Toronto, ON, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- expands its summer festival footprint as the Official Economy Hotel Partner of the (August 7–10, 2025). This partnership connects the hotel brand with one of Canada’s most celebrated music weekends, expected to draw over 140,000 attendees to near Barrie, Ontario.

Building on its collaboration with and , this alliance strengthens Days Inn’s presence in the country music scene, placing the brand at the heart of one of Ontario’s premier entertainment experiences.

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Boots and Hearts, one of Canada’s iconic country music festivals,” said Ally Wesson, Vice President of Marketing at Days Inns - Canada. “It’s a natural fit that connects us with passionate travel enthusiasts who value comfort, convenience and unforgettable experiences. From our on-site activation to digital touchpoints, this opportunity provides a dynamic platform to showcase the Days Inn brand in a meaningful and memorable way.”

As the of Boots and Hearts, Days Inns - Canada reinforces its commitment to providing comfortable, reliable accommodations at a great value – so festivalgoers can focus on making lasting travel memories.

“We’re proud to welcome Days Inns - Canada as the Official Economy Hotel Partner of Boots and Hearts. Their commitment to value, comfort, and convenience perfectly complements our mission to create unforgettable experiences for our fans,” said Eva Dunford, Co-Founder of Boots and Hearts. “This partnership ensures even more people can travel, stay, and celebrate country music in a way that fits their lifestyle.”

With standout branding across the Boots and Hearts festival site – including main stage exposure and key social hubs – Days Inn brings its energy to the heart of the action. Attendees can swing by a custom on-site activation to snap a photo and take home a printed keepsake. The experience extends beyond the festival grounds – with exclusive offers and digital engagement, Days Inn stays part of the journey well beyond the final set.

Rewarding Stays with Days Inn
Whether it is during festival season or everyday travel, Days Inn deliver unbeatable value without sacrificing comfort. Guests earn valuable points on qualified stays that unlock free nights and exclusive perks at thousands of destinations worldwide. With free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast options, family-friendly perks, and pools at select locations, your next great escape starts with Days Inn. For more information, visit .

Toronto, ON (July 9, 2025) – Choice Hotels Canada is pleased to announce the opening of Comfort Inn & Suites in Cochrane, ON, marking its first property in the charming, historic town. The new modern property uses the brand’s Rise & Shine prototype, with features, design and amenities that appeal to both business and leisure guests, and multi-functional spaces that can transform from day to night.

“This hotel is a standout example of the refreshed Comfort brand, and the overwhelmingly positive guest feedback reinforces that we’re delivering on what travellers want,” says Brian Leon, CEO, Choice Hotels Canada. “We’re confident this property will play an important role for both visitors and the community.”

Comfort Inn & Suites in Cochrane is owned by Jaydeep Dodiya, an experienced and passionate local developer, who has been involved in the hospitality industry since 2006.

“This is my dream project,” says Jaydeep Dodiya, owner, Comfort Inn & Suites. “I love the community. It is a beautiful town, and I’ve raised my family here. I am so proud to have opened my latest hotel here and thrilled it has already been embraced by the community and visitors alike.”

The newly opened property has 68 spacious guest rooms, including seven suites. Onsite amenities include a complimentary hot breakfast with all the favourites - bacon, eggs, sausages and waffles - as well as a 24-hour fitness centre and hot tub. There’s also a meeting space, which can accommodate groups up to 18 people and a marketplace with snacks for purchase.

Known as the snowmobiling capital of Canada, the city of Cochrane is also famous for its Polar Bear habitat, attracting tourists from near and far. It also has a unique Canadian claim to fame as the birthplace of Tim Horton - who was both a legendary hockey player and, of course, the founder of the famous coffee and donut franchise. You can find Comfort Inn & Suites in Cochrane at 25 Western Avenue. For reservations, please visit ChoiceHotels.com.

