SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) opened its first Holiday Inn Express in Squamish, B.C yesterday.  

The 95-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites Squamish is located 45 minutes away from Whistler and is easily accessible to Vancouver and the Sea to Sky Highway. It’s a short drive from tourist attractions such as Whistler Blackcomb Mountain, downtown Squamish and an array of golf courses and businesses.

TORONTO — Following the advice of The Pet Shop Boys, Toronto-based celebrity chef and television personality Marc Thuet is going west.

According to reports from Toronto Life magazine, the popular toque is taking his Conviction Kitchen television and restaurant concept on the road. Season two of the reality show is slated to take place in Vancouver. Much like the Toronto edition, Thuet will hire local ex-cons to man the restaurant, both in the front-of-house and in the kitchen.

SURREY, B.C. — It’s that time of year again, and De Dutch Pannekoek House Restaurants Inc. is hosting its 13th annual fundraising celebration, Shrove Pannekoek Tuesday, in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, B.C./Yukon Region.

On Tuesday, Feb. 16, at its 18 locations, two dollars from every Pannekoek sold will be donated to the fight against breast cancer. Select restaurants will also offer opportunities for their community to raise additional funds.

VANCOUVER — Take one Canadian comic and filmmaker, one 1988 Dodge Caravan, 65 restos and countless hotdog connoisseurs and celebs, and you get one documentary and one new restaurant with more than 20 different dog varieties.

Dougieluv has opened Granville Street’s Dougiedog – The Modern Dog resto after cross-country research to recreate the popular comfort food. Offering fresh, all-natural wieners made with hormone-free, grain-fed meat raised and processed in the Fraser Valley, menu items include the Crif Dog with deep-fried bacon, pineapple and green onions and the Dave Grohl Special with a whisky infusion, coleslaw and hot peppers. Dougieluv has also instituted root beer pairings, with more than 10 varieties of the frothy fizz to compliment each variety of meat and selection of sides.