HALIFAX, Nova Scotia/SHELTON, Conn. — March 21, 2019 — Guido Kerpel, regional vice president Canada of New Castle Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel owner, operator and developer, today announced that Rick Norman, has been promoted to general manager of the soon-to-open Courtyard and Residence Inn in Dartmouth, NS. Norman previously was the general manager of the nearby Hampton Inn & Suites, a hotel he opened in 2009.
Norman joined New Castle as the senior night auditor in 1996 when the company acquired, renovated and re-opened the Westin Nova Scotian. Following a promotion to director of operations, he went on to open the Residence Inn in Moncton.
“Rick is a true hotelier who exemplifies the kind of warm, Maritime hospitality that is a hallmark of this region,” said Kerpel in making the announcement. “He has demonstrated repeatedly his ability to build a team committed to caring for guests and each other, which translates to bottom line success for our investors. There are other hotels entering the Dartmouth market in the months ahead and with Rick at the helm of this new dual-brand, we’ll be on solid footing well before they open.”
Under Norman’s leadership, the Hampton Inn Dartmouth consistently has been the top performing hotel in the market.
“The Dartmouth Crossing area is the largest shopping/entertainment and business complex east of Montreal and north of Boston, and with two brand-new Marriott options available to guests, I’m certain that we will quickly lead the market,” said Norman. “We’ll be focused on delivering the full Marriott experience with an authentic Nova Scotia welcome. When we begin hiring next month, we’ll be looking for___ service-minded individuals who can work as a team. Attitude and willingness to learn is far more important than prior hospitality experience.”
The 112-room Courtyard and 84-suite Residence Inn will share a heated indoor swimming pool with a 150-foot waterslide, a well-equipped fitness center, an outdoor patio with a fire pit, and five meeting rooms with a combined 2,237 square feet of functional meeting space to accommodate events for up to 95 people.
