Vancouver, B.C. – May 20, 2026 – This spring, Fairmont Waterfront’s ARC Restaurant is launching an all-new dining experience – Led by a Love of … – an exclusive evening at Chef’s Bench designed for groups of 6-12 guests. Created to celebrate the freshest ingredients of the season and the joy of shared dining, the intimate family-style affair offers a curated menu from Executive Chef Harris Sakalis and is inspired by ARC’s West Coast philosophy: Led by a Love of Land and Sea.

The series will debut with its inaugural Led by a Love of Spot Prawns edition, an exclusive ‘one-off’ event on May 28 showcasing a well-loved B.C. favourite across an exclusive five-course menu. Attendees will be delighted with spot prawn tartare and orzotto, alongside local caviar and a family-style main course, featuring spot prawns over a charcoal grill. All ingredients will be sourced from local suppliers, farms and producers, and wherever possible, dishes will be complemented by herbs, fruits and vegetables harvested from Fairmont Waterfront’s very own rooftop garden.

Guests can expect a tableside introduction of each dish by Executive Chef Harris Sakalis, who will share the inspiration behind each course, alongside insights into the locally sourced ingredients featured throughout the menu.

“Led by a Love of…” is designed to evolve with the seasons and reflect what our chefs are most inspired by at that moment,” said Mike Pagnacco, Director of Food & Beverage at Fairmont Waterfront. “It gives our team the freedom to cook creatively, showcase incredible local ingredients and create shared dining experiences that feel fresh, personal and distinctly West Coast. We can’t wait to welcome guests around the table.”

Beyond the series’ first spot prawn edition, guests can look forward to Led by a Love of Spring throughout June. The experience will showcase standout ingredients from across the province, including locally foraged morel mushrooms, asparagus, spring lamb and Pacific Northwest halibut.

Following the Spring edition, diners will discover Led by a love of Garden, a four-part summer dining series hosted within the hotel’s rooftop garden. Each immersive evening will begin with a garden-to-glass cocktail and interactive honeybee encounter, before guests take their seats amongst the blooms for a multi-course Province to Plate menu. A different B.C. wine partner will support each event, offering insight into the thoughtfully curated wine pairings served throughout the evening.

Further editions Led by a Love of Harvest and Led by a Love of Wild will celebrate the rich flavours and exceptional ingredients of the fall months.

Limited reservations for the inaugural Led by a Love of Spot Prawns experience, along with the subsequent Led by a Love of Garden series, are available now through ARC’s website: ARC Restaurant | West Coast Restaurant in Vancouver, BC

Sooke, British Columbia, Canada, May 20, 2026 – Set against the untamed coastline of Vancouver Island’s west coast, iconic oceanfront retreat Sooke Harbour House is entering a bold new era. Today, the celebrated boutique hotel announced new ownership and a new management team committed to restoring the property as one of British Columbia’s premier culinary and luxury travel destinations. The revitalization includes extensive upgrades across the 28-room inn highlighted by a new waterfront wedding pavilion, a state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen anchoring an inspired new culinary program focused on seasonal West Coast ingredients, the launch of the community-focused Garden Café, a 50-seat climate-controlled wine cellar, and fully reimagined guest rooms and dining spaces designed to reconnect visitors with the hotel’s legendary West Coast hospitality.

With decades of hospitality industry experience, new owner, Luke Evanow, is the CEO of Catalog Hospitality, the Canadian multi-brand group of boutique hotels, destination restaurants, and lifestyle-oriented spaces designed to foster community, creativity and memorable guest experiences. Since Catalog Hospitality (in partnership with Krystal Growth Partners) acquired SHH acquired Sooke Harbour House in July 2025, Evanow has overseen every aspect of the property’s transformation.

“I am incredibly excited to welcome Sooke Harbour House to Catalog’s family of successful hospitality businesses,” said Luke Evanow. “It is a spectacular property with a fascinating history and huge potential. We have already completed significant guest room upgrades and have revamped the culinary program to refocus on local ingredients and purveyors. We’ll continue to improve the guest experience in the coming year, including plans for a full-service luxury spa to be opened in early 2027.”

Heading up Sooke Harbour House’s management team, General Manager Danielle Carriere brings more than 15 years of hospitality leadership experience to the role. Her career spans globally recognized brands as well as distinguished independent properties, including Cabot Cape Breton in Nova Scotia and The Muir Hotel—a Forbes Four-Star property in Halifax. Most recently, Carriere served as Director of Operations at The Dorian Hotel in Calgary, Alberta, a Michelin One Key property.

At the helm of the property’s next-generation culinary program is Chef de Cuisine Brianna Burke. A graduate of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver, Burke has more than a decade of combined front- and back-of-house experience. Her experience includes time as Chef de Partie at Halcyon Hot Springs Resort in British Columbia, where she honed a deep appreciation for West Coast ingredients and seasonal, ingredient-driven cuisine.

