By Tom Mark

Lumby Looks To Attract Hotel Chain

Apr 4, 2018 | 3:06 PM

Lumby’s mayor would like to see a hotel move into the village.

Council this week decided to look at how to offer some tax incentives to a hotelier willing to build in Lumby.

Kevin Acton says a study by business students from UBC Okanagan suggests a hotel would do well.

“They actually went around and phoned like the Wyndham Group, the Best Western Group, and the Red Lion, and asked what they’d be looking for. And when they gave them what they were looking for, they were interested.”

As a result, the village is working with a development expert on a plan.

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“We have hired him to sort of pick properties that might be of interest to a hotelier, so we’re going to go forward with having a look at making a presentation.”

Acton says council feels it can draw up a tax incentive bylaw that would defray taxes for a period of time for a hotel operator.

“Basically, any improvements they do to the land or property for the first, whatever we set, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten years we can reduce the taxes or negate the taxes for a certain period of time.”

Acton says the students found that Vernon is 99 per cent full during peak season, so there is room for overflow, even during shoulder seasons.

They feel a 40 room hotel with a conference centre hotel in Lumby would see at least 65 per cent occupancy throughout a year.

by Tom Mark