Kelowna Daily Courier By J.P. SQUIRE Sat, Oct 7, 2006
Mainland millionaire businessman Ralph Berezan plans to build a $200-million highrise hotel, destination casino and convention centre at Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna.An open house will be held 4:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Rotary Centre for Arts in Kelowna to outline his plans and receive public input.The blockbuster Chateau Blanc deal depends on development approvals by the Kootenay Boundary Regional District, but Berezan hopes to begin construction next spring and open the doors for the 2009-10 ski season.The project would involve 400-plus rooms in a 17-storey tower (the first highrise at Big White), a casino of 8,000-10,000 square feet, up to10,000 square feet of convention space, at least 10,000 square feet of commercial space, and numerous lounges and restaurants.The proposed location is the current Ridge parking lot at the base of Big White’s new $7-million Snow Ghost Express, the longest six-passenger chairlift in Canada, currently under construction.Berezan would replace the existing Ridge Day Lodge with another free-standing day lodge. Big White would replace the lost parking elsewhere on the mountain.The hotel would have both strata-title and rental units; the breakdown has not yet been finalized.Berezan is reviewing proposals to possibly let an international chain handle management of the hotel, but it would be premature to make that decision now, he said.
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