First eco-luxury global hotel brand at Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort

UCLUELET, British Columbia – Starwood Capital Group LLC and Marine Drive Properties Ltd. CEO, Elke Loof-Koehler, announced today the development of the landmark hotel-condominium at Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort, home to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada. The property is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia adjacent to the Pacific Rim National Park and will be known as the 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea. 1 Hotel and Residences is the first global hotel brand to combine the best of environmentally sustainable architecture and interior design with impeccable service and luxurious comfort.

Located on the west coast of Vancouver Island, at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the 1 Hotel site is the premier hotel property within Wyndansea Oceanfront Golf Resort, the 370-acre master-planned resort that features a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and is home to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club of Canada. The vision for Wyndansea, a $200 million oceanfront hotel-condominium, integrates sustainable design practices as part of a commitment to the environment and responsible living. Marine Drive Properties has designed the entire resort to meet LEED Gold Certification, the global rating system that is the benchmark for energy and environmental design.

The 1 Hotel includes 180 hotel-condominium suites and 95 Beach and Golf Villas. The 1 Hotel will feature a full-service eco-conscious spa, fitness facility and salt water pools. The restaurant and wine bistro will feature locally-sourced foods and wine. Other resort amenities are expected to include a deep-water marina for luxury yachts and seaplane service from downtown Vancouver, a resort clubhouse, and the Wild Pacific Trail

“The 1 Hotel brand aligns perfectly with Ms. Loof-Koehler’s iconic master plan development at Wyndansea. We share a passion for style and luxury derived through sustainable design,” said Barry Sternlicht, chairman & CEO of Starwood Capital Group, whose company owns and operates more than 800 hotels worldwide. “As I watch my children grow up and become responsible citizens, I have become more cognizant of what we are leaving behind and the personal responsibility we all share to help preserve and protect our environment. It is the perfect time for 1 and Wyndansea is the perfect place.”

The 1 Hotel brand is the brainchild of Barry Sternlicht who, during his time as CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, was credited with the revitalization of Westin Hotels & Resorts (led by innovations such as the Heavenly Bed) and the brand development of both St. Regis Hotels and “W” Hotels. The new Vancouver location will join a growing list of properties developing 1 Hotels around the world, including Seattle, New York City, Scottsdale and Washington, DC.

“The addition of the 1 Hotels and Residences brand will confirm Wyndansea’s position as an international eco-luxury resort,” said Loof-Koehler who was attracted to the beauty of Canada’s west coast and its development potential in the 1990’s. “Marine Drive Properties has always been committed to sustainable development, and we are very happy to have found a hotel brand that shares our respect for the planet and its people.”

The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will be a Certified Signature Sanctuary with Audubon International, which is dedicated to educating, assisting, and inspiring millions of people from all walks of life to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources around them. “Elke and the team at Wyndansea have been diligent in all aspects of the project, especially the golf course, to protect and enhance Ucluelet’s natural environment,” Jack Nicklaus said. “The introduction of 1 Hotels is further evidence of her commitment to an environmentally responsible approach.”

Wyndansea was envisioned in strategic alliance with S&P Destination Properties, a world leader in the design, marketing and sales of resort and luxury real estate. “Wyndansea is one of the most stunning oceanfront sites in the world and a partnership with Starwood Capital Group’s 1 Hotel will make 1 Hotel Vancouver Island at Wyndansea a world leader in sustainable luxury real estate,” said Sid Landolt, president of S&P Destination Properties. Customer generation has now begun for the initial release of 1 Hotel condominium suites. A small collection of the resort’s most exclusive home sites is available today.