News Release

For Immediate Release
June 16, 2005

Refurbishing the Maritime Inn

Port Hawkesbury, NS – Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, announced today that Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) has provided financial assistance to assist with the modernization of the Maritime Inn in Port Hawkesbury.

“Tourism is a vital component of the Cape Breton economy and it is important that operators continuously upgrade their properties to keep pace with consumer demands,” says MP Cuzner, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for ECBC and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “By investing in local businesses, we are investing in the future of the Cape Breton economy.”

Upgrades to the Maritime Inn include refurbishing rooms, renovating the dining room, redesigning the entrance, enhancing meeting rooms, installing a wireless internet system, and purchasing computers. The renovations and enhanced services will enable the Inn to attract a larger market segment, in particular more motor coach and business travelers.

“Investing in the modernization of the Inn demonstrates our confidence in the economy of Cape Breton and our commitment to customer satisfaction,” says Donald Mingo, President of Maritime Inns and Resorts. “Renovations have been underway for a number of months and we are very pleased with the results.”

Maritime Inns and Resorts owns and operates two hotels and two resorts in eastern Nova Scotia, including the Maritime Inn, which consists of
73 rooms, a licensed lounge, dining room, pool, fitness centre, meeting/banquet rooms and laundromat. In the peak season the Inn employs 42 people.

The total cost of the project is $285,900. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation will provide a repayable contribution of $142,950 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Business Development Program.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA’s programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

RODGER CUZNER, MP FOR CAPE BRETON-CANSO, ANNOUNCED A $142,950 INVESTMENT FROM ECBC TOWARD THE REFURBISHMENT OF THE MARITIME INN IN PORT HAWKESBURY.

“TOURISM IS A VITAL COMPONENT OF THE CAPE BRETON ECONOMY AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OPERATORS CONTINUOUSLY UPGRADE THEIR PROPERTIES TO KEEP PACE WITH CONSUMER DEMANDS,” SAYS MP CUZNER.

THE UPGRADES, WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, INCLUDE REFURBISHING ROOMS, RENOVATING THE DINING ROOM, REDESIGNING AN ENTRANCE, ENHANCING MEETING ROOMS, INSTALLING A WIRELESS INTERNET SYSTEM AND PURCHASING COMPUTERS.

IN ADDITION TO MODERNIZING THE FACILITY, FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL MAINTAIN 42 JOBS. TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS $285,900. ENTERPRISE CAPE BRETON CORPORATION WILL PROVIDE A REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $142,950 THROUGH ACOA’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valerie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honorable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Office of Rodger Cuzner
MP Cape Breton-Canso
(902) 842-9763

Donald Mingo
President, Maritime Inns and Resorts Incorporated
(902) 752-5644

D.A. Landry
ECBC Communications
(902) 564-3617