Nanaimo is dreaming big again, and we hope the dream will pay off. The city has approved a development permit for a Chinese tourism company to build a $50-million hotel on a city lot next to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. SSS Manhao International Tourism Group plans a 240-room, 21-storey development, and will get a 10-year tax exemption.
Nanaimo has high hopes for the 70,000 tourists that Manhao says it will bring each year.
At the same time, investors are taking a third shot at making a success of a high-speed passenger ferry between Nanaimo and Vancouver, which could give the city another boost. They dream of people living in Nanaimo and commuting to the big city.
The conference centre, which opened in June 2008, got up and running just in time to be smacked by the economic downturn. It has struggled since then, but is increasing its number of visitor days.
Businesses and organizations are travelling less often to conferences, and that affects all such centres. Nanaimo鈥檚 has also suffered from not having a hotel adjoining it.
The Chinese proposal would fill that gap because the new hotel would connect to the centre by an overhead walkway. The company has even acquired the right to negotiate to take over operation of the convention centre.
Nanaimo has suffered more than its share of heartbreak as it struggled to revive its downtown and waterfront. It will have to do its homework because both the hotel and passenger ferries are gambles.
Let鈥檚 hope the cards come up winners this time.
