Those hankering to get a look at the new (and soon to be opened) Oak Bay Beach Hotel will have their appetites whetted later this month with a series of open houses and sneak-peek tours of a new show suite.
With the Oak Bay Beach Hotel set to officially open its doors to overnight guests in just five months, public curiosity about the destination has prompted owners Kevin and Shawna Walker to hold a series of open houses and lead daily tours through a new show suite, giving visitors a taste of the hotel’s high level of luxury.
The show suite, open for tours Dec. 26-31 at 3:30 p.m., shows off Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s standard guestroom features, such as coffered ceilings with elaborate mouldings and trim work; spa bathrooms with oversized soaker tubs, views, heated floors and shower rooms; solid mahogany entry doors with premium in-room soundproofing; travertine tile in the entryways and bathrooms; and floor-to-ceiling windows. Designed in the style of a traditional English country manor house, suites are outfitted with custom, solid mahogany furniture; fine linens and duvets; and fireplaces.
Oak Bay Beach Hotel has been the talk of the town for a number of years, starting in 1927 with the launch of the original hotel, a “place to be seen” for locals and visitors alike. In the 1940s, the creation of The Snug, Victoria’s first neighbourhood pub, attracted the likes of the town bobby and the vicar.
The, in 2006, the aging hotel shut down after being deemed unable to be brought in line with modern building codes.
{advertisement}“A Victoria without an Oak Bay Beach Hotel was impossible for me to conceive. She is part of our city’s long history and, for some, a part of who we are today,” says Kevin Walker, long-time owner and developer of the project. “For me, rebuilding was truly the only answer — and I’m eager to show the people and visitors of Victoria what we’ve been up to for the past few years.”
Set to open in May 2012, the six-story hotel will contain a total of 20 private residences and 100 combination vacation suites and hotel rooms; a full-service spa and seaside mineral pools; a re-creation of The Snug, gourmet restaurant, and dinner theatre program; and round-the-clock butler, concierge, and valet services.
To celebrate the hotel’s opening, a fundraising event, held in partnership with the David Foster Foundation, is slotted for May 25-27.
Those who want to learn more about the new Oak Bay Beach Hotel over a festive beverage or check out the new show suite are invited to drop by 1175 Beach Drive, Victoria, during the following dates and times:
Open houses: Dec. 26-31, daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (located in the on-site sales office).
Hotel tours: Dec. 26-31, daily. Call 250-598-4556 to book a tour. The show suite will be fully open to the public starting in January.