A fire of November 2024 ravaged part of the Hôtel du Lac Carling. The remaining unaffected 50 out of 98 rooms along with the golf course, was acquired by The Homans Group at 5.5M from Olymbec. They manage 3 establishments under the name Les Chalets Nature, with over 140 rooms with a 480-visitor capacity, in addition to the Belgium restaurant Chou de Bruxelles in Sherbrooke Quebec.

According to Operations Manager Gabrielle Homans (36) “Our goal is to restore and a completely revitalize the hotel complex”

“This is a fabulous project with challenge and we are ready” says President of Immeubles Homans, Olivier Homans. The Homans family is ready to inject a 20-million-dollar budget to accomplish this project in time for May 2026.  The initiative will stimulate the local economy throug construction work while restoring 50+ permanent hotel jobs. It will become a sought-after filming location for the film industry.

The Homans family, is recognized for its expertise in: commitment to sustainable development and the enhancement of heritage projects such as:  Domaine 360, Eastman Club, Domaine du Lac Long, and now Hôtel du Lac Carling.

A family project with strong values

The Homans Group is a family-run business of Belgian origin with over 20 employees.The company is driven by a common passion for hospitality, catering and sustainable real estate. The Hôtel du Lac Carling reconstruction project is founded on sustainable development principles: reuse and revaluation of materials and integration of eco-responsible practices. The objective is to create a warm and authentic space, conducive to relaxation, events and discovery of the region.

Olivier Homans: President and Project manager, ideologist and founder of Le Groupe Homans. A passionate real estate entrepreneur, he supervises and coordinates major development projects.

Gabrielle Homans:  Director of operations, Gabrielle oversees all logistics & aspects of the customer experience with all establishments as well as her restaurant Le Chou de Bruxelles in Sherbrooke.

Dominique Hupin & Jean-Louis Homans: they oversee accounting and business management for Immeubles Homans.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.      819-674-4848

LONDON, 9 July 2025 – Hilton has retained its position as the world’s most valuable hotel brand for the tenth consecutive year, according to the  by , the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Hilton’s brand value increased 30% to USD15.1 billion, with the group expanding its global footprint and strengthening its offering in the luxury and lifestyle space. Now operating more than 8,600 properties across 139 countries and territories- with nearly half of 2024’s additions coming from the lifestyle and luxury segments - this growth underscores Hilton’s focus on experience-led travel and premium positioning.

Hyatt (up 32% to USD8 billion) holds second place, boosted by net rooms growth, a record development pipeline, and major openings across Asia and South America. Marriott (up 20% to USD3.8 billion) climbs to third, overtaking Hampton Inn (down 25% to USD3.1 billion), following a year of record signings, loyalty programme enhancements, and technology-driven service upgrades. 

Henry Farr, Director, Brand Finance commented:

“The global hotel sector is firmly back in growth mode, with the total brand value of the top 50 hotel brands rising 4% this year to USD58.8 billion. Leisure and experience-led travel continue to drive performance, while key metrics like occupancy and RevPAR are on the rise. Asia-Pacific is leading the way, with China’s outbound travel resurgence playing a major role in the recovery.”

Taj is the world’s strongest hotel brand with a Brand Strength Index score of 92.2 out of 100. According to Brand Finance research, the Indian luxury hotel brand secured perfect scores in knowledge and selection in its home market. Scandic Hotels (BSI 91.3) and Marriott (BSI 90.0) rank second and third for brand strength, respectively. The UK’s Premier Inn made one of the biggest jumps, rising from 22^nd to fifth strongest, supported by strong awareness and perceived value in the UK.

In the broader Leisure & Tourism sector, the total brand value of the world’s top 25 most valuable brands grew 22% to USD71.9 billion. Cruise lines recorded the fastest recovery, growing 57% year-on-year. Royal Caribbean International leads this resurgence, following the high-profile launch of its Oasis and Icon Class vessels. Booking.com retained its position as the most valuable Leisure & Tourism brand globally, valued at USD10.5 billion.