IN THE KNOW:
Local leader is Hotelier of the Year
Madone Pelan, General Manager of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, has been named the 2024 Hotelier of the Year by Kostuch Media Ltd., producers of Hotelier and Foodservice and Hospitality magazines. She will accept it at the 35th Annual Pinnacle Awards ceremony, held December 6, 2024 in Toronto.
Widely regarded as the “Oscars” of the foodservice and hospitality industry, the Pinnacle
Awards celebrate excellence and recognize individuals who have made a lasting impact on the industry. Past honorees include renowned leaders such as Isadore Sharpe, founder of Four Seasons Hotels.
“Having dedicated over 30 years to the hotel and hospitality industry, I’ve always looked
forward to reading Hotelier Magazine, a publication that truly represents the heart of our
industry,” said Madone Pelan.
“To be named this year’s Hotelier of the Year is the highlight of my career. I am deeply humbled to join the ranks of the inspiring alumni who have shaped and inspired my journey. It is an incredible honor to represent the West Coast at these prestigious Toronto awards.”
Under Pelan’s leadership, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel has flourished as one of Canada’s
premier luxury boutique hotels.
Recognition includes being named #1 Best Hotel in Canada, #19 in the World by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2021, winning the Tourism Industry Association of Canada Business of the Year Award for 2023, and achieving the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Customer Service award in 2024.
Sustainable startups recognized at Project Zero Pitch Event
Synergy Foundation has announced the 2025 winners of its annual Project Zero pitch event.
First-place winner Sustain Grooming offers a natural powder-to-gel body wash inspired by the rugged West Coast. Their biodegradable, locally sourced personal care products eliminate single-use plastic and water weight of conventional products while adapting to existing consumer preferences.
Wear On Kids Clothing took home second place. The business integrates new garment
sales with a buy-back and repair program, creating a circular children’s fashion loop.
In third place, The Thingery creates share, reuse, and repair hubs for communities. Each
“Thingery” – or equipment lending library – connects neighbors, offers skill-building workshops, and reduces material waste through sharing, turning costly and wasteful products into modular and accessible solutions.
The Pitch Event marked the ventures’ graduation from the Project Zero Incubator Program, a free eight-month program run by the Synergy Foundation and supported by Vancity that gives new circular business ideas and early start-ups the opportunity to create their business plans, learn business operation fundamentals and entrepreneurial skills, connect with mentors, and develop a pitch for their business. This year saw 15 startups completing the program.
The 2024 cohort marks 80 ventures supported through the program since its inception in 2019. In the past five years, these businesses have created 160+ green jobs and raised over $10M of capital within BC’s green economy.
Applications for the 2025 Incubator Program intake will open in early January.
Innovate BC launches call for proposals
In the lead up to Web Summit, the leading tech and innovation conference taking place in Vancouver in May 2025, 2026, and 2027, Innovate BC has announced a call for ecosystem partners.
These partners would help deliver a Sector Development Program aimed at maximizing benefits to B.C. companies under the banner of ‘Road to Web Summit Vancouver, Presented by Innovate BC (R2WSV)’, according to their website.
The deadline to submit is December 20.
Solaires partners with Genesis Technologies for successful trial production
Victoria-based Solaires Enterprises, a 2022 Douglas 10 to Watch winner, has partnered with Genesis Technologies (Shanghai) for a joint venture called SEI Energy Technology (Jiaxing).
It has announced its recent successful trial of perovskite modules from a mass production line has provided a significant breakthrough, laying a foundation for the large-scale commercialization of perovskite materials and solar modules.
Solaires is focused on research and application development in the field of indoor light power generation. Its third party tested conversion efficiency reportedly exceeded 35% in 2024. In addition, SEI’s manufacturing process of perovskite materials is relatively simple, which can greatly shorten the production cycle and improve production yield. The raw materials used are environmentally friendly and have significant cost advantages.
Relying on the ‘first-mover’ advantage of this successful trial production, SEI expects to remain ahead of the competition. The company plans to expand the production of perovskite modules in the next few years to meet the strong market demand for high-efficiency, affordable photovoltaic products.
“It’s such an exciting moment! Through half a year of hard work from both Solaires scientists and SEI engineers, I am so proud to say that we have made a giant step forward today in the commercialization of Solaires’ world leading perovskite technologies,” said Brian Yang, Chairman of SEI Energy.
FROM THE PAGES OF DOUGLAS:
The annual Douglas gift guide makes shopping for that perfect gift a lot easier.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
DECEMBER
December 13: Island Women in Science & Technology – Holiday Breakfast and AGM
December 15: State Memorial Service for former B.C. Premier John Horgan
December 19: UVic INSPIRE 2024 Year End Conference
JANUARY
January 9: Business Mixer – Destination Greater Victoria & Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
January 26 – 29: IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Summit
January 28: Westshore Chamber of Commerce Coffee Talk: Great Start Canada Immigration and Recruitment
MARCH
March 4 – 6: Rising Economy conference
MAY
May 4 – 9: International Seaweed Symposium