Chateau Victoria
When it comes to accommodating our guests, we know no limits! That is why you won’t be surprised to hear that we have partnered with the Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites to house our short-term guests. The Chateau Victoria is a great option for our clientele whose stays are less than one week (our minimum stay), or for those requiring just a couple nights accommodation until our extended-stay suites become available.
The Chateau Victoria Hotel has been a local favourite since its construction in 1966. The property is steeped in rich history that dates back to the time the Wilson family owned the land. Long after the last Wilson died, the land sat vacant except for a parrot named Louis, who was named in the will and whose presence kept the property from being sold. Louis’s long life delayed the construction of the hotel for a further 17 years. Eventually the time came when, in 1966, the deteriorating Wilson mansion was demolished and the Chateau Victoria hotel was erected. Before “Vista 18,” the hotel’s restaurant was called the “Parrot House Restaurant” in honour of the parrot Louis.
We just love this story, but what we love even more are the modern suites this hotel provides, with walk-out balconies, kitchenettes, and separate bedrooms. We recommend these suites and will even take care of our guest’s hotel reservations, from start to finish. It’s one of the many services we offer.
Premiere Suites Partners with The Inn at Laurel Point
We are very excited to announce our new partnership with the Inn at Laurel Point!
You may be wondering why a corporate rental firm would refer their guests to an industry competitor like the Inn at Laurel Point. For us at Premiere Suites Victoria, we do not see accommodation providers as competitors but rather partners in our field. We do know our suites provide a home-like atmosphere that you won’t find in a hotel, yet there are times a hotel stay is exactly what one might need. The Inn at Laurel Point provides a perfect housing solution for our guests that are staying for less than 7 nights, or may just need a few nights accommodation until our extended-stay suites are ready for their arrival. There is so much to love about this gorgeous waterfront property. But what really speaks to us is the assurance that our guests will be well cared for at The Inn. We are especially pleased to provide our discounted corporate rates to our guests, and will even handle the reservation from start to finish. It’s just one of the many services we offer.
Welcome to the team
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest team member, Luisa Cinanni!
Luisa brings to us a host of knowledge and talents in international reservations and hospitality… not to mention she speaks four languages to boot. Luisa’s thoughtful manor and extensive background in tourism, including a degree in Economics and Techniques of Tourism, will be a great fit with our office as our new Reservations Manager.
We look forward to working and growing with you at Premiere Suites Victoria, Luisa!
Welcome to a new Era
Premiere Suites Victoria is proudly representing 2 new units in Concert Development’s recently completed Era. We love the location in the heart of Victoria at 728 Yates St, where you can immerse yourself in the vibrancy of urban life. Set amidst coffee houses, restaurants, theaters, yoga studios, markets, and boutique shops, the Era is downtown living at its best. The suites are enticingly quiet and upscale, finished with cool quartz counter tops and polished chrome accents, and furnished to the teaspoon to our highest standard. This chic tower of glass and concrete blends harmoniously into the Victorian cityscape by revitalizing and integrating the existing heritage façade onto the lower level.
We have two 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom suites that pack a lot of punch into their 550 square feet of open concept living space. The bedroom is bright and spacious with plenty of storage to unpack and feel at home. Amenities for our guests include a social lounge with fire pit and BBQ, and expansive garden terrace.
Come see for yourself what the buzz is all about. Pictures coming soon!
A Proud Partnership
The Magnolia Hotel and Spa has always been one of my favourite hotels. A background in tourism has awarded me a vast knowledge of hotels, and the Magnolia Hotel was a name that often arose in the industry and was requested by business and leisure travelers alike. I never hesitated to recommend this hotel, for to me it represented Victoria so well. Welcoming, just the right size (not too big, but still lots to do), and full of charm. Not to mention it’s ideal location smack-dab in the heart of the city and only a block from the harbour.
Needless to say, Premiere Suites Victoria is very excited to enter a partnership with this gem in our city.
Magnolia Hotel and Spa is the perfect accommodation option for our short term guests. The 64 room boutique hotel is small in size, but big on amenities. Guests on business will appreciate complementary internet, phone calls, and faxes, as well as the 24 hour business center. The establishment hosts a fitness center with infrared sauna, as well as an alluring spa to unwind and relax after a long day. This upscale boutique hotel offers valet parking, and laundry & dry cleaning service. Foodies will feel at home eating at the Mediterranean inspired yet locally sourced Catanano’s Restaurant and Cicchetti Bar (Pronounced chi-Ket-tee, meaning small bites or plate of food).
Take a peek at the menu. I just finished my lunch and my tummy is already growling at me after seeing this! House made chorizo in puff pastry with rosemary honey and sea salt? Yes please! http://www.ferrisoysterbar.com/catalano-restaurant/
We love this boutique hotel, but we’re not alone! Did you know that the Magnolia Hotel was voted one of the top hotels in Canada by Conde Nast Traveler, and recognized as both a Top Hotel in Canada and a Top Luxury Hotel in Canada by TripAdvisor’s Travelers Choice awards… for the last four consecutive years? It has also been recently awarded #10 Business Travel Hotel in the WORLD by Conde Nast Traveler.
So what does this mean for you? When our guest’s check in at the Magnolia Hotel and Spa, we know they will be taken care of with the kind of undistracted attention you can only receive in a boutique hotel with just 64 rooms. And our partnership allows us to share the savings of our corporate rates with you, our valued guest.
We look forward to hosting you in Victoria!
What will the Hospitality Industry look like in 100 years?
The year is 2114. There may be flying cars, microchips in our skin, and the ability to cure un-curable diseases. Who knows that the new norm will be in 100 years, but we do know it will be much different than today. The advancement of technology has the ability to decrease human contact; we have seen it at the earliest stages of childhood. Should we be troubled or is this becoming the new norm? As the hospitality industry strives off of personal contact, is this something that we should be concerned about in the years to come?
Working in the hospitality industry for about eight years I have always believed that to be hospitable is an unparalleled trait that you can take with you throughout life, professionally or personally. Yes, hospitality can be taught, but the ability to go above and beyond what is generally asked of you without batting an eyelash to make sure a guest is happy, that is hospitality. And no I’m not talking about the procedures at work when you give a guest complimentary dessert or 50% off their meal because something went wrong. I’m talking about giving a guest your full attention, picking up on what their spouses or dogs name is, remembering birthdays and anniversaries, asking preferences, and being genuine. Is it a dying art?
The way we book a hotel has changed, the way we reserve a table has changed, and the way we book travel has changed. We now have the ability to do it at the click of a button. In each scenario it eliminates the need for human interaction (yay for introverts). I know this may seem obvious, but what does that mean for the hospitality industry? Perhaps soon we will not need guest service agents to check us in at hotels, servers in restaurants are obsolete, and flight attendants are no longer needed. It is evident that the industry will never disappear, but will the number of positions diminish substantially with the coming years because of the increase in technology? When there was once a time that guest services people took the time to help you with all of your needs – like allergies to gluten, thread counts, and internet speed– they could be no more.
I say we see it as an opportunity, and plan for change. Or blame the I-Phone.
-Katie Unger
Reservations Coordinator