The business of business meetings: Timmins hotel specializing in professional clientele.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: Business Travel

An international brand name with a stellar reputation is bringing visitors into Timmins' newest hotel.

Hampton Inn by Hilton Hotel opened its six-storey, 115-room Timmins property in April, 2015. The hotel is owned by Riverside Hotel Timmins LP and operated by Vrancor Hospitality Corp., which also owns the city's Holiday Inn Express and Suites, opened in 2013.

"I think we have a lot going for us, but really it's the brand name and the service we focus on providing," said John Crescenzi, the hotel's general manager.

"We put a great focus on service."

Located along the city's main thoroughfare, Riverside Drive, the Hampton's rooms all come with free Wi-Fi, a refrigerator, a microwave and pod coffee brewers.

Twenty deluxe suites are also available and come equipped with kitchenettes, additional space and a sleeper sofa. They're ideal for guests staying for longer periods of time who would like more space to settle in, or prefer to prepare their own meals.

For those travelling the globe for work, the Hampton brand is synonymous with quality and offers travellers a certain level of comfort and familiarity while working far from home, Crescenzi said.

"When you see the Hampton Inn name, it's known internationally," he said. "A lot of the people that are coming are representing the mining industry in places like Australia or South America, and they are familiar with our brands in their markets."

Many mining companies have sent their executives to Timmins to scope out investment opportunities, and have chosen the deluxe suites, which overlook the picturesque Mattagami River, for their stay, he noted.

Guests also have access to a pool and a fitness room, and repeat visitors can benefit from the chain's perks program, which al lows guests to accumulate points toward free stays, he added.

Crescenzi estimates around 70 per cent of its clientele are business travellers, while the remaining 30 per cent are guests travelling for leisure.

The Hampton has two rooms available for business meetings and functions. The first, the Element 79 boardroom--named for gold, the 79th element on the periodic table--holds 10 guests and is ideal for small meetings.

The second room, the 1,350-square-foot Northern Room, can be divided into two separate spaces, depending on the size of the function.

"Full capacity for the large...