To Recycle or not to Recycle, that is an easy question

Much is said about our environment and the need for us all to be aware of the impact today’s decisions have on our future. In our facilities, we are always conscious of the need to conserve and demonstrate a caring attitude towards our environment.

Our Environment
We subscribe to the three “R’s” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in ALL divisions. It starts with our construction sites and their ability to recycle as much material as possible, from one site to another, right through to our restaurants who recycle cooking oils. In our hotels, we ask our guests to participate in helping to reduce excessive laundry requests.

With the combined recycling efforts of our laundries, restaurants, and energy committees, we are constantly trying to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Annual reviews of our energy consumption, waste removal/recycling, and in-house initiatives are conducted. New ideas and suggestions are distributed throughout the corporation for the sole purpose of minimizing our impact on both the local and global environment.

HAC Green Key ECO Rating
Sandman Hotel Group is a proud participant in the Hotel Association of Canada’s Green Key Eco-Rating Program.

The HAC Green Key Eco-Rating Program is a voluntary platform designed to recognize hotels that have taken significant steps towards sustainability through participation in environmental programs, best management practices, training programs, and engineering solutions that have benefited the environment and the local community. For a Four Green Key rating, each of the hotels have demonstrated national industry leadership and commitment to protecting the environment through its wide-ranging policies and practices in the areas of energy conservation, water conservation, solid waste management, community outreach, and building infrastructure to name just a few. They have mature environmental programs in place that involve management, employees, guests, and the public and have shown substantial and measurable results.

Sandman’s commitment to sustainability and protection of the environment for future generations has always been one of our company’s core values. We believe our guests will benefit from knowing the hotel they have chosen is doing its part in trying to minimize an impact on the earth.

For additional information on the Hotel Association of Canada’s Green Key Eco-Rating Program, please be sure to visit their website at http://www.hotelassociation.ca/site/programs/green_key.htm.

Congratulations Okanagan Valley!

Their well-travelled expert nomination panel – a wine educator and a wine buyer – made the original selections and then readers voted daily during the contest’s four-week run.  While British Columbia’s Okananagan Valley enjoyed an early lead, fans of Portugal’s appealing Alentejo region eventually assured it took top honours.

The full list of winners in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice contest for ‘Best Wine Region to Visit’ contest category is as follows:

1. Alentejo, Portugal
2. Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
3. Maipo, Chile
4. Marlborough, New Zealand
5. Croatia
6. Napa Valley, California
7. Tuscany, Italy
8. Oregon, United States
9. Hunter Valley, Australia
10. Virginia, United States

Beautiful view from Sandman Signature Kamloops Hotel

With six hotels in the Okanagan – two in Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Princeton & Vernon – many of which offer amazing Wine Packages, Sandman Hotel Group is absolutely thrilled about the Okanagan Valley receiving this amazing recognition.

If you have ever had the pleasure of travelling through the Okanagan, you have experienced great wines from a world where the most skilled grape-growers and winemakers create absolute works of art.

The below is an excerpt from one lucky traveller’s journal.

Driving south from Okanagan Falls, with a quick stop at the famous Tickleberry’s for a double-scoop black cherry ice cream cone (irresistible, by the way), the Valley not only heats up to over 40C most of the summer, but flattens into a narrow, guarded valley.

The terroir of the South Okanagan begins at the McIntyre Bluff, which lies on the western side of Okanagan Valley, halfway between Oliver, the self-anointed Wine Capital of Canada, and Okanagan Falls. Vaseux Lake, part of the Okanagan River system, nearly abuts this prominent landmark. This cliff is the steepest and most dramatic in the Okanagan Valley, and the valley itself is the narrowest and most constricted in the Okanagan at this spot.  It is here that the soils and climate begin to define a truly southern region unlike any other in British Columbia, or Canada, for that matter.

This distinctive valley is actually the northern most tip of the transcontinental Sonoran Desert with an annual rainfall of 9 inches or less and some of hottest temperatures in Canada. Its latitude is similar to France with long daylight growing hours, clear unpolluted skies and a light intensity that rivals any wine growing region in the world.

It is gorgeous here, as everywhere you look the stunning landscape of sunburned hills, sandy desert with its silver sage, antelope bush, and prickly pear cactus, is abutted to the lush greenery of vineyard after vineyard. It is a beautiful collision of raw natural splendor and intrepid winemaker, lured here by both the potential and the challenges of a region so unlike any other in the world.

The South Okanagan is made up of three distinct benches each with its own microclimates that define each appellation.

• The Black Sage Bench sits on top of sandy soil that can run up to 300 feet deep. Parts of this area are protected ecological habitats that preserve antelope-brush, bunchgrass, sage and prickly pear cactus.

