Ariva Resorts, a Kelowna-based development company, will build the 200-home gated community on 12.5 acres of prime land.

Photo Credit: Ariva

It’s located just five minutes from downtown Kelowna, just across the William R. Bennett Bridge, on Westbank First Nation land that’s been leased for 125 years.

Barry Johnson has come out of retirement to lead the project and he’s no stranger to this type of community.

He’s been the man behind a dozen gated communities in the area and is also responsible for Predator Ridge Resort.

Kevin and Barry Johnson (Photo Credit: Ariva)

For the last seven years, Johnson and his engineer son Kevin have worked hard to create and refine the vision for Ariva, which they call the ultimate baby boomer community.

Johnson says they want to change the thinking behind this aging generation and give them a place where they can live their active Okanagan lifestyle to the fullest.

“This group is highly active. Health conscious and want to live life to its fullest,” he explained.

“Kelowna is the perfect place to live with its excellent climate, wines and vineyards, myriad of outdoor activities and remains affordable.”

Photo Credit: Ariva

Once complete, e-bikes will be available at the development for offsite riding and they’re promising space for car tinkerers, man caves, pickleball courts, a putting green, bocce courts and more.

Ariva will also feature a two-acre urban farm, created by Grown Here Farms, which will grow vegetables and be a hands-on option for residents who love to garden.

The company plans to break ground on the project in 2020 and envisions a four-year build.

Photo Credit: Ariva

Units range from 1,250 to 1,760 square feet and feature sizeable outdoor decks, many of which will have a view of Okanagan Lake.

Prices will range from $500,000 to $1.9 million.

For more information on the project, click this link.

Sourc: https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Real_Estate/Kelowna_company_set_to_build_200_home_gated_community_on_WFN_land/

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KELOWNA, BC, July 22, 2019 /CNW/ – Ariva Resorts, a private Kelowna-based development company, will build a multi-million dollar, innovative 200-home gated community on prime land five minutes from downtown Kelowna.

Barry Johnson, Ariva Resorts founder who came out of retirement to lead the project says it targets so-called “zoomers,” (active baby boomers), downsizing from their traditional homes.

Ariva Premium Estate Living (CNW Group/Ariva Resorts)

Johnson says the lifestyle desires of this group have been largely ignored by the industry and “we intend to change that thinking. This group is highly active. Health conscious and want to live life to its fullest. Kelowna is the perfect place to live with its excellent climate, wines and vineyards, outdoor activities and remains affordable,” he says.

Johnson has forged an enviable development record over the years creating 12 of Canada’s finest gated communities in the area and Predator Ridge Resort, deemed to be the supreme residential golf resort in the country.

The company plans breaking ground in 2020 and envisages a four-year build out with prices ranging from $500,000 to $1.9 million. Housing unit sizes range from 1,250 to 1,760 square feet and feature exceptionally large outdoor decks that create a great room when glass lake view interior doors are opened to inside.

Ariva is the fruition of seven years of planning by Johnson and his engineer son Kevin. Over these years they have created and refined the vision for the ultimate “baby boomer” community.

In keeping with the overriding “active lifestyle philosophy” the development will also boast a two-acre urban farm created by Grown Here Farms, the largest commercial organic farm in the Similkameen Valley, and supplier to the likes of Choices and Whole Foods. It will grow vegetables and be hands-on for residents who love to garden.

Johnson says e-bikes will be available for offsite excursion riding, space for car tinkerers, man caves, pickle ball courts, putting green, bocce courts, and children’s playground.

Ariva has designed a social hub in its first building aimed at creating a strong, active community. It includes a café/bistro, wine bar, lounge, terraced view patio, fitness centre, yoga studio and gym that will spill out on the pool area with cabanas, barbecue and picnic area complete with a long farm table for entertaining.

A Lifestyle Concierge who will arrange events, community functions and group travel opportunities will serve Ariva residents’ needs.

Source: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/-100-million-development-planned-for-okanagan-863177801.html

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Ariva is a project from Ariva Resorts in Kelowna. [PNG Merlin Archive] PNG

Ariva, a new project planned for Westbank, is being designed as a downsizer destination for active empty-nesters.

“If you were busy before, you’ll be even busier and have more fun at Ariva,” says developer Barry Johnson of Barry and Kevin Johnson-Ariva Properties.

Johnson says some baby boomers don’t downsize from large homes because a small condo or townhouse in an urban environment isn’t sufficiently attractive to encourage them to make the move.

“Ariva is not competing with other developments, we’re competing against people staying in their own homes – those people are not looking because want they want doesn’t exist,” he says.

Johnson is aiming to change that outlook with Ariva. He has been pondering the perfect empty-nesters’ development for about seven years with his son Kevin.

“For the ideal place, we narrowed it down to three key components. There must be great real estate with [spacious] condos, a sense of community and [it must enable] a physically and socially active lifestyle,” he says.

