"Velkomin" to Gimli...

About 80 kilometers north of Winnipeg’s city limits, on Highway #9, the frozen shoreline of Lake Winnipeg meet the beaches of Gimli’s snow covered harbor front. For a Friday in early March, it is noteworthy to say the streets of this beach town are lined with parked cars.

As you approach the end of

Centre Street

, your eyes immediately explore the baby blue exterior and the white trimmed balconies of the Lakeview Resort and Conference Centre. With 99 guestrooms, the attraction that has called Gimli home since 1991 will have a full house this evening.

Maintaining active participation in Gimli’s tourism industry is something the hotel prides itself on. “I would like to think that our hotel is a big part of the reason why people come to Gimli,” says general manager Michael Lazer.

“We have an obligation to the community to remain in active participation, ensuring that people will want to come here,” says Lazer.

The hotel affiliates itself with events that bring massive crowds consisting of Gimli locals, Manitoba travelers, and out of province tourists every year.

The Gimli Film Festival, attracting almost 3000 people in 2010, is happening July 20-24 this year, and is just one event that the hotel is proud to sponsor. With opening and closing parties being thrown, both by the hotel; you can expect filmmakers, actors, producers, and the media to compose a portion of the attendees. “Can sitting on a beach, at night, while watching a first-rate film get any better? I don’t think so.” says Lazer.

It is a familiar sight to see the streets of Gimli swelled with lively beach-goers in the summer. However, this winter, in comparison to other years, the well-known beach town has seen more activity on the streets, in the shops, and in the hotel than other snow enveloped seasons.

As smiling 37-year old food and beverage supervisor Jennifer Botham tops a slice of apple-pie with whipped cream, she says, “People have said this has been one of the busiest winter seasons in a few years.”

The Interlake Tourism Association is linked with www.360winnipeg.ca that features a virtual tour of the Lakeview Resort and Conference Centre. “I think our advertising on 360Winnipeg has attributed to business levels,” says Lazer.

With facilities such as a restaurant, lounge, business centre, indoor swimming pool, hot tub and fitness centre, the Lakeview Resort offers the amenities of a city hotel property. “Where else can you drive 45-60 minutes and feel like you’re nowhere near the city of Winnipeg?” says Lazer.

The room rates in the winter months have started as low as $50 per night. They also offer all-inclusive like specials. These ‘Suite Deals’ consist of a stay in one of the hotel suites with meals included at Seagulls Restaurant, and with prices starting at $119 per night. Guests can get more information at www.lakeviewhotels.com.

Botham says she loves her job Lakeview Resort, “People are just so relaxed out here, but why wouldn’t we be? Look where we are.”