Best Western announces construction in Liverpool

Best Western Woodstock Inn and Suites Ltd. announced on May 7 plans to build a hotel in Liverpool, with Queens Place being a key factor in the decision.

Region of Queens Municipality staff and residents gathered in front of the Queens Place construction site for the announcement at 9 a.m.

“It’s just been a little over six months since we met in Halifax at a coffee shop and had our first discussion,” with the Region of Queens, said president of Best Western Woodstock Inn and Suites Ltd. and K-Line Construction, Gary Keenan.

The hotel will house 55-60 rooms, conference space, a swimming pool, exercise room and free continental breakfast.

The project will cost about $5-million.

“This is fully funded by myself and my partners,” he added.

This is Best Western Woodstock Inn and Suites Ltd.’s first project outside of New Brunswick.

“Location is key in this business and we couldn’t ask for a better place to be situated then in this development, next to Queens Place,” said Keenan.

Mayor John Leefe used words of encouragement from an Elton John song called “The Bridge.”

“The central theme of the song is really all about life and traveling along life’s path,” he began, “and the question he asks in the song is, will we cross bridges to opportunity or will we let our footsteps on the trail of life falter and will we turn away from that property for fear of the unknown, for fear of taking a risk.”

He said this community has built the bridge to that greater opportunity.

With the hotel expected to bring 18 to 20 full time jobs to the area, Keenan said, “our project is going to be a quality hotel, we’ve had great success in Woodstock, New Brunswick because we give people what they want. It’s quality cleanliness and an affordable price.”

Liverpool resident Donna Norman said “I just think it’s a good idea and I’m not surprised because with a sports complex it only makes sense to have a hotel.”

She is concerned “about how it’s going to affect Lanes Privateer Inn and the Transcotia Motel.”

“We really don’t believe that we’re going to hurt the existing facilities in this area, we expect that we will compliment your municipality,” commented Kennan.

“For anybody in our community who wonders about us moving forward, this is your little wakeup call,” added Mayor Leefe, “that tells us that that the biggest hotel chain on planet earth knows that this is a good place to make an investment.”

Site work will begin June 1.

The Best Western hotel will be open for business in spring 2009.