Prince George Airport be able to accommodate overnight hotel guests by 2027.
Construction of the 120-guest room Prestige YXS on a 486-hectare (1,201-acre) site at 4141 Boeing Road is expected to begin next spring, with an opening date expected sometime in January 2027. The hotel project is still in the design process, with the preliminary plan for the building design to be completed by Chernoff Thompson Architects North of Prince George this fall or early winter.
Craig Briere, CEO of Growth Hospitality, the Prince George company spearheading the project, told The Citizen that the hotel will especially cater to travellers from outlying communities coming to Prince George to connect to larger centres. Often those flights originating from Prince George leave the city early to allow for daytime connections to international destinations and that requires travellers to stay overnight close to the airport.
“You can see the amount of travellers moving through YXS that are coming from major construction projects such as mines and, more importantly, there are locals moving through the airport travelling to destinations beyond Vancouver arriving early to catch those 5:30 a.m. flights,” said Briere.
“We’ve certainly identified the airport as a logistical point that brings travellers through our area and in order to accommodate their needs, certainly a hotel is needed.”
Briere said the hotel will also serve flight crews who regularly arrive late and stay overnight in Prince George before they leave on their flights the following day.
It will be attached to the airport terminal on the site now occupied by the car rental parking lot and that will allow guests to access the terminal without having to step outside the building.
“They can just basically get out of bed, go down the elevator into the terminal and check into their flight,” said Briere.
The plan was formally announced Monday afternoon and city council passed a bylaw to allow hotels as a secondary use on land zoned "airport" through three readings on Monday evening.
"The addition of Prestige YXS to Prince George Airport will significantly enhance the travel experience for our passengers," said Gordon Duke, president and CEO of Prince George Airport Authority, in the announcement. "This hotel development aligns with our vision of providing exceptional services and amenities, making our airport a key hub for travellers."
In addition to the 120 rooms, the hotel will also have a small meeting /boardroom space as well as a spa with weight gym, hot tub, sauna and steam room. There will also be ground floor retail space available and room for restaurants/coffee shops and other services needed for the airport to accommodate hotel guests and terminal visitors.
“This hotel fits our product mix in this market and really positions us as a leader in hospitality in Prince George and Northern B.C.,” said Briere.
“It will certainly help the airport grow but it also helps tourism and industry in the north to continue to grow by having this additional amenity at the airport. It’s a community project that will provide benefits in a number of different ways and obviously we’re excited to be the driving force behind this.”
The Lake Babine First Nation is a partner in the Prestige Prince George Lodge and Prestige YXS projects.
"This partnership is a great opportunity for Lake Babine First Nation to be involved in a project that will bring economic benefits to our community," said Trevor Morrison, CEO of Lake Babine First Nation."We are proud to be a part of this development and look forward to its positive impact."
Lheidli T'enneh Chief Dolleen Logan had praise for the project. "Congratulations to the group," she said. "We appreciate seeing positive relationships and partnerships being developed in Lheidli T’enneh territory and the City of Prince George. This development will bring new economic opportunities to the region."
Based in Kelowna, the Prestige Hotel chain also owns the 130-room Treasure Cove Resort at 2005 Highway 97. The family-owned corporation recently purchased the 83-room Four Points by Sheraton, a 17-year-old hotel now known as Prestige Prince George Lodge, located on the opposite side of Highway 97 adjacent to the Treasure Cove.
"Our expansion to Prince George Airport is a significant milestone for Prestige Hotels and Resorts," said Amy Nunn, VP of sales and marketing at Prestige Hotels and Resorts. "We are dedicated to creating properties that reflect the unique character of their locations, and Prestige YXS will be no exception."
