February 5, 2005 -The Ice Palace Hotel, the first ice hotel on the West Coast, will open in December 2005 at Sun Peaks Resort, British Columbia.

The interior appointments in the ice hotel will feature the utmost in luxury and the coolest high tech electronics. The hotel will feature large function areas for corporate gatherings, themed hotel rooms for overnight guests and a wedding chapel for those who wish to take the plunge! The Ice Palace is constructed entirely of ice and snow and maintains a constant, if a bit chilly, internal temperature of between -2 and -5 degrees Celcius (28 to 23 Fahrenheit). Fibre optics, fireplaces and candlelight cast a beautiful warm glow; creating an unparallel experience for the guests. The hotel will be reconstructed each winter and operate between December and April.

“Our guests’ first impression will be walking into a spectacular reception area with ice sculptures, towering ice columns soaring up to a vaulted ceiling complete with a chandelier made entirely of ice. They will be served a drink from a glass sculpted out of ice at the coolest Ice Bar,” describes Steeve Croteau, of the Ice Palace Hotel Group.

“We are very excited about our location at Sun Peaks,” continues Croteau. “Sun Peaks Resort has established transportation links to both domestic and international markets. This will provide us with instant access to the many leisure and corporate markets.”

The Ice Palace at Sun Peaks represents the first ice hotel to be built in an existing resort setting which provides vacationers with a great diversity of winter adventure options explains Croteau. “This location provides multiple winter adventures such as skiing, dog sledding, sleigh rides and snowshoeing immediately at the resort.”

“The partnership between Sun Peaks and the Ice Palace is a tremendous one,” explains Christopher Nicolson, President of Tourism Sun Peaks. “Sun Peaks Resort is one of the most celebrated resorts in Canada because of its intimate pedestrian village nestled between three mountains and its selection of quality restaurants and lodges.”

“Creating a memorable guest experience is central to our core beliefs as a service provider. Our guests have come to expect a vacation experience that they can’t wait to tell their friends about. The Ice Palace shares these values and so is completely in keeping with the kind of amenities and experiences we strive to provide our guests.”