Town of Wasaga Beach Welcomes over $45M Investment by Sunray Group

The award-winning hotelier will build a premium-brand hotel and other amenities near the Town’s iconic beachfront and main tourism area — creating over 100 local jobs

Mayor Brian Smith says: “The Town and Council of Wasaga Beach are thrilled to welcome this over $45 million investment in our community by the award-winning Sunray Group of Hotels. Sunray Group will build a premium-brand hotel and other amenities near our iconic beachfront. Sunray’s investment represents over 100 local jobs, higher-value tourism and multi-day visits to our community, which will support our small businesses. It also represents a growing commercial tax base, which takes pressure off of our home-owners. Wasaga Beach is excited to partner with Sunray, as we continue to redevelop our beachfront commercial area and unlock our community's potential to become a thriving, year-round destination. ”  

WASAGA BEACH – The Town of Wasaga Beach is welcoming an over $45 million investment by the award-winning Sunray Group of Hotels to build a premium-brand hotel and other amenities next to the longest freshwater beach in the world.

Last week Council approved the purchase and sale agreement with Sunray Group for Town-owned land near Beach Area 1. Earlier today, the Town and Sunray Group signed on the dotted line.

Sunray Group will now move forward with plans to build a premium-brand hotel in phase one of what will be a four-phase project near the town’s iconic beachfront.

In phase one, Sunray Group will invest over $45 million to build a premium-brand hotel. They will pay full development charges for all four phases of the project. The company will also invest $1.5 million to design and build a “Festival Square” near the beachfront, which will be used by the municipality for outdoor entertainment and special events.

The Town and Sunray have also entered into a joint venture, profit-sharing agreement for three additional phases of development, which are expected to include additional hotel buildings, shops, restaurants and other ammenities near Beach Area 1.

The hotel brand will be announced in the coming weeks. It will include the following year-round elements:

• a high-quality restaurant
• convention facilities
• fitness, spa or pool area
• commercial shops
• wedding facilities

Construction of a premium-brand hotel on Town-owned land near the beachfront will support the revitalization of the Town’s main commercial area along Beach Drive, which is the economic engine of the community. It will strengthen the town’s seasonal tourism economy by enabling high-value, multi-day visits to Wasaga Beach.

It will also help to advance other economic development goals, including:

• elevating the Wasaga Beach tourism brand;
• attracting other world-class brand partnerships and experiences; and
• developing Wasaga Beach into a year-round Ontario destination.

Sunray Group will now refine site and design plans. In the meantime, demolition work on Beach Drive is moving ahead as planned. The company is required to begin hotel construction no later than September 1, 2026.

Quotes

Ray Gupta, President and CEO, Sunray Group of Hotels

“Sunray Group of Hotels is proud to be investing in the community of Wasaga Beach – the longest freshwater beach in the world. I believe we have found a good balance between the vision of the community to become a different kind of tourism destination, and the needs and desires of the Town’s full-time residents. Sunray Group looks forward to delivering a hotel experience that will elevate the Town’s tourism brand, and delight its residents and visitors alike.”

Quick facts

• Wasaga Beach is the longest freshwater beach in the world.
• Each year the Town of Wasaga Beach welcomes over 2 million visitors who enjoy the world’s longest freshwater beach, live music festivals, events, restaurants, food trucks and shops along the town’s iconic Beach Drive.
• The Town of Wasaga Beach has been working to attract a premium-brand hotel to Beach One and Beach Two for decades.  
• This $45 million investment by Sunray Group is expected to create over 100 well-paying, local jobs.

Additional resources

Learn more about the award-winning Sunray Group.

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