New owners say P.E.I. hotel is open for business

The new owners and management team at Cornwall's Dutch Inn say they have a challenge on their hands: making Islanders realize the hotel and conference centre areopen for business.

"That's my tough duty to do that," said AnchenCai, the Dutch Inn's new sales manager. "A lot of people think we are owned by the monks.And they don't think we're open to the public."

The Dutch Inn has never been owned by monks.But in the last three years, the business has changed ownership four times going from a year-round hotel to a summer hotel in the process.

In the off season, the buildinghas been primarily used by monks and members of P.E.I.'s Chinese community for retreatsand classes.

Still open

"So, people assume we are definitely closed [to the public], that we're not functioning any more," said front desk manager Donna Graham."We're trying to get the word out that we're back."

Henry Lee, one of the two new owners said he'skeen to operate the Dutch Inn as a year-round hotelagain.

Lee lives in Taiwan, but has stayed at the hotel during yearly visits to P.E.I.

"I've stayed here before, and I think this is a nice place to begin with," said Lee. "And I see a lot of great potential for tourism here.I believe there are more people coming [to P.E.I.]"

Hiring local

Lee saidso far,he's hired 12 employees to work at the hotel- half of them international students graduating from Maritime universities.

"I've been thinking about what I can do that's good for myself and the business, and good for the local community," he said. "I think that P.E.I. would like to have more young people staying here, havetheir family, and work on their career development, and really make a contribution to P.E.I."

The co-owner plans to hire more staff in anticipation of business picking up duringthe summer months.

The hotel's new sales manager saidhis big task will be ensuring the hotel stays busy throughout the year.

"Our plan is to have a connection with tourism agents, to let them know we're open," said Cai."I hope we'll get a good result for the summer, and people will know our hotel more and more, and we'll get on the right track to operate normally again."

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