Wabush landmark to expand

'No vacancy' is becoming too familiar a phrase at the Sir Wilfred Grenfell Hotel in Wabush over the past year and a half and the owner has decided to do something about it.

Roger Eneault is currently in the process of adding 15 new suites to his landmark hotel and considering even more by way of expansion.

"Roger keeps a very close eye on what's happening in the community," said the hotel's Food Services manager Nick McGrath. "And being the owner of the largest hotel in the area, he can see the growing demand for accommodations now in Labrador West and it has been that way for the past 18 months for sure. He certainly sees the need for expansion and he is expanding rapidly."

McGrath said the owner is not only concerned with adding space to the 70-room facility that was built back in 1960; he is just as concerned with bringing the hotel up to a greater quality.

Star quality

"He wants his hotel to be the best, most definitely, and in the last couple of years he has made significant improvements and upgrades," said McGrath of the owner. "His goal is to be a four-star hotel and he will achieve that, I have no doubt."

The furniture in all the rooms has been replaced with a modernized theme. The hotel has a fully equipped gym now with top-of-the line exercise equipment. There is high-speed Internet service available for guests. Also, new saunas are currently being installed as well as a new bar (in the former Snake Pit bar), and a newly renovated sound-proof conference room; are all on the list of the many changes and upgrades being made to the hotel.

In his quest to bring the hotel up to a higher quality establishment, the owner is pulling out the stops when it comes to the amenities, according to McGrath, who describes the current work under way and the future plans with excitement in his voice.

"The new suites will have a full bathroom with all the amenities; whirlpool tubs, Jacuzzi, spa-style showers," he said. "The bedrooms are larger than the above-average size, and you have a living room with recliners and a leather sofa."

The hotel currently has five suites that have just been renovated and modernized to the same quality of what the new ones will offer.

McGrath said the work is expected to be completed on the 15 new suites by mid-April but the expansion won't stop there.

"Once these [15 suites] are completed, the plan is to expand possibly to another 30 rooms," he added. "He has the space there to build on to the hotel and with that expansion, you will see the infrastructure and amenities put in to provide him with his four-star status."

Canada Select

Canada Select is the governing body behind the ratings system and McGrath said, that rating system is very often what directs tourists.

The rating score is based on the extent and quality of the facilities, services and amenities.

"Right now we are at three and a half stars and that's the highest rating in Labrador West for hotels currently," said McGrath. "But there are other three and half stars in other parts of Labrador. So, as the ratings for hotels stand now, when he gets up to four stars, it will be the highest star-rating in Labrador."

Great outlook

The Sir Wilfred Grenfell Hotel has quite a history in Wabush. It was built by the Crosbies who also constructed a similar hotel in the mining town of Gagnon, QC.

Though the hotel has seen a number of owners in its 50-year life, Eneault has sustained the building for the last 25 years.

"Roger has done a lot of work with it for sure," said McGrath of his employer. "Especially over the last couple of years."

With the economic outlook that is very promising for Labrador West for the next 20 years, he said, all indicators were right for this investment by the owner.

"We have a strong increase in our clients and that is because of all the new developments in Labrador West," he said. "We have new mines being developed and going into production. There are many new projects happening. We are seeing, and will continue to see, a lot of business clientele travelling back and forth because of these new projects."

Even with IOC shutting down its mine for a month last summer, McGrath said there was still a steady flow coming in and out of Labrador West because of these other projects.

"During the shutdown last summer we maintained a good business," he said. "We saw some downturn but I am proud to say the Grenfell Hotel didn't layoff one person and we have about 70 people employed at the hotel. Currently our rooms are booked on a regular basis, it never slacked off this winter at all."

Branching out

Another expansion the owner has delved into is the purchase of a former restaurant in Labrador City and McGrath explains some of plans underway for that building.

"Because of some catering contracts we have, we needed more space," explained McGrath. "And, we have other plans for the building as well that we have a architect and interior designer working on it now."

McGrath, who is overseeing the project, said it will be open later this spring as a full-service establishment offering something different to Labrador City.