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A New Airport Neighbour

Pipestone Flyer

The EIA's first section of the Pedway to the Renaissance Hotel.

Edmonton International Airport– Development and growth are endless in a futuristic society that sees its population increase, along with its business components. This is no different for an international airport in one of the most dynamic cities of Canada.

    EIA (the Edmonton International Airport) will soon be able to boast a globally unique feature: it will welcome as its new neighbor, the first hotel in the world that is attached to an airport!

    Groundbreaking for the Renaissance Hotel, a family-owned Marriott Hotel franchise, took place in the fall of 2010. Platinum Investments is the owner, a family venture; the Meghji family is a proud, hard-working and visionary group that has its roots in Tanzania, an African country. The Headquarters of Platinum is located in Edmonton. It’s Sales and Marketing director is an articulate, knowledgeable hospitality professional, John Hollmann, who readily shares his enthusiasm and passion for this project. 

    On Friday, April 12, a milestone event took place at the Airport: the first section of the steel ‘skeleton’ of the heated pedway that will attach the Renaissance Hotel to the International Airport was installed, with the help of large cranes and under the watchful eye of a large group of its construction company, Supreme Steel (Edmonton-based), Platinum executives and EIA staff. A lot of preparation involving many workers had to take place, and this event was followed two days later by the installation of the second and last section of the pedway. A successful venture, it is now exciting to see this pedway effectively connecting the Renaissance hotel to our International Airport.

    Taking the lead in recruiting the best team members it can find, the Renaissance has secured the services of Executive Chef Andrew Ihasz, previously with the Macdonald Hotel, a Fairmont property. Interestingly, this hotel management has created some catchy titles for its teams: front desk attendants will be called Navigators, and all the service staff will be known as Ambassadors.

    This new hotel will boast 213 guestrooms and suites, and will offer 20,000 sq.ft. of meeting space, the largest one being 6,900 sq.ft. The HALO Bar & Bistro will be in the capable hands of Chef Ihasz, and its letters mean High Altitude Low Octane.  Scheduled to open in July 2013, the construction and finishing touches are happening right on schedule, a fact they are proud of!

    As the Platinum Headquarters are based in West Edmonton, the Meghji Family is keen to become a dynamic member of the regional business community, and a positive gesture in this regard was to join the Leduc Regional Chamber of Commerce. This community is excited about its new neighbor, and the economic boost and the numerous jobs that will be created by its presence.