Anyone thinking of booking a weekend at Chateau Suites at Sylvan Bay had better hurry.
The 61-suite building that overlooks Sylvan Lake will only be available for long-term rental, effective Oct. 31. Currently, suites can be booked on a daily basis, with a reception desk and hotel services in place.
Bert Messier, who developed Chateau Suites and still owns about 25 units in the building, said that when the building was completed a decade ago the decision was made to operate it as a hotel. He explained that there was very little short-term accommodation in Sylvan Lake at the time.
Investors who bought suites in the condominiumized building were able to place them into a rental pool.
About 50 units remain in that rental pool, with the number diminishing over time, said Messier. More importantly, the arrival of the Best Western Plus Chateau Inn and the Comfort Inn & Suites in Sylvan Lake has increased the options for short-term guests.
“If you’re here for one night, you don’t need a suite, you need a bed.”
Suites in Chateau Suites at Sylvan Bay will be leased on a monthly or longer-term basis, with rents starting at about $1,500 a month for a one-bedroom, unfurnished apartment.
“That includes heated underground parking, it includes virtually everything,” pointed out Messier.
The building will be restricted to adult residents and have 24-hour manned security, he added, describing it as an “upscale premier-type of apartment.”
A number of units are already being leased on a long-term basis, he said.
Any staff at Chateau Suites whose positions are eliminated as a result of the change will have the opportunity to work at the Best Western Plus Chateau Inn, which Messier owns.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com