By Alexandra Mehl, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter HA-SHILTH-SA
This spring Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN) will be opening the doors of their new hotel, Baymont by Wyndam, previously known as the Gold River Chalet, alongside new tourism information services aiming to bring more visitors to the region.
Gold River Chalet closed its doors in April of 2023, according to the hotel manager Rohinton (Roy) Kharadi. Over the last year the building underwent 鈥渃omplete renovations,鈥� he noted.
鈥淭otal wow,鈥� said Kharadi, when asked what past hotel visitors can expect with new renovations.
The hotel is now pet friendly with air conditioning and heating, while the rooms underwent complete renovations. Previously with only four kitchen units, they have now jumped to nine, with the addition of a meeting room, a large new suite, and two accessible rooms, he shared.
Additions are inclusive of a restaurant, gym, and hot tub.
Kharadi expects the Baymont by Wyndam to be among the 鈥済o to鈥� places in Gold River.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for the community because this is something which everybody鈥檚 waiting for,鈥� said Kharadi. 鈥淚t will benefit the local community here as well, because there are very few dining options in .125Gold River.375.鈥�
The Baymont by Wyndam is expected to hold a soft opening in June, and a totem pole raising ceremony will be held on May 22.
鈥淕old River has never had an upscale hotel,鈥� said John Gauthier, tourism and marketing manager for the nation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always been sort of geared towards loggers and construction crews.鈥�
Located on the same property as the Baymont by Wyndam will be a MMFN welcome house where visitors can learn about the region鈥檚 attractions.
In conjunction, MMFN has launched a new tourism information site, Explore Nootka, where visitors can learn about the region鈥檚 offerings and prepare for their visit.
鈥淓xplore Nootka is a home where all these different services that exist around the Nootka region, whether it鈥檚 Gold River, Tahsis, or elsewhere鈥hey have a common area where they can let visitors and tourists know about their services,鈥� said Gauthier. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e doing is we鈥檙e promoting and letting people know that these services are available in the Nootka region.鈥�
Tourism operators in the region are welcome to partner with Explore Nootka where their services will be included on the website, brochures and at the Baymont by Wyndam鈥檚 upcoming MMFN welcome house, where information of the services will be presented to visitors.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be hand in hand operations on both sides,鈥� said Kharadi. 鈥淚f they book packages on excursions and things like that, people can come and stay in the hotel, or vice versa. We can look at people who want to book the hotel and can also have options to book the excursions.鈥�
Gauthier notes that the MMFN welcome house will be opened next fall.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e trying to do is just really encourage everyone who provides a service to really come together,鈥� said Gauthier. 鈥淎nd present a cohesive picture to the visitor.鈥�
Explore Nootka has a temporary landing page for guests to visit, with information about the Upana Caves, Tree to Sea bike trail and Nootka trail, among others, until their final landing page will be completed by the end of April.
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