No machines are in sight yet, although construction is officially underway on a new, 81-room Comfort Inn in Cochrane.

Municipal officials joined executives from Choice Hotels Canada for the groundbreaking this morning, on Highway 11 West, next to Canadian Tire.

Graham Marsh is director of franchise development for the company.  He says the Cochrane hotel is a new prototype, one of nine being built in Ontario.

Among its features are elevators and rooms accessible by people with mobility issues.

“Spectacular design with fitness facilities, indoor pool, free hot breakfast serving meat, eggs, yogurts  and all the breads, of course,” Marsh boasts.

Harinder Brar and two business partners are the franchise owners.  Brar outlines who the Comfort Inn will target.

“Corporate sector, hockey teams, sports teams, all the travellers on the highway.”

The official shovels. Photo credit: Tim Rout, Moose FM

Mayor Denis Clement is predicting that being right on Highway 11, the hotel will help increase

“We’re very excited to have Choice Hotels here, who invested in our community and we’re very proud to have them here,” the mayor told My Cochrane Now Dot Com.

Company officials dodged the question of when the hotel will open.