“The new Sooke Harbour House team is an impressive mix of real-world experience, passion, vision and an unmatched entrepreneurial spirit,” continued Evanow. “If the overwhelmingly positive response from guests at our recent community grand opening is any indication, we are on the right track to making this property one of the most sought-after destinations in British Columbia.”

BETHESDA, Md., May 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotels have become cultural markers, shaping how people want to live, not just travel. Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques brings this shift to life with the launch of Design Shop. The inaugural hotel collections are anchored by W Hotels and Westin Hotels & Resorts, with new destination-themed and brand-led collections to come later in 2026.
"Hospitality doesn't end at check-out anymore. Design Shop reflects how we're expanding the role of our hotels and destinations from places you stay to sources of inspiration you choose to live with. Marriott Bonvoy is shaping what modern hospitality looks like from hotel to home," said Peggy Roe, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, Marriott International.

W Hotels Living

W Hotels Living debuts with a collection created in collaboration with the architecture and design studio Rockwell Group, inspired by the brand's newly transformed global flagship, W New York – Union Square, which the studio also redesigned. Drawing from the property's bold reimagination, the collection reflects a defining expression of the brand's detail-driven design evolution and draws on the hotel's rich textures, tones, and energy to bring its distinctly modern spirit into the home. Key pieces include a custom headboard and platform bed in four colorways, an upholstered modern bench, dual-finish nightstands, and a bold floral rug, complemented by sculptural lighting, stylish art, and decorative accents such as glass vases, trays and bookends, that reflect the brand's signature color-blocking approach, and layered, design-led aesthetic.

Westin Hotels & Resorts Living

As hospitality's global leader in wellness for more than a decade, Westin Hotels & Resorts Living extends the brand's long-standing commitment to well-being beyond the stay, offering a thoughtfully designed collection that helps guests create a restorative environment at home. Rooted in Westin's focus on sleep and restoration, the collection features calming, neutral palettes, natural materials, and timeless silhouettes. Key pieces include an upholstered headboard, minimalist wood nightstands, several earth-inspired rugs, textured and patterned throw pillows, and decorative pieces from catchalls and trays to vases. Designed to complement Westin's existing Sleep Well essentials from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques, the collection comes together as a fully layered sleep environment that supports rest and relaxation.

Expanding beyond hotel-inspired collections, Design Shop will also introduce destination-driven drops, beginning in June 2026 with a collection inspired by the French Riviera. Designed for entertaining and everyday living, the assortment will include serving trays, platters, linens, vases, and wine goblets that reflect the region's relaxed, coastal style. In the fall, JW Marriott Living will debut inspired by the JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo, further extending the series of brand-inspired collections.

The Design Shop is now available at MarriottBonvoyBoutiques.com.

Oshkosh, Wis. – April 20, 2026 – Continental Laundry Solutions recently added four team members to support customer care, accounting and training initiatives: Cori Baier as equipment order processing specialist; Jessica DesRochers as instructional designer; Joe Rollar as head of technical learning; and Ethan Whitney as accounts receivable/billing specialist.

“The addition of Cori, Jessica, Joe and Ethan strengthens our ability to serve customers and expand training,” said President Mike Floyd. “We’re excited to have them on board and look forward to their impact as we continue to grow.”

Baier, who joins Continental as equipment order processing specialist, fosters strong relationships with customers and is a key liaison between Continental staff and distributors. On a daily basis, Baier processes customer equipment orders, responds to customer inquiries and provides order follow-up and tracking. She joins Continental with 10 years of customer care experience.

DesRochers brings a solid background in technical education and user-centered design to her role as instructional designer. A licensed educator with nearly two decades of experience in curriculum development and digital media, she specializes in translating complex subject matter into accessible, high-impact learning content. At Continental, she oversees the development of learning materials within the corporate management system and provides strategic design support to ensure visual consistency across the brand's educational and marketing platforms. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Brevard College, in Brevard, N.C.

Rollar, who joins Continental as head of technical learning, leads the company’s national technician training strategy, including qualification standards and academy development initiatives. Rollar oversees curriculum design, instructor development and assessment strategy and is charged with implementing competency validation systems aligned with field performance metrics. Rollar holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Whitney brings two years of finance experience to his role as accounts receivable/billing specialist. In this position, he prepares and distributes accurate, timely invoices for Continental products and services, helping ensure efficient billing operations and strong customer relationships. Supporting multiple departments, Whitney collaborates closely with team members to maintain precise accounts receivable records and uphold financial accuracy across the organization. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.
To learn more about Continental’s products, services or career opportunities, visit www.continental-laundry.com or call 800-256-1073.