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By
Steve Pike,
PGA.com Senior Writer
07.14.2005
01:06 pm (ET)
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) is expanding its Westin franchise with an agreement with British Columbia's popular Bear Mountain in which the property will become known as the Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Resort & Spa. The Fairways phase of the resort opened in December 2004 and the Clubhouse phase is scheduled to open in May 2006. The primary investor and CEO, Len Barrie, is a former NHL player. He is joined in partnership by a group of current and former NHL stars, including Mike Vernon, Ray Whitney, Rob Niedermayer, Ryan Smyth, Greg Adams and Rob Blake. Bear Mountain Resort is one of the larger resort developments in Western Canada, covering 1,200 acres or almost two square miles. The resort and residential development, located 20 minutes from downtown Victoria, will be anchored by a village center and the Westin Bear Mountain Victoria Resort & Spa. The resort is home to a Jack and Steve Nicklaus co-designed golf course, with a second Nicklaus-designed course projected to open in 2007. Phase I of the Westin Bear Mountain Victoria is the Fairways Building, which offers 65 suites ranging from hotel rooms to luxury one- and two-bedroom accommodations. Each suite offers views of the BC wilderness and the golf course. Phase II will be the 160,000-square-foot Clubhouse that will serve as the center of the resort, scheduled for completion in May 2006. The top three stories of the Clubhouse will feature 91 rooms comprised of guest rooms and one- and two-bedroom suites, ranging in size from 465 to 2,490 square feet. The 10-15 year plan for the resort includes additional hotels, cabins and Bear Mountain Village, which will be the center of the community. Copyright 2005 PGA.com. All rights reserved.
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