Situated on 12 and a half acres on Old Ferry Wharf Road, Ariva will be on the crest of the hill just above the old west side ferry terminal, says Johnson.

While the completed development will comprise 204 condos, the recently launched first phase includes 37 one-, two- and three-bedroom units with a range of amenities. This first building is five storeys with one level of underground parking with a parking stall for each unit. (Additional stalls can be purchased.)

“When people of the same demographic are going through the same stage of life, it offers an incredible opportunity to build community,” says Johnson.

The amenities, including a bistro, wine bar, residents’ lounges with fireplaces, amphitheatre and lake-view terrace with barbecue facilities, are all intended to enhance that community spirit.

Ariva is a project from Ariva Resorts in Kelowna. [PNG Merlin Archive] PNG

He envisages a lifestyle concierge who will arrange activities ranging from community barbecues to inviting guest lecturers and organizing yoga, aqua size and stretching classes.

There will also be a range of excursions made possible by Ariva’s Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, which will transport people to local venues such as wine farms or golf courses.

“One of the motivating factors for people who look to move downtown is having restaurants within walking distance,” he says. “With the Sprinter, people will be able to go to whichever restaurant they choose. And it’s more fun to go with a group. We could shuttle more than one group to more than one restaurant, so no one has to worry about drinking and driving.”

With the focus on lake views, the condos were designed from the outside to the inside.

“We believe the most important room in the Okanagan is the outside room,” Johnson says. “To take advantage of the views, all condos, even the one-bedrooms, have at least 300 square feet of outside space. A glass wall between the interior great room and the deck will fold open to create a space of as much as 1,000 square feet.”

The deck will have an outdoor living area, barbecue and space for a dining table to seat eight people.

The interiors are designed to be elegant, understated and timeless, says interior designer Carly Norris of LNG Studios.

Using the region’s lakes as inspiration, prospective buyers can choose from three colour palettes: Okanagan, the darker option with darker floors and tiles in the bathrooms; Skaha, the lightest of three; and Kalamalka, the medium choice, featuring a mix of lighter colours with a medium-tone floor and darker countertops.

The sales centre features the Kalamalka scheme. In the kitchen, over-sized (four by eight-feet) ceramic slabs will ensure the backsplash is a standout feature as the darker quartz countertop complements the grey veining in the marble-look slabs. The cabinet doors and drawer fronts are flat panel in a warm grey, says Norris, while the hardware will be brushed nickel.

The standard major appliance package is by KitchenAid with a five-burner gas range, but buyers can upgrade to include some Blomberg appliances or even choose the ‘executive chef’ option with a Miele range.

While all homes include a beverage centre in the kitchen island, oenophiles can also opt for the sommelier package that includes a wine fridge and wine bar on the feature wall in the dining room.

Engineered hardwood floors – a brushed oak in the Kalamalka scheme – run throughout the living area, with carpet in the bedrooms and tiles in the bathrooms.

The ensuites feature a tub and shower with double sinks (in most units). To enhance design continuity in each colour scheme, the bathroom vanity features the same countertop as the kitchen. Underfloor heating keeps things cosy in cooler seasons.

In the larger homes, a separate laundry room includes a side-by-side washer and dryer, while the smaller units will have stacked appliances in a laundry closet, Norris says.

Ariva, built on Westbank First Nations land (Johnson has pre-paid a 125-year lease), is attracting attention from potential buyers from the Okanagan, Lower Mainland, Calgary and even Toronto, Johnson says.

Construction is expected to start in spring 2020.

Project: Ariva
Project address: 1770 Old Ferry Wharf Road, Westbank
Developer: Barry & Kevin Johnson-Ariva Resorts
Architect: M&M Architects
Interior designer: LNG Studios
Project size: Phase 1: 37 homes
Bedrooms: One + den; Two + den. Penthouses: Two + den; Three + den
Unit size: 1,040 – 2,319 square feet interior space only
Price: From $484,900 to +$1,799,900 million
Sales centre: 529 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna
Sales centre hours: noon — 4 p.m. or by appointment
Phone: 236-420-0693

Source: https://vancouversun.com/homes/buying-selling/active-lifestyle-on-offer-at-ariva

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Photo: HospitalityNet.org

Anyone who has watched Dirty Dancing remembers the iconic line, “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”

Well, hoteliers, what about baby boomers?

Over the last few years, millennials have captured a great deal of attention across industries, with hospitality being no exception. Their unique travel behaviors and impressive buying power have generated sizeable interest from hoteliers around the globe, who are eager to tap into their psyche and earn the loyalty of this generational group.

With that said, however, millennials only account for those born between 1980 and 1999. Although influential, they do not comprise the entirety of today’s tech-savvy travelers with a penchant and the budget for travel, and it’s important not to discount their generational counterparts. Let me put it this way: no hotelier should put baby boomers in the corner. Why? Because they are still a dominating and lucrative group who, you may be surprised to learn, are only just reaching their peak earning and travel years.

