Trying to secure a hotel room in Timmins this year will be a bit easier with two new facilities opening their doors.
Holiday Inn Express and Suites on Algonquin Avenue and Microtel Inn and Suites on Riverside Drive will be open for business early this year.
The Holiday Inn will feature 108 guest rooms with 24 of those set aside as suites and 12 others as king rooms featuring a jacuzzi tub.
“The suites will have a connecting door, two TVs, a fridge, microwave and a pull-out sofa,” said John Crescenzi, general manager.
The hotel features meeting spaces, with one room holding up to 120 people, and a boardroom that can accommodate about 20.
A business centre, pool and coin laundry facility, along with a free hot breakfast, are available to guests.
“We are catering primarily to families and corporate travellers,” he said.
Construction on the project, which was about $12 million, started in June and the first guests are expected to be booked for February.
Crescenzi said a Homewood Suites is to be built on the corner of Algonquin Avenue and Spruce Street with construction slated to begin in May, 2013.
The Microtel Inn and Suites, located in the city's west end, was to open late December, 2012. With about 100 rooms, it also offers a pool and hot breakfast and rooms designed with a European flair.
It has local investors, including Luc Sergerie, who owns a flooring business. The hotel is located behind the business on Riverside Drive. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
Hotel space has been an issue in the city for the past few years, especially with out-of-town contract workers seeking temporary accommodation.
