The Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa in the Comox Valley has been named B.C.’s Best Hotel of the Year by its peers.
Kingfisher earned the accolade at the B.C. Hotel Association Awards held in Kelowna this month.
“We are extremely honoured to receive such an award and be recognized among a list of exceptional properties,” said owner William Brandes. “I am proud of the achievements and our team, who are the heart and soul of the Kingfisher.”
Lindsey Gabrysh, Kingfisher’s director of finance, received the honours with executive chef Richard Benson, who was a finalist for the Heart of Hospitality Award.
Three Victoria properties were finalists for best hotel — Oswego Hotel, the Parkside Hotel & Spa and Robin Hood Inn & Suites.
Trina White, general manager of the Parkside Hotel & Spa, was named Hotelier of the Year. Among the finalists in that category were Estreya Gosalbez of the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler; Cyrus Merchant, regional director of the Sandman Hotel Group; Sarah Vallely, general manager of OPUS Vancouver; and Sarah Webb, general manager of the Oswego Hotel in James Bay.
The Housekeeping Award went to Coast Prince George. Finalists included Hotel Zed Kelowna and the Parkside Hotel & Spa.
The hotel association’s Leader of the Future Award went to Pink Yu, director of operations and marketing at the Robin Hood Inn & Suites.
Victoria-based Accent Inns won the Recruitment Award.
The two-day summit by the hotel association was a return to industry panel discussions and conferences for hospitality professionals after an absence of three years due to the pandemic.
The B.C. Hotels Association represents 800 member hotels and associate members with 60,000 employees and 80,000 rooms.
