Wednesday, March 3, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D3 Progressing into the new millennium By Nienke T. Jonkman ADVERTISING FEATURE Progress is a good word to describe the Holiday Inn's term in Oakville thus far. It's hard to believe it's only been three short years since this outstanding full- service hotel was converted to a Holiday Inn from a Howard Johnsons. Progressed they have in that short span, with new ownership and management since mid- 1998 and many short- and long term plans in the works. "Although we're relatively new, we fit like a gloVe," said new general manager Kevin Davison. "It's like meeting someone new and feeling like you already know them." Davison is part of Royco Hotels & Resorts, the manage ment company that directs the Holiday Inn. He says his goal is the same as the company mis sion statement, "to be the num ber one hotel in Halton Region, and the preferred hotel west of Toronto." It seems they're accomplishing just that. They have won "Best Hotel" in Oakville for three years in a row as voted by Oakville Beaver readers. They have also been the 'preferred hotel' for the Bell Canadian Open every year since they opened. Improving service, ranking and quality of the stay are all elements of a new management plan as pledged by Davison. "We tend to every little detail to make the overall experience as pleasant as possible," he said. For example, adding irons and ironing boards to every room. All the rooms will be upgrad ed shortly during planned $1.7 million in renovations including expanding the Atrium Salon banquet room to double its cur rent size. The Holiday Inn is the largest hotel in Oakville, offering guests a wide variety of 145 spa cious rooms and suites, includ ing Executive King, King Jacuzzi, Double and 2 Room Suites. Guests are offered TV with Pay per View movies, phone voice mail, in-room cof fee service, in-room hairdryers and ironing facilities, work area with a desk, comfortable seating area and plenty of free parking. Other features that set the Holiday Inn apart include: • enhanced quality of product through agressive reinvest ment • utilized aggressive training techniques, including state- of-the-art multimedia staff training systems • addressed environmental issues in the way they do business • established an Internet access to reserve bedroom accommodations (www.holi- day-inn.com) Also, the Atrium Cafe and restaurant is open daily for your dining pleasure, and can accom modate large parties (with reser vations). Schooner's lounge is a place you can relax in quiet sur roundings. For your leisure, there is an indoor heated pool, whirlpool, sauna, exercise facility and games room. Conference and meeting facilities can accommo date up to 350 people. Amenities are close by with downtown only a few minutes drive away. Kids always stay and eat for free. Part of the Holiday Inn's suc cess is due to its guest loyalty program called Priority Club Worldwide. This frequency pro gram gives guests benefits including points that can be redeemed for merchandise. In addition, guests can collect points or miles for stays in many other frequency programs such as Air Miles Travel Miles and with over twenty airline part ners! "Oakville has told us we're their favourite," said Davison, "and we will continue to strive to earn their business." For more information about the Holiday Inn, call 842-5000. Innovative anti-theft device is now available at Ziebart Co-operation results in tracking stolen vehicles During the ice storm on January 28, 1999, in the early morning hours, Burl- Oak Investigative Services Inc., one of Canada's renowned private investiga tion companies, tracked a stolen 1998 Toyota 4 Runner equipped with a "Boomerang" to the Forest Hills area of Toronto. Investigation at the scene fur ther revealed a stolen 1998 Grand Cherokee. Metro Police were appreciative and continued with a stakeout on the vehicles. "This is another fine example of co-operation between police, private investi gators and the public," said Garry Robertson, manager of the Special Assignments Unit with Investigative Services. The same Toyota 4 Runner had been stolen and recovered by Investigative Services previously in the fall of 1998. The owner of the vehicle decided to install a "Boomerang" following an initial theft of the vehicle in early 1998. ADVERTISING FEATURE An anti-theft device that can assist police in recovering stolen vehicles within minutes is now available in Oakville at Ziebart Tidy Car. Known as "Boomerang", this innov ative new tracking device is the size of a television remote control, and can pinpoint the location of a stolen vehicle anywhere in North America where there is a cellular phone network. "Boomerang is installed in the vehi cle and activated at the time of a theft to signal where the vehicle is located," said Dean Williams, who co-owns Ziebart Tidy Car with partner Carl Demunck Boomerang utilizes cellular network technology instead of satellites, which overcomes limitations such as indoor garages, underground parking lots and metal freight containers. Once a vehicle is reported stolen to the police, the owner calls 1-888-234- TRAC (8722) to activate the tracking device from the 24-hour central moni toring headquarters of Rankin Research Corporation in Montreal. An unmarked tracking unit picks up the signal, locates the vehicle and calls police. In actual cases involving police in Montreal and Ottawa, stolen vehicles were located within 20 - 90 minutes. Ranking Research Corporation, the product developer, is working with Oakville's Investigative Services, who does the tracking for them. "Working together makes us part ners against crime," said Investigative Services head, Garry Robertson. "Application of this technology is long overdue." Insurance companies in Ontario are currently considering what discounts may be passed on to customers who use Boomerang. With automobiles serving as part- time offices for many people, they often hold com puters and other office equipment as well as impor tant documenta tion. "A tracking device for their vehicle is a logical extension of secu rity systems they may have at work or in their homes," said Williams. For more information, call Oakville Ziebart Tidy Car at 844-8333, or visit the showroom at 318 Wyecroft Road, just west of Dorval. J O H N B A T E & C O M P A N Y L T D . ENGINEER, CONTRACTOR, PROJECT MANAGER #114-5800 AMBER DRIVE MISSISSAUGA, ON. Tel: 905-625*5646 • Fax: 905-238-9957 E-mail:jbate@johnbate.on.ca iir Oakville head o * -f* itptAL SOtUTJONS SURVIVAL GEAR FOR CARS 318 Wyecroft Road (between Dbrval & 4th Line) Oakville (905) 844-8333 OPEN SATURDAYS Buy Now, Pay Oct. "99 OJX.C Toro CCR Poweriite • Exclusive Power Curve* rotor system cleans down to the pavement • 3 hp engine • 16" clearing width • Folding handle for easy, compact storage • Throws snow up to 25feet Advantages: •This year's prices • In your garage for the next blizzard CURRENT POWER MACHINERY INC. 1661 Lakeshore Rd. W. Mississauga 822-4211 AGRA Engineers Global Solutions AGRA Monenco is a leading international engineering, construction management, and technology company. We provide complete, financed solutions for clients in: • Process Industries • Infrastructure • Power • Systems TechnologyAlarms don't stop thieves We do. --. J BOOMERANGGuaranteed. ^ Stolen Vehicle Tracking System with excellent insurance coverage, ihe oar theft today oasts its cwner ), as well as serious aggravation. is a unique system for tracking MniutalHuriiidtttfira Professional steeri ng wheel sophisticated Theft prevention is Boomerang typically vehides so auioay that no Boomerang's success rate is 1 recovery limes overage about 40 ility Cellular network. for call or v is it...m ore B l iz z a r d http://www.holi-day-inn.com http://www.holi-day-inn.com mailto:jbate@johnbate.on.ca