A brand new year comes with brand new changes for the Best Western Westerly Hotel, as the hotel is undergoing major renovations to its restaurants, pub and guest rooms.

鈥淲e felt it was time to go in a new direction ... we want to upgrade the amenities and move forward,鈥� said Michelle Le Sage, general manager of the facilities. 鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten good feedback and it鈥檚 neat to see (the changes).鈥�

Following extensive renovations and rebranding, the first transformation open to the public will be the Flying Canoe West Coast Pub, which will fill the space previously occupied by Gulliver鈥檚 Pub.

鈥淲e鈥檙e bringing the West Coast indoors with the use of timbers, stone and a dance floor made from reclaimed wood from Stanley Park,鈥� noted Le Sage.

The focus of the pub will be the addition of a fourno 鈥� a gas-fired pizza oven 鈥� along with executive chef Christopher Thrift who will create pizzas for guests at the bar using local ingredients including cheese and bison pepperoni.

In addition to the oven, the Flying Canoe will also offer classic pub fare for lunch, dinner and evening entertainment, with a focus on live local music.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a very interactive experience with a focus on local, fresh food and local brews on tap,鈥� explained Le Sage.

Along with the new pub, both the Snookers Lounge and Greenhouse Restaurant will be transformed to Chalk and the Riverside Room respectively.

Chalk will focus on fresh tapas alongside pool tables, and the Riverside Room will continue to be 鈥渇amily-focused offering brunch and Sunday dinners,鈥� added Le Sage.

Renovations continue in the kitchen area, where the line for catering and restaurants will be changed, easing communication between chefs, she said.

Guests will also see a change to the lobby area of the hotel, with new floors and decor. Le Sage noted the 143 rooms received a 鈥渇reshening up鈥� with the addition of new drapery and bed linens.

Renovations aside, the hotel is also being recognized for its customer service, as employee Dana Nutland was awarded the Customer Service Award last month at the 2010 Annual Community Awards presented by the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so exciting, and I鈥檓 honoured,鈥� said Nutland who has worked at the Westerly Hotel for just over one year, but has an extensive background in the hospitality industry.

Le Sage hopes all of the changes to the hotel will be completed by late summer and notes despite the construction, 鈥渢he staff is thriving on it. It鈥檚 a change, but we鈥檙e so excited about what comes out in the end.鈥�

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