Media Advisory - Musqueam First Nation Blessing Ceremony to Mark Opening of
New Coast Coal Harbour Hotel

Vancouver's Newest Full-Amenity Hotel Opening Friday, January 15

VANCOUVER , Jan. 14 /CNW/ - Jewel Thomas , a respected elder from the Musqueam First Nation, will conduct a blessing ceremony to mark the opening of the new 20-storey, 220-room Coast Coal Harbour Hotel at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 15 in the hotel lobby at 1180 West Hastings Street. The Coast Coal Harbour Hotel is located within the traditional territories of the Musqueam First Nation.

Graeme Barrit, President of Coast Hotels & Resorts, and other Company executives will be on hand at the blessing ceremony and available for media interviews.

The $60 million four-star, full-amenity Coast Coal Harbour Hotel located approximately two blocks south of Vancouver's expanded convention centre is rolling out the welcome mat for Olympic visitors on Friday. The hotel offers a range of accommodation for business and leisure travellers from spacious 500 square-foot premium suites on the top floor with spectacular views of the North Shore mountains to view suites with balconies and comfort rooms.

One of the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel's most striking features is its 4,500-square foot porte-cochere vehicular entry way, which is accessible off West Hastings Street, and is showcased by a 20-foot-high ceiling of green, blue and yellow coloured, backlit glazing that extends down the two-storey wall between the two lobby entrances. The new hotel features a 5,000 square foot-ballroom and conference facility on the third and fourth floors with 20-foot-high north-facing windows accented by coloured glass. The hotel also includes six private meeting rooms, a full service business centre, a fully equipped gym, locker room and a landscaped podium roof deck on the fifth floor with an outdoor lap pool and hot tub.

About Coast Hotels & Resorts

Coast Hotels & Resorts is a leading hotel chain in western North America . The company's philosophy of serving its guests through a superior standard of value, hospitality and service enables its continuing expansion. Coast Hotels & Resorts now owns, manages and franchises 42 hotel and resort properties located throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Northwest Territories, the western United States , Alaska and Hawaii. Visit www.coasthotels.com or call 1-800-663-1144 for more information.

For further information: For media inquiries please contact: Martin Livingston, Living Communications Inc., Vancouver, B.C., [phone]