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Bellstar seeks new site for wine-themed resort

OLIVER, BC:  Bellstar Developments Inc., an affiliate of Bellstar Hotels & Resorts Ltd, has notified the Mayor of the Town of Oliver that the company will not be moving forward with the purchase of the Centennial RV Park. 

In November 2007, Bellstar acquired 100 per cent interest in the Oliver Wine Village project, which was initially planned for the 3.63-acre riverfront development in downtown Oliver.   With a mission to deliver exceptional resort experiences, Bellstar remains committed to developing a wine-themed resort in the town of Oliver; however the original site chosen by the town proved to be problematic for the long-term sustainability of the project.

“We have no doubt that a destination resort themed around wine and culinary arts is appropriate for Oliver and region, the Wine Capital of Canada,” says Jon Zwickel, Executive Vice President of Bellstar. “Ideally, we would locate the resort on a site that the community can embrace and support, as well as a site that will allow us to create the resort in phases, something the original site does not allow us to do.”

Capitalizing on the $2 billion culinary and agri-tourism industry within British Columbia, Bellstar and the town of Oliver envision an authentically themed resort which celebrates the culture and heritage of the South Okanagan, along with the region’s relationship to food, wine and agriculture.  The plans call for a mixed-use development, consisting of a four-star hotel with conference facilities, spa and restaurant, as well as a wine interpretive and culinary arts centre.

“Our next step is to locate an alternate site for the resort, preferably a site with an Oliver address,” says Zwickel.  “We believe there is no better region within which to locate this resort. We are committed to building on that reputation and providing culinary tourists with a dynamic and exceptional resort experience.”

Bellstar will continue to work cooperatively with the Town of Oliver and the region to ensure the new site is of benefit to the region.

For more information on Calgary-based Bellstar Hotels & Resorts, visit www.bellstar.ca.