Vancouver, B.C. – May 27, 2026 – Coast Hotels Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, Inc. and one of North America’s fastest-growing hotel brands and among Canada’s largest, today announced the addition of its newest franchised property in Whitecourt, Alberta. The newly reimagined Coast Whitecourt Hotel, formerly the Green Gables Inn, officially opened its doors as a Coast Hotel on May 26, 2026.

Located in the heart of Whitecourt, Coast Whitecourt Hotel is well positioned to serve business travelers, resource-sector professionals and leisure guests exploring northwestern Alberta. The property features 46 guest rooms designed for comfort and convenience, catering to couples, solo travelers, and families.

Coast Whitecourt Hotel offers a range of amenities and services, including free self-serve breakfast, complimentary wi-fi and on-site parking, select pet-friendly rooms, an on-site restaurant and guest laundry facilities. In-room conveniences include a fridge, microwave, and coffee maker, supporting both short and longer stays.

“Expanding into Whitecourt aligns with our strategy to grow in key regional markets across Western Canada,” said Takamasa Machiura, President and CEO of Coast Hotels Limited. “The addition of this property strengthens our presence in Alberta and provides travelers with a comfortable, well-appointed experience that reflects Coast Hotels commitment to quality and local hospitality.”

Whitecourt is known as a gateway to outdoor adventure, offering year-round activities for visitors. Guests can explore nearby trails, rivers, and forested landscapes ideal for hiking, fishing, paddling, and snowmobiling. The town also serves as a convenient base for travelers working in or passing through the region.

“We are proud to bring the Coast Hotels brand to Whitecourt,” said Gurpreet Otal, owner representative. “This transition represents an exciting new chapter for the property. We look forward to offering guests the comfort, value, and welcoming service that Coast Hotels is known for, while continuing to serve the local community and travelers alike.”

TORONTO, May 26, 2026 /CNW/ - Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) is set to welcome a record number of international travel buyers and Canadian tourism sellers in Toronto from May 26 to 29, 2026, signaling unprecedented global interest in Canada's tourism experiences.

The tradeshow is a major driver of tourism revenue and international trade. Travel and tourism revenue is projected to increase by 6 per cent and reach $140.9 billion this year according to the Canadian Tourism Outlook Report, produced by Destination Canada and Tourism Economics.

As one of Canada's top service exports, tourism is projected to contribute nine to 10 per cent (up to $30 billion) toward Canada's goal of securing an additional $300 billion in non-US exports by 2035. Tourism's opportunity to contribute to Canada's trade diversification efforts starts on the tradeshow floor, where Canadian sellers (attractions, hotels, and Destination Marketing Organizations) will connect with international buyers (travel agents and tour operators). More than 60,000 of these business to business appointments will connect Canadian tourism experiences to global markets.

All of Canada's target markets attend Rendez-vous Canada, which is experiencing increased interest from markets including Brazil, France and China since Canada's Approved Destination Status (ADS) was reinstated in November 2025. Registration from American buyers is strong and overall buyer registration from all markets is at an all-time high.

Rendez-vous Canada 2026 by the numbers:

• Over 1,400 attendees registered
• 500+ buyers from 24 international markets (100+ more buyers than 2025)
• 900+ sellers representing more than 500 Canadian tourism organizations, including Indigenous entrepreneurs
• 60,000+ pre-scheduled business-to-business appointments

Hosting Rendez-vous Canada in Toronto will deliver strong economic and sector benefits.

• The preliminary direct economic impact is approximately $6.7M
• An additional $5.7M comes from estimated indirect and induced impacts — that is business-to-business activity resulting from the direct impact
• More than 4,000 hotel room nights secured in Toronto
• The 2025 event in Winnipeg generated an estimated $4.6M in economic impact and $89.6M in business was signed over three days in 2025.

Spotlight on Toronto and Ontario Tourism Businesses:

Rendez-vous Canada is an opportunity to showcase Toronto's diverse culinary scene, culturally rich neighbourhoods, and year-round lineup of attractions, festivals, and sporting events to over 500 buyers and tour operators from key global markets. This year's event also comes ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™, giving buyers a firsthand look at how Toronto is preparing to welcome the world.

Last year, Toronto welcomed a record 28.2 million visitors, generating an all-time high of $9.1 billion in visitor spending. International arrivals were the city's fastest-growing segment, rising 8 per cent to 1.4 million visitors, led by strong growth from the U.K. and Germany. Hosting international buyers helps strengthen demand in established markets like Europe and Mexico while expanding opportunities in Asia. To support continued growth and diversification, Destination Toronto has increased visibility and accelerated in-market activity in the U.K., Germany and Mexico alongside the critical U.S. market.

More than 85 Ontario tourism businesses and organizations will participate in the marketplace, meeting with international buyers to build relationships and secure future visitation for destinations and experiences across the province.

