Nova Scotia lodge short listed for award by Luxury Travel Guide, releases figures showing ferry impact

While receiving notice of a possible luxury hotel award, Trout Point Lodge reports a significant increase in 2014 occupancy and revenue linked to the Nova Star cruise ferry. End Quote

The hotel awards recognize innovation & excellence in hotels no matter of size or location across many categories.

(1888PressRelease) February 02, 2015 - The United Kingdom-based Luxury Travel Guide has short listed Nova Scotia's Trout Point Lodge for its 2015 luxury hotel awards. The remote lodge celebrates its 16th year of operation in 2015, and looks forward to attracting more travellers to its unique version of experiencing authentic Canadian wilderness in an eco-friendly fashion.

During its 2014 season, Trout Point Lodge saw a year-on-year increase in occupancy of 22% and had an average nightly rate of $289 per room. In 2013 the average rate was $266. For the 2014 calendar year, income increased over 50% beyond the same figure for 2013. During peak tourism season, from July 1 until closing in October, the Lodge's occupancy averaged 75%, an increase of 26%. This was also the period the Nova Star ferry began carrying larger number of passengers in earnest.

The Luxury Travel Guide is an exclusive resource for Corporate LiveWire users and subscribers. It is a leading provider of travel & lifestyle related news, reviews and features to the global business community. The Luxury Travel Guide provides readers with an objective look over holiday destinations, hotels, spas, entertainment, technology and much more. "We regularly consider the best of the best of what is available to today's corporate professional," states Corporate LiveWire. "Our flagship digital magazine publication provides 'global advice for the affluent traveller'."

Trout Point Managing Director Vaughn Perret says that he hopes to increase hiring in 2015, in part based on an increase in business attributed to the new ferry service plying the waters between Portland, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. During its 5-6 month season, the Lodge employed around 17 persons in 2014. Perret says this number could increase to 22 in 2015. He is glad to hear of the luxury hotel award nomination, and believes Trout Point can win the award based on its documented history of combining sustainable tourism practices will luxury offerings.

"Now that it is clear the Nova Star ferry will be running this year, we can move forward with plans to hire additional staff and to expand services," said Perret. The Nova Scotia Minister of Economic & Rural Development & Tourism, Michel Samson, stated late last week that he will travel to Yarmouth on Tuesday to outline the government's plan for the ferry's future and to announce details of the 2015 sailing season.

The Nova Scotia Tourism Agency has just reported that the province welcomed 19 per cent more New England visitors from January to October compared to the same period in 2013.

The Yarmouth and Acadian Shores tourism region, where Trout Point is located, saw a 17 per cent increase in hotel room bookings, while the South Shore, Annapolis Valley, Bay of Fundy and Halifax areas saw a four per cent increase.

Yet up to now, Nova Star had not announced any concrete plans for its 2015 season. The uncertainty surrounding the future of the service was causing Trout Point's entrepreneurial owners to hold off on making further investment and hiring decisions. The Lodge has lost 2015 reservations because travellers were cancelling plans after being informed by Nova Star that the 2015 sailing schedule was uncertain and tickets were not yet on sale.

Perret and partner Charles Leary are currently overseas working on new projects during the tourism off-season in Nova Scotia. Even with the demise of previous ferry services to Yarmouth from the United States, Trout Point had continued to diversify its business and to grow. It was named among Atlantic Canada's fastest growing companies by Progress magazine in 2012.

The hotel awards recognize innovation & excellence in hotels no matter of size or location across many categories, including:

· innovation
· entrepreneurial success
· service excellence
· use of technology
· sustainable development
· marketing & branding
· employee satisfaction

http://www.troutpoint.com

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