offer the high standards in comfort, hospitality and commitment to excellence Groupe Germain’s discerning clientele has come to expect. To celebrate it’s grand opening and for a limited time only, rates for Superior Rooms with a King size bed are offered at $199.00 CDN (per night based on double occupancy plus tax) and can be reserved via germaincalgary.com or at 877.362.8990. This exclusive offer gives you the opportunity to discover Hôtel Le Germain Calgary before reverting to its regular prices, starting at $279.00 CDN.

Hôtel Le Germain Calgary offers a private sanctuary in the middle of one of Canada’s most vibrant cities. Vistas allow guests to savour the dynamic Calgary skyline. Oversized hotel windows allow plenty of natural light – and, of course, they open. Rooms feature naturally lit, spa-like bathrooms with rainfall showers, the most comfortable mattresses, FRETTE linens, goose-down duvets, feather pillows and comfy seating designed to make you feel pampered, relaxed and rejuvenated. State-of-the-art ecological features have been incorporated throughout the construction, including a geothermal heating and cooling system, energy-efficient lighting controlled by occupancy card reader, and the recycling of heat from the air conditioning system to produce the hotel’s hot water.

About Hôtel Le Germain Calgary
With 143 rooms and suites, Hôtel Le Germain Calgary is a bold new landmark at the centre of one of Canada’s most sophisticated cities. Located downtown at 899 Centre Street SW, Hôtel Le Germain Calgary is steps away from the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts, the Glenbow Museum, the Calgary Tower, the TELUS Convention Centre, Olympic Plaza and the popular Stephen Avenue pedestrian walk. Nearby Hôtel Le Germain Calgary, you can find nine major shopping centers and department stores, retro cinemas, some of Calgary’s finest restaurants, pubs, cafés and bars, as well as an eclectic mix of boutiques and galleries. germaincalgary.com

About Groupe Germain
A family-owned Quebec company, Groupe Germain owns and operates three Le Germain Boutique-hotels – in Quebec City, Montreal, and Toronto – as well as two “no-frills-chic” ALT Hotels in Montreal and Quebec City. The company is planning the opening of a second Boutique-hotel in Toronto as well as a real estate complex in Calgary which includes Hôtel Le Germain Calgary. Groupe Germain is renowned for the impeccable hospitality and style it brings to its boutique hotels. groupegermain.com

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