A premium hotel is coming to a bustling waterfront town in Ontario

A busy waterfront town in Ontario is getting a new hotel overflowing with luxury features.

Wasaga Beach — a popular hotspot at the southern end of Georgian Bay — has recently announced that the hotelier, Sunray Group of Hotels, is drafting plans for a “premium hotel” in the area.

The project is scheduled to break ground on town-owned land near Beach Area 1-a, which is a 5.18-acre slice of property between 1st Street and 3rd Street.

The bustling new hospitality location is scheduled to feature a restaurant, convention facilities, spa area, shops, and much more.

According to town representatives, Wasaga Beach is home to the longest freshwater beach in the world,  bolstering two million visitors every year.

The hotel is part of a larger development plan unveiled last fall, which, when completed, will see the beachfront area welcome a mixed-use development with a range of residential and commercial spaces.

Earlier this month, demolition company Roy-Mar Demolition shared an update on the project on social media, confirming that demolitions were underway for upcoming projects.

However, as a result, some spaces that once held community institutions will be removed to make way for developments, such as the South Beach Restaurant.

Roy-Mar indicated in a social media post that the restaurant was “part of the community for years and once a home to a bar, rooftop patio, and multiple retail stores.”

Going further back in the town’s history, the area was also home to Funland, a summer park with waterslides.

“We understand that seeing these buildings come down is emotional for many. Places like South Beach,” Roy-Mar wrote on social media. “They were landmarks where people gathered, celebrated, and made lifelong memories.”

“While these spaces have served their time, their history remains.”

The entire redevelopment project scheduled for the area will include open spaces, a public park, and “live-work town homes.” When completed, the five-phase project is anticipated to include over 150 residential units and 31 commercial units.

Concerning hotel construction, municipal powers in Wasaga Beach have stated that it will create over 100 jobs in the area.

“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 homeowners,” Mayor Brian Smith said in a news release.

As for the development’s pricetag, Sunray is investing over $45 million into the project, with an additional $1.5 million going towards the construction of a Festival Square near the beachfront, built for special events.

Keeping with ongoing momentum, Wasaga Beach representatives have stated that they have entered an agreement with Sunray for three additional phases of development, which are expected to include hotel buildings, shops, restaurants, and other amenities.

At the time of publication, the exact brand that will operate the hotel has yet to be announced.

Construction is anticipated to begin no later than Sept. 1, 2026, with the Town of Wasaga Beach highlighting that it will likely turn the area into a year-round tourist destination.

“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,” Ray Gupta, president and CEO, Sunray Group of Hotels, said in a statement.

“Sunray Group looks forward to delivering a hotel experience that will elevate the Town’s tourism brand, and delight its residents and visitors alike.”