Renovated Algonquin Will Help Economy Year Round

The famous Algonquin Hotel and resort is receiving a major face-lift.


New Castle Hotels and Resorts doing renovations on the property in St. Andrews, which will include a new roof, windows, and warmer, energy efficient wings that will allow marketing for all seasons.

Vice President of New Castle Guido Kerpel tells Tide News its a unique and very iconic property. He says, "We are going to restore it to the way it was but with some modern slants. That as well as the fact that we are now going to be operating 365 days of the year, full steam ahead to bring guests to the property."

Kerpel adds both sections of the hotel will now match, with the same color white paint, and the tudor-style trim will reach from end to end.

The renovations are also bringing some new -- and old -- ideas to the buildings. Private balconies along the second floor, which were included with the original design in 1889, but were not rebuilt after the fire in the early 1900's, will be put back in place.  The outdoor pool will remain as it is at the request of many returning summer guests, however, to accomodate the winter guests, a new indoor pool is being built where a former garden was situated. The indoor pool will be approximately 6000 square feet and will have a two-story, indoor/outdoor spiral water-slide.

Tourism Minister Trevor Holder tells Tide News an overwhelming majority of the contractors involved come from New Brunswick. He tells Tide News, "It's another example of what we are doing, during tough, fiscal and economic times, make sure there is opportunities for the local economy here in St. Andrews and Charlotte County, but also continue to build a world-class tourism product for the whole province."

Local MLA for Charlotte-Campobello Curtis Malloch tells Tide News the bottom line in the project is the employment factor. Malloch tells us, "We have upwards of 10 or more local contractors and sub-contractors right out of the riding of Charlotte-Campobello. Just one contract that I know of, the roof contract, it is worth over a million dollars, and it is a local company that has that contract." Malloch says not a single penny has been spent outside of New Brunswick.
The completion date is June 1st. ( Top Picture - The Algonquin showing boarded up windows. The private balconies will be built along the second floor. Bottom Picture - From Left; MLA Curtis Malloch, Tourism Minister Trevor Holder, and Construction Manager for Avant-Garde Construction and Management Inc. Rob Clinch, looking over the area where the indoor pool will be built. )