Canadian Hotel Strikes Gold With Parking Garage Hockey Rink
Youth hockey teams are booking years in advance.
A Hilton Garden Inn in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, has turned a problem into a profitable venture by creating a youth hockey rink in its parking garage. Moncton hosts numerous major youth hockey tournaments every winter at its Avenir Centre, located just blocks from the Downtown Moncton Garden Inn. The raucous mini-stick games in hotel halls became a nuisance, prompting the creation of a "youth hockey room" in the underground garage.
The concept was an instant hit when it debuted last year, with demand reaching new levels this season. The hotel received over 200 voicemails and 300 emails inquiring about booking the rink for the first time. The 60-by-20-foot rink, located in an unused corner of the underground garage, is painted with proper lines, surrounded by 4-foot-high boards, and features flags of Canada's two most popular NHL teams.
The Parents Corner, adjacent to the rink, offers a space for parents to relax and enjoy the tournament. Due to its popularity, the property is fully booked through June 2027, with several teams already reserving blocks for late 2027 and beyond. The hotel's General Manager, Francis Goguen, considers the idea his most successful in his 25-year hotel management career.
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