Hosting Rendez-vous Canada 2026 in Ontario provides an important opportunity to strengthen international partnerships and showcase the diversity of experiences available throughout the province, from outdoor adventure and Indigenous tourism to culinary, cultural and major event experiences.
In addition to attending RVC, approximately 215 buyers and travel trade media will take part in 17 pre- and post-familiarization tours throughout Ontario. These immersive journeys will introduce participants to destinations and experiences across the province, offering first-hand opportunities to experience Ontario's vibrant communities, iconic attractions and diverse tourism offerings.

Vancouver, BC (May 22, 2026) – Fairmont Hotel Vancouver proudly unveils another summer collaboration with the renowned Vancouver Art Gallery. Guests can experience ‘Among the Trees with Emily Carr’, an immersive, themed afternoon tea inspired by the work of iconic British Columbia artist Emily Carr, (1871–1945).

The Vancouver Art Gallery’s latest exhibition, That Green Ideal: Emily Carr and the Idea of Nature, is the Gallery’s largest solo exhibition of the artist in over twenty years and features more than 100 of her paintings and drawings. The exhibition explores Carr’s obsession with the landscape of the Pacific Northwest, “one grounded in spatiality, where you’re not just looking at the forest, but feel as though your nose is right up against it,” says Richard Hill, Smith Jarislowsky Senior Curator of Canadian Art at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Exhibition Dates: February 6 through November 8, 2026
Opening Hours: Every day, 10 am-5 pm and 10 am-8 pm on Fridays
Pricing: $29+, free for Gallery Members, Indigenous Peoples and children under 18

Among The Trees with Emily Carr Afternoon Tea: A Culinary Tribute
Embark on a culinary journey inspired by Emily Carr with a special afternoon tea at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Set within the hotel’s Notch8 Restaurant, the immersive tearoom offers guests a chance to be ‘among the trees,’ surrounded by Carr’s signature forest paintings.

A unique cocktail menu draws inspiration from Carr’s love of the forest—including cedar-infused spirits and unique tinctures. Savoury highlights include: Woodland Grove, a mushroom mousse tart with a hazelnut crumb, and Red Cedar featuring wild Pacific salmon, fresh dill, and a caper-olive soil. For the sweet tooth, the decadent Driftwood Shortbread blends smoked sea salt caramel with flaky shortbread, while the Forest Floor chocolate financier delights with chocolate butter cream and matcha moss. Freshly baked classic and seasonally inspired scones are served warm with mascarpone tea cream and strawberry jam.

Afternoon Tea Dates: May 22 through September 20, 2026
Seatings: Thursday through Sunday, 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm
Pricing: $75 per person, $40 for children 12 and under

Reservations can be made at Notch8 Dining

The 2026 Hotel Data Conference is taking shape. This year’s program, taking place August 5–7, 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Nashville, brings together industry leaders and actionable insights to help hospitality professionals make confident decisions across ownership, operations, revenue management, commercial strategy and more.

The conference agenda is designed to help attendees turn data into decisions through relevant educational sessions, expert analysis, and meaningful networking opportunities.

The 2026 speaker lineup features hospitality executives, analysts, revenue strategists, owners, operators and technology leaders from across North America.

Featured Speakers Include:

• Amanda Hite, President, STR
• Stephanie Ricca, Editorial Director, CoStar Group
• Jeff Higley, President, Hotel Investment Group, Northstar Travel Group
• Michael Goldrich, Founder & Chief Advisor, Vivander Advisors
• Mark Morrison, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Rockbridge
• Robert Morse, VP Revenue Management Hotels and Resorts, Davidson Hospitality Group
• Linda Gulrajani, VP of Revenue Strategy and Distribution, Marcus Hotels & Resorts
• Karen Carroll, VP Revenue Strategy and eCommerce, GF Hotels and Resorts
• Sarah Masterson, President, Olympia Hospitality
• Arlene Ramirez, Chief Learning Officer, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP)
• Adam Sacks, President, Tourism Economics
• Andrea Stokes, Practice Lead, Hospitality, J.D. Power
• Max Spangler, VP of Technology, Charlestowne Hotels
• Scott van Hoorstebt, Founder, dCommerce

Additional speakers will be added in the coming weeks.

Conference Topics

Sessions at the Hotel Data Conference will focus on:

• Hotel performance trends and forecasting
• Revenue management and commercial strategy
• Hotel investment and development outlooks
• Operations and labor challenges
• Hospitality technology and analytics
• Market intelligence and benchmarking
• Consumer trends and guest experience

Organizers encourage attendees to register early as strong demand is expected for this year’s conference.

For more information, including the full agenda and speaker lineup, visit:
Hotel Data Conference 2026