Skyline Boutique Hotels and Resorts Boosts Management Team

Three Respected Hotel Executives Join SBHR in Senior Roles

TORONTO, September 13, 2010 -- Skyline Boutique Hotels and Resorts (“SBHR”), Canada’s leading creator of lifestyle-enhancing properties and experiences, has appointed Alex Gomez to the position of Vice-President of Sales and Marketing; Mark Schwass to the position of General Manager for both the Cosmopolitan Toronto Hotel and the Pantages Hotel Toronto Centre; and Christopher Gee to the position of Food and Beverage Manager for both downtown Toronto hotels.

“We are very excited to have these three talented executives take up key positions in our organization,” says Kevin Toth, SBHR’s Chief Operating Officer. “With Alex, Mark, and Christopher, we are not only adding a tremendous amount of valuable industry knowledge and experience to our senior management team; we are also gaining an infusion of fresh ideas and professionalism. It is with great pleasure that I welcome them aboard.”

Alex Gomez brings almost two decades of hotel sales and marketing experience to his leadership role, with much of that expertise having been honed at premium New York City properties such as The Peninsula, Millennium United Nations Plaza, The Warwick, and Swissötel’s The Drake.

“I am thrilled to be returning to Canada, where I was raised and educated,” says Mr. Gomez. “I look forward to applying the knowledge and skills that I gained in New York City to the Pantages and Cosmopolitan hotels, as well as to Horseshoe Resort. They are all beautiful and unique properties with tremendous potential.”

Mark Schwass is also a veteran hotelier, having successfully managed hotels in the U.S. and Canada for more than 25 years. His most recent achievements include overseeing renovations and repositioning at the Cambridge Suites Hotel in Toronto. Prior to that post, he managed the Galleria Park Hotel and Hotel Bedford in San Francisco, and the Park Plaza Hotel in Oakland.

“I am extremely proud to be joining SBHR,” says Mr. Schwass. “Both the Pantages and Cosmopolitan hotels are creatively designed, well maintained, and include world-class spas. When you combine those excellent amenities with attentive, personalized service, the overall result is a fantastic hotel experience. Our goal is to continue building loyalty by not only meeting, but exceeding, our guests’ expectations.” 

For Christopher Gee, his ascension to the role of Food and Beverage Manager was the culmination of a diverse array of experiences within the hospitality industry. Having previously held managerial positions with the Westin, Sheraton, and Park Hyatt chains, among others, Mr. Gee understands the importance of assembling a seasoned and passionate staff.

“Our new F&B team has more than 75 years of combined experienced, gained at some of Toronto’s largest and finest hotels and restaurants,” says Mr. Gee. “We are enthusiastic to be working together in an upscale boutique hotel where we can really deliver the highest standard of service.”   

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About Skyline

Skyline International Development Inc. (“Skyline”) is a real estate and development investment company founded in Toronto in 1998 by Gil Blutrich, Ernst and Young’s 2004 Entrepreneur of the Year. The Skyline Group of Companies is Canada’s leading creator of lifestyle enhancing properties, with a portfolio that includes the Pantages Hotel Toronto Centre, the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Residences, The King Edward Hotel, Horseshoe Resort and the Port McNicoll community development. In addition to its hotels and resorts, Skyline is the largest shareholder in the One Stop Media Group, the leader in the development and sale of private digital networks to mass transit systems, hotels and shopping malls. In 2008, Skyline purchased the land for the development of the Skyline Tower, which will comprise 624,000 square feet of office and condo suites in the heart of downtown Toronto. Skyline’s shareholders are two public companies, Mishorim & ILDC, both of which trade on the Tel-Aviv stock exchange (MSHR, ILDC). Please visit www.skylineinvestments.com for more information.

The Pantages Hotel

Toronto’s leading boutique hotel is an oasis of urban chic in the heart of the city’s shopping and entertainment districts. With rooms that feature ensuite kitchenettes and laundry facilities, the Pantages is more than just a hotel – it’s a home away from home. The Third Floor boasts over 6,400 square feet of unique event space for meetings, banquets, and conferences, and its Martini Bar is renowned for serving some of the best cocktails in the city.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel

Located in the heart of Toronto’s financial district, the Cosmopolitan may just be the healthiest hotel in North America. All guest rooms feature windows that fully open, hardwood floors, air purifiers, Zen stones and fountains, calming incense, yoga mats and more. The hotel’s ethos is: Zen in the City. This is truly a place where guests can seek refuge from the urban hustle and bustle in a calming space where they can instantly unwind and de-stress.

Horseshoe Resort

Named for the horseshoe-shaped series of hills in which it is nestled, the resort is the ultimate base camp for adventure. Located just north of Barrie, less than an hour away from the Greater Toronto Area, Horseshoe Resort features a newly-opened Adventure Park, two award-winning golf courses, 25 ski runs, six lifts, snowboarding half pipe, expanded terrain park and more than 35km of groomed Nordic and hiking trails through the Copeland Forest. Horseshoe also offers Kids’ Korral programming, Yamaha Riding Adventures, Treetop Trekking, horseback riding, and more. The Inn at Horseshoe boasts 101 rooms, a conference centre, and an indoor-outdoor pool.

Shizen Spas

Located in the Pantages Hotel, Cosmopolitan Hotel, and the Horseshoe Resort, each Shizen location offers day spa treatments that blend the latest holistic rejuvenation techniques with classic spa treatments to immerse the mind, body and soul in a state of complete relaxation.

Port McNicoll

Port McNicoll, a historic Ontario town, is situated in the harbour of Georgian Bay surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife. Skyline is redeveloping the mixed-use property to include more than 1,300 luxurious homes by the tranquil lakeside, a marina and yacht club, a future hotel development, a rail museum and a Victorian waterfront village to be built jointly with the Canadian Ministry of Tourism.

Media contact:
Ron Fine, Director of Media Relations
Skyline International Development
+ 1 (416) 368-2565 ext. 2228
ronf@skylineinvestments.com
 

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