Born between 1946 and 1964, Baby boomers bring to the table a well-rounded set of expectations when engaging with prospective hotels, and actively seek out authentic, personalized and memorable travel experiences.

With that said, we’ve pulled together some of the major travel trends and habits of baby boomers, to better inform hoteliers of exactly what boomers expect from a hotel.

1. Baby Boomers have a Budget for Travel

Primarily ’empty-nesters’ it should come as no surprise that baby boomers have the time, budget, and desire to travel. According to AARP Travel’s ‘2019 Boomer Travel Trends’, boomers were planning on taking a total of 4-5 leisure trips this year, on which they planned to spend over $6,600 (about 20% to 50% more than their Gen X or millennial counterparts). These trips were projected to be split relatively evenly between domestic and international travel.

2. Willing to Go the Extra Mile

Not only are boomers planning to spend more on their trips this year, but they are also opting for longer trip durations, upgraded accommodations, and shopping while sightseeing. In this sense, baby boomers represent an incredible opportunity for upselling and personalized offers or add-ons. Hoteliers, this means more revenue for your property. That is, if you know how to earn their loyalty.

Baby boomers are also noted fans of ‘active relaxation,’ meaning they demonstrate a preference for activities like golfing, hiking, massages, and wine tasting tours.

3. Staying Faithful to Hospitality Tradition

Although millennials are seemingly leading the charge in the rise of non-traditional accommodations such as Airbnb and boutique properties, hotels/motels are sought out most often for both domestic and international travel accommodations among boomers. Once again, this is good news for hoteliers hoping to remain competitive in the modern landscape, as they can leverage their provision of a more traditional, high-touch (face-to-face) guest experience.

Even further, baby boomers, although open to new technology, tend to prefer in-person communication, and are less receptive to certain technology trends (such as AI-powered robots) than their millennial counterparts. According to studies, 62.7 percent of those who said they’d be very excited to utilize the services of a robot in a hotel were millennials, while 69.6 percent of those who said they were not excited about using such a robot were in the Gen X or baby boomer category.

4. A Desire to Disconnect

Although boomers are notably tech-savvy, they are far more likely to use vacations as an opportunity to disconnect from technology, while reconnecting with family, loved ones, and local culture. According to AARP, an estimated 54% of boomers will take a smartphone on international trips, and 92% will take a smartphone on domestic trips, but aside from photos or a brief email check, they don’t express an urge to remain tethered to devices.

Simply put, baby boomers are tech-proficient, but not tech-dependent. They appreciate the convenience of online and mobile services but don’t require it 24/7.

5. Baby Boomers Crave Authenticity

A desire to get in touch with local culture seems to span across generational groups, as both baby boomers and millennial travelers indicate that they want to immerse themselves in the local customs of the places they visit. This trend is especially prevalent amongst boomers, with 50% showing interest in the native cuisines, traditions, pastimes, and cultural nuances when they are abroad.

6. Looking for Luxury

Beyond unique and authentic local experiences, baby boomers are also notably interested in luxury travel. Considering their increased budget for travel, this should come as no surprise. Only 57 percent of boomers say that their budget plays a factor in their trip, and many are prone to booking luxury services including upgraded tour and activity packages. Boomers are responsible for 80 percent of all luxury travel spending.

Despite this desire for luxury, however, it’s essential to recognize that baby boomers will still actively seek out the best-perceived deal. According to studies, 95% of baby boomers want to know that they have found the best deal possible before booking their trip.

7. A Call for User-Friendly Technology

As aforementioned, boomers are not tethered to technology in the same way millennial travelers are; however, technology is still important to them. According to AARP, 85 percent of traveling baby boomers use the internet to plan their trips. Acting on the desire to utilize technology as a convenience rather than a necessity, implementing a user-friendly interface (across both desktop and mobile) is integral for baby boomer guests. Hoteliers should vet and select guest-facing technology with convenience in mind, ensuring that both high-touch and low-touch service options are available from pre-stay to post-stay. A website with easy navigation structure, detailed information, and an easy booking process will go a long way.

8. Don ‘t Neglect the Mobile Experience

Studies show that 68 percent of baby boomers use a smartphone, 55 percent own a tablet, and 55 percent say a smartphone is essential while traveling. So, although the user-friendly desktop experience may be paramount, the mobile experience surely shouldn’t be neglected.

9. Baby Boomers and Bucket Lists

You may be surprised to learn that boomers’ #1 reason for traveling is to check destinations off their bucket list, preferably while spending times with loved ones or ‘rejuvenating.’ Moreover, surveys have shown that “seeing the world” is a major bucket list priority for most baby boomers.

Baby boomers are a unique travel segment, boasting the high-touch expectations of a traveler accustomed to traditional hospitality, while still exhibiting familiarity with modern, digitally-influenced conveniences. With more disposable income than ever before, combined with a desire to travel and see the world, the baby boomer generation is not to be neglected in the eyes of hoteliers.

Source: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4095324.html

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