Toronto, ON (May 21, 2026) — Atlific Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Spear as Vice President, Commercial Strategy. Christopher brings over 35 years of experience in luxury and full-service hospitality, with a strong track record of driving commercial performance across Canadian markets.

In his role, Christopher will oversee the integration and performance of sales, marketing, and revenue management functions across the organization.

“Christopher’s depth of experience, strategic mindset, and proven ability to deliver results make him a strong addition to our leadership team,” said Christine Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer, Atlific Hotels.

Throughout his career, Christopher has built a reputation as a results-driven leader, consistently delivering revenue growth and strengthening market positioning in competitive environments. He has held senior leadership roles with leading hospitality brands including Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International.
Based in Montréal, Christopher is recognized for his collaborative approach and focus on performance.

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.