• The Osoyoos Bench is comprised of soils such as Stepney, Trepanier and Trewitt. These soils have developed in deep gravel-free and stone-free sandy, coarse-textured fluvioglacial deposits and minor fluvial fan deposits. The soils are well to rapidly drained.

• The Golden Mile Bench soils vary from Ponderosa, Ratnip and Stemwinder. They have developed in gravelly, cobbly, stony and bouldery coarse to medium-textured fluvial fan deposits.

Each of these areas bring distinct wine characteristics equal to any appellation found in Burgundy, Bordeaux or the Rhone Valley in France.

The South Okanagan is fertile ground for B.C.’s ripest grapes and is home to the best Bordeaux-style (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc) and Rhone-style (Syrah) wines being made in Canada. On the white side, Pinot Gris is a specialty of the region along with Chardonnay and Gewuztraminer.

The area, collectively known as the South Okanagan Wine Association (formerly called Oliver Osoyoos Wine Country), is a region that includes 21 wineries, from McIntyre Bluff to the north to the U.S. border in the south. The stunning beauty of the South Okanagan combined with the near-perfect growing conditions for the major vinifera grapes make it an ideal location for touring, staying and tasting.

The region still has a rural feel to it and is unspoiled by major development, other than the rush by wineries to plant more vineyards, build larger tasting rooms and gorgeous hilltop winery restaurants.

Touring in this region is a wonderful mix of wine, pastoral beauty with creeks, lakes, the historic and aboriginal influences, and stunning lake-side resort relaxation in near-perfect weather conditions from spring to fall.

Toronto International Film Festival – Good Luck Charm or Fluke?

European films festivals like Cannes and Venice may have the history and prestige — but the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has shown every best picture winner since 2007, and many have premiered there. Time will tell if any of this year’s films will take top honours, but recent history suggests one will. Find out which Oscar-winners made their way from TIFF to the Hollywood stage.

Chariots of Fire (1981)
In its fifth year of existence, TIFF landed its first big fish: Chariots of Fire, the true story of how British sprinters Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams won glory at the 1924 Olympics, and sprinted its way past the competition to Oscar gold.

American Beauty (1999)
The world got its first peak at the eventual best picture winner — but also its first sampling of Sam Mendes. American Beauty served as the established stage director’s feature film debut and became an overnight sensation.

Crash (2004)
Crash premiered at the 2004 fest, where Lionsgate picked it up. It would wait until 2005 for its release and managed one of the biggest upsets in Oscar history, beating fellow Toronto player from 2005, Brokeback Mountain.

No Country for Old Men (2007)
Joel and Ethan Coen’s tense thriller ended up the headliner of a banner year in 2007 for TIFF. Not only did the festival screen the eventual best picture winner, it had four out of five best picture nominees in its lineup, with only Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood absent from Toronto.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Set in India, from a British director, it took home top American honours but made its world premiere in Canada. Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire captured the hearts of audiences right off the bat, winning the People’s Choice award at the festival.

The Hurt Locker (2008)
The world premiere took place in Venice, but Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker kickstarted its Oscar run in Toronto where it had its North American premiere and was picked up by Summit Entertainment in 2008. A year later, the film was rewarded with six Academy awards.

The King’s Speech (2010)
The King’s Speech was the fourth film to win the People’s Choice award — and then go on to win best picture. Chariots of Fire, American Beauty, and Slumdog Millionaire are the others.

Argo (2012)
Argo is the latest to capitalize on Toronto’s good luck — though none of it seemed to rub off on Ben Affleck, who was snubbed for best director.

From September 5-15, 2013, the Toronto International Film Festival will shine its way into venues and theatres across Toronto. And if TMZ knows anything about scouting out famous people, the airport seems to be the best place. Located practically beside Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is Sandman Signature Hotel Toronto Airport – the perfect place to stay to travel to and from the airport while celebrity watching. Well that’s convenient.

Rider Nation – Saskatchewan’s True Love and Identity

Written by June De La Paz – guest blogger

Whenever anyone finds out that I grew up in Saskatchewan, they inevitably ask if I lived on a farm. They imagine that I drove a combine in overalls with a wheat straw dangling from my lips. That, or if I know their cousin/uncle/friend, so-and-so because Saskatchewan is a tiny, small, flat place where everyone knows everyone.

