Motel reopens for business
Dutch Inn in Cornwall spreads word it is now open year-round
The owners of a Cornwall motel are trying to get the word out that it’s back in business year-round.
The new owners and management team of the Dutch Inn are still battling some misconceptions about who owns the motel and the fact that it’s a seasonal business.
The truth is that the monks of the Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society (GEBIS) do not own the inn and have never owned it. It is now open 12 months of the year to the public after operating seasonally the past three years.
“There is still a misconception about the monks,’’ said Anchen Cai, sales manager. “They don’t own it, but they are one of our customers. They still rent space for their classes on weekends.’’
The Dutch Inn has changed hands four times over the past three years. Dutch people sold it to three Chinese women in a deal that involved the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), but the hotel was sold again that same year to another Chinese businessman. He ran it for just under two years and then it was purchased this year by Christine Tsai of Taiwan, who currently runs it as a year-round operation.
During those three years, it was run as a seasonal operation, used primarily by monks and members of the Chinese community for retreats and classes.
Cai said they’ve been contacting the media this past year in an attempt to get the word out that they’re open for business. “We are also now starting to participate in community activities. We sponsored an association in Charlottetown and we also did some work with the (town) in Cornwall. We offered them space.’’
The motel is even putting a float in the Charlottetown Christmas parade on Saturday.
“We want to be more than just a hotel; we want to be part of the community.’’
Li-Jean Tsai, general manager of the inn, said there is no PNP money in the current operation. She also noted that the current owner has been living in Canada for the past five to 10 years and is quite excited to breathe new life into the business.
Donna Graham, front desk manager, said the hotel had been closing at the end of September and re-opening in April or May.
“This winter will be slower because a lot of people don’t think we’re open but next winter should be a lot busier. The word will be out.’’
Graham said the hotel employed 25 people this past summer, many of them international students.
“We try to take as many from the university and Holland College and give them some skill and experience in different areas of the hotel,’’ Graham said.
“We’ll move them around so they’ll get an idea of what the front desk looks like, the laundry, housekeeping, kitchen, different areas, (give them) a broad spectrum.’’
Over the course of the winter, the hotel will employ about half as many people as it does in the summer, or as many are required on a part-time basis based on demand.