Press Release: Delta Hotels & Resorts
September 21, 2000
KING CITY, ON -- ClubLink Corporation (``ClubLink'') and Delta Hotels are pleased to announce today that they have
entered into an agreement for Delta Hotels to acquire a 250-room hotel and conference centre site at Glen Abbey
Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, and for Delta Hotels to manage ClubLink's four resorts in the Muskoka region north
of Toronto.
In addition, Delta Hotels has purchased a two-year option to acquire the conference centre site at ClubLink's 54-hole
Rolling Hills Golf Club in Markham, Ontario. The agreement also includes a reciprocal marketing arrangement offering
Delta Hotel guests preferred access to ClubLink's daily fee golf courses in Ontario and Quebec, and provides ClubLink
with additional marketing opportunities with Delta Hotels.
The hotel at Glen Abbey will cater primarily to the corporate group, association and leisure markets with an emphasis
on events with golf. It will be located in the area that currently serves as the main parking lot of Glen Abbey.
The property will also feature approximately 12,000 square feet of meeting space.
Glen Abbey is world-renowned as the long-time home of the Bell Canadian Open and the dramatic site of Tiger Woods'
ninth PGA Tour win of 2000 and Triple Crown victory. Glen Abbey is Canada's No. 1 ranked premium daily fee course
and highly regarded among golfers and golf architecture aficionados as the first solo design of Jack Nicklaus.
The Bell Canadian Open will be played a minimum of two more times at Glen Abbey through 2009, a minimum of one
time between 2010 and 2014, and at least once between 2015 and 2019.
Effective January 1, 2001, Delta will assume the management of ClubLink's four resort properties in the picturesque
Muskoka region: The Resort Villas at The Lake Joseph Club, Sherwood Inn, Grandview Inn and Rocky Crest Golf Resort.
The Lake Joseph Club and Rocky Crest each feature a premium 18-hole golf course, and a new 18-hole course will
open at Grandview in 2001.
Bruce Simmonds, ClubLink President and CEO, said: ``We are pleased to be working with Delta Hotels. The development
of a hotel and conference centre at Glen Abbey will make Canada's No. 1 premium daily fee course that much more
attractive to the corporate market and the travelling golfer seeking a high- quality golf experience, as well as
to professional golfers competing in the Bell Canadian Open when the tournament returns to Glen Abbey.''
Mr. Simmonds added: ``We also believe there are significant benefits to Delta assuming the management of our four
Muskoka resorts. ClubLink can take advantage of the strength of the Delta brand and their expertise in resort and
hotel management, while we concentrate on our core business--owning, operating and developing high-quality golf
courses.
``The combination of Delta's strong presence in the corporate conference and leisure markets and ClubLink's unmatched
Muskoka golf courses promises to increase occupancy at our resorts. The reciprocal marketing arrangement will also
drive more tourist golfers to our courses in the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa and Montreal. The alliance positions
ClubLink and Delta to take advantage of the dramatic and sustained increase in golf tourism in Ontario triggered
by an expanding portfolio of world-class golf properties and the cooperative marketing efforts of private industry,
the Canadian Golf Tourism Alliance and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism.''
John Johnston, President, Delta Hotels, said: ``This agreement with ClubLink Corporation is an important step forward
in the growth of Delta Hotels as we continue to strengthen and expand our current resort portfolio consisting of
Delta resorts in Whistler, B.C., Kananaskis, Alberta, Haliburton, Ontario and, as announced last week, plans for
the development of a resort in Sun Peaks, B.C.
``Essentially, we are joining Canada's largest owner, operator and developer of high-quality golf courses together
with the largest first-class hotel company in Canada--and we're very excited about the shared opportunities this
partnership will produce,'' Mr. Johnston added. ``The alliance provides cross-marketing opportunities for Delta
and ClubLink.''
As part of the agreement, Delta will manage ClubLink's four resorts in the ruggedly beautiful Muskoka region just
a two-hour drive north from Toronto: Grandview Inn (151 rooms), The Resort Villas at The Lake Joseph Club (25 luxury
villas), Sherwood Inn (49 rooms) and Rocky Crest Golf Resort (65 one- and two-bedroom suites).
The Lake Joseph Club and Rocky Crest each offer an acclaimed Thomas McBroom-designed 18-hole golf course. Land
has been acquired for a second 18- hole course planned for Rocky Crest. The Mark O'Meara Course under construction
adjacent to the Grandview Inn is scheduled to open for play on May 31, 2001. A second 18-hole course co-designed
by Nancy Lopez and Curtis Strange is scheduled to commence construction in fall 2001 as part of 45-hole Grandview
Golf Club. The golf facilities at Lake Joseph, Rocky Crest and Grandview are ClubLink Premium Member Clubs with
access for guests of ClubLink resorts.
Delta Hotels is the largest first-class hotel company in Canada, operating more than 30 hotels from Vancouver,
British Columbia, to St. John's, Newfoundland. Delta's diverse portfolio of city-centre, airport and resort properties
cater to business and leisure travelers. Headquartered in Toronto, Delta Hotels is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts Inc.
ClubLink is Canada's largest owner, operator and developer of high- quality member golf clubs, daily fee golf clubs
and golf resorts that feature golf as their key amenity.
SOURCE: Delta Hotels & Resorts