Truth be told, I had a pretty idyllic upbringing. I grew up in an area where many people didn’t lock their doors during the day. I rode my bike everywhere, including downtown and to the river. I took the bus or walked to school from the age of 9. During the hot, sweltering summers, my parents didn’t even look for me until sometime around dinner, and without mountains, the sun seemed to take forever to set. Then, there were the winters. The bright morning sun belied how bitterly cold it was outside. It didn’t matter how many sweaters or thermal underwear you had on, the cold bore its way through all of those layers to remind you how tough those Saskatchewan winters truly were.

Living in Saskatchewan was a right of passage. The spikes in the weather alone were enough to challenge the hardiest souls and still are. We didn’t have the tropical or Chinook winds to warm us. We didn’t have the bounty of the ocean or border large US cities or have mega malls to spend our money.

What we do have is the most loyal, butt-kickingest and craziest fans you will ever meet. And the rowdiest in Canada (ranked by MSN Sports). Fans wear watermelons. On. Their. Heads.

Even though the Roughriders play in the smallest market in the CFL and are the second smallest major league in North America, they have led in away games attendance every year in the last 10 years. During away games in Alberta, Rider Nation makes up about ½ of the fans in attendance. Because it doesn’t matter where you live – once you have rider pride, it is for life.

Roughrider merchandise sales rank third in Canada for all major league sports, which includes hockey. What makes this more surprising is that the team has only won 3 Grey Cups in the last 100 years. Belonging to Rider Nation isn’t just about winning. Rider pride is about being tough, giving it your all and supporting your team through the good and the bad. Whether we win or lose, or move to another city, once a Rider fan, always a Rider fan.

You’ll never be able to fully understand what surviving a Saskatchewan summer or winter is like unless you experience it. This is an unspoken bond that unites us. Like many who left in search of greener pastures during an economic downturn, I no longer live in Saskatchewan. However, when I do meet someone from Saskatchewan, there is an immediate ease between us – a mutual understanding and downright respect, because it is earned. That is Rider pride and that is the heart of Rider nation.

June De La Paz is a freelance Marketer, specializing in the technology sector with the breadth of her experience in start-ups. She is currently working on launching her own line of natural skin care products for kids and adults. She grew up in Saskatchewan where her parents still reside.  She currently lives with her husband (who grew up in SK too), three extraordinary daughters in beautiful BC, and they all stay at Sandmans whenever they travel around Canada. They all belong to Rider Nation and have Rider Pride.

How to Book without a Book – A Guide to Our New & Improved Sandman Mobile App

Efficient. This word describes every successful technological breakthrough over the past decade. From websites to iPhones to apps, everyone wants tools that complete a multitude of tasks with less time, less effort and more ease. A simple set of goals, yes, but to achieve them requires hundreds of man hours and the keen attention to detail – the type of detail that ensures every last button, function or screen tap is the most effective it can be.

With those ideals in mind, our team behind the new and improved Sandman Mobile App set their sights on making our mobile app (version 2) the most efficient it could be. Using feedback from guests, in addition to months of compiled research, we honed in on all of our already successful features and made them even better. More importantly however, we made sure that our app was more accessible. That’s why it is now available for the Android and iPad too. This move guarantees you can book your Sandman stay wherever you want, whenever you want.

What features can you expect to find in our new app? Well for starters, it’s simple, visually stunning and easy to use.  It has the best rates in addition to a booking engine that completes your entire reservation process without the need to make a single phone call.

Want to know more about your Sandman hotel location? Yup, it has extensive HD photo galleries and fact sheets also.

Lost? Need to find the nearest Sandman location? Yup, it’s got a GPS & interactive map as well.

But efficiency isn’t the only attribute we wanted this app to represent. We wanted to ensure it upheld the spirit of Sandman Hotels which is about quality customer care and hospitality. From our beginnings as a roadside motel in BC’s Interior to Canada’s largest independently-owned hospitality company, we’ve made our mark with reliability, service and a humble grassroots know-how that always puts the customer first.

That’s why we made sure that our app rewarded its users, because above all, we want to ensure your loyalty is acknowledged. Those who download the app and register their profile earn 100 bonus StatusPlus points which can be put towards future stays. In addition, the app lets you access our best promotions and deals whenever you log in.

Think of it as exceptional customer service with speed and style. It’s a triple threat that we guarantee you’ll love.

Have you used our mobile app before? Let us know why you love it and we’ll feature your story on facebook and twitter!

The Sandman iPad and iPhone Apps are available for free at the iTunes store, and the brand new Android version and the enhanced BlackBerry version are available for free download on the Android and BlackBerry websites as well.

To Download:

• Visit Apple iTunes App Store and search Sandman Hotel Group for our FREE iPhone & iPad app
• Visit BlackBerry App World and search Sandman Hotel Group for our FREE BlackBerry app
• Visit Android Google Play and search Sandman Hotel Group for our FREE Android app