Atlific Hotels named Company of the Year at Hotelier's Pinnacle Awards

TORONTO , Dec. 7 /CNW/ - Atlific Hotels was the proud recipient of Hotelier's Company of the Year award at the 2009 Pinnacle Awards presented last week at The Royal York Hotel in Toronto . Atlific was selected as Company of the Year based on its significant impact on the Canadian hotel industry, innovation and accomplishments, vision and leadership and community spirit.

"The Atlific team prides itself on the hard work and passion that continues to keep us a leader in the hotel industry," said Philippe Gadbois, senior vice-president, sales and marketing. "We are very proud to be recognized as Company of the Year and wish to share the award with our deserving team who is dedicated to the success of each and every one of our 43 managed and owned properties across Canada ."

Foodservice and Hospitality magazine, and its sister publication Hotelier have hosted the Pinnacle Awards for over 20 years; recognizing leading individuals and companies for their contributions to the public image of the industry through civic, educational and community involvement, and innovation in the area of hotel management. In many ways Hotelier considers The Pinnacle Awards the Academy Awards of the foodservice and hospitality industry.

"It is with great pleasure that we receive the Company of the Year award, recognizing some of the most extensive growth in Atlific's 50 year history," said Robert Chartrand , executive vice-president and chief financial officer. "We look forward to a future full of continued growth and success as we find ways to give back to the industry and communities in which we have thrived."

In choosing the hotel management company as Company of the Year, Hotelier noted Atlific's 50 year history of innovation that began with bringing the Holiday Inn brand to Canada , later introducing Wendy's Restaurants, Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott and the Indigo brands to Canada . In the past three years, Atlific has expanded its management portfolio to include an additional 2040 rooms in 16 new properties becoming the go-to hotel management company for 12 key brands across Canada . Opening Le Westin Montreal this year to include a brand new corporate head office, Atlific now owns and/or manages 43 hotels and resorts across Canada with over 6800 rooms and has proudly remained an industry leader in a tough economy; adding jobs and revenue to local economies while continuing to contribute to schools and charities nation-wide. Atlific's sales are projected to reach $310 million in 2009.

Atlific's portfolio includes a number of properties that have recently been recognized with highly esteemed awards. The Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour was recognized by Marriott International as Hotel of the Year for North America , Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown received the Community Affairs Award from InterContinental Hotels Group while Deerhurst Resort was chosen to represent Canada on the international stage as the host site for the 2010 G8 World Summit of leaders.

To view a video highlighting Atlific Hotels as Company of the Year please visit: www.Atlific.com

For press-ready images please visit: http://www.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/Wqy8:7RT:tC1

About Atlific Hotels

Atlific Hotels is one of the fastest growing hotel management companies in Canada operating over 40 hotels with offices in Montreal , Toronto and Vancouver . Named Company of the Year in 2009 by Hotelier Magazine, Atlific Hotels has 50 years of experience managing well known Canadian hotels, resorts, and extended stay properties and has built a reputation for best in business accounting reporting, exceptional sales and marketing programs and sound operational systems. Atlific Hotels' parent company, Ocean Properties, Ltd. operates over 60 hotels throughout the United States . Together they manage over 100 properties in North America with a total of 16,500 rooms, which include independent hotels and resorts as well as internationally recognized hotel brands such as Marriott, Hilton, Westin and Holiday Inn. For more information please visit www.atlific.com.

For further information: Sherri-Lyn Brown, Aerial Communications Group, [phone], [email protected]