Developers Mr. Abdul Rehman and Mr. Ali Rehman, along with the Mayor of Oshawa and members of Council and other dignitaries, marked the beginning of construction of the Holiday Inn Express and Oshawa Convention Centre with an official groundbreaking ceremony on June 6. The $21-million hotel and convention centre will be located in downtown Oshawa on the corner of Simcoe Street North and Richmond Street East (replacing the former Queen’s Market Square and municipal parking lot).
The development will include a 6-storey hotel with 125 guest rooms, restaurant with an outdoor patio, indoor pool and fitness facilities, and a convention centre that will accommodate approximately 300-400 people. It will also include both surface and underground parking, with the underground parking garage connected to both the hotel and conference centre.
Preliminary concept designs for the project have been approved by Council, and site preparation is currently underway. The Rehmans will be finalizing their building and site plan drawings over the summer and intend to start construction as early as fall 2013.
The new development is in keeping with the City’s new Oshawa Strategic Plan, Creating Our Sustainable Tomorrow. The hotel and conference centre will support business, education and healthcare, as well as the City’s numerous cultural, sporting and entertainment facilities and events, by providing high quality accommodations and meeting facilities.
“My family and I are extremely happy about our participation and contribution to the new City of Oshawa Strategic Plan, Creating Our Sustainable Tomorrow,” said Abdul Rehman, President, Chayell Hospitality Group. “We are positive that quality accommodation in downtown Oshawa will not only complement existing businesses including the GM Centre, it will also attract and build confidence of other developers to invest in downtown Oshawa.”
“We see the growth potential in downtown Oshawa. Bringing the Holiday Inn Express & Convention Centre to downtown Oshawa will help it realize its destination potential,” said Ali Rehman, Vice-President, Chayell Hospitality Group.
“Downtown Oshawa continues to further establish its designation as a vibrant entertainment and cultural centre,” said Oshawa Mayor John Henry. “Since the opening of the General Motors Centre sports and entertainment venue in 2006, downtown Oshawa has welcomed many new businesses, from trendy cafés and restaurants featuring international flavours to unique shops.”
The downtown is also home to street-level television studios, five university buildings (including a historic theatre), Durham Region’s first co-working office, Lakeridge Health, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery and Parkwood National Historic Site. Over 5,600 people work in the downtown area; and approximately 2,600 students enrol each year in various programs in downtown campus locations.
The timing of the new hotel and conference is ideal. Over 25,000 spectators are expected to watch TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games boxing events during eight days of competition in July 2015 at Oshawa’s General Motors Centre.
