Capri's Bellini's is City's best nightclub and more
BY ALF CRYDERMAN
Red Deer Express, June 23, 2010
When it comes to the Best of Red Deer the Capri Hotel & Convention Centre is a winner all around.
It won gold for best hotel and Bellini's won gold for best nightclub, place to dance and friendliest staff. On top of that, one of their employees, Charlene Benson, won gold for best bartender. Right next door to Bellini's is Billy Bob's, and it won silver for best nightclub and bronze for best place to dance.
"We are so proud to receive these awards," says a smiling Mike St. Denys, the Capri's nightclub manager. "We pride ourselves on providing a safe place for people to come to and enjoy themselves."
Gil Vallee, general manager of the Capri, echoed St. Denys' comments. "We try to provide the best possible value for our customers' entertainment dollar. We constantly interact with our customers for feedback on how we're doing and are honoured and humbled to receive these awards.”
"The entertainment scene is changing, people go out later at night now, but the main objective is still to have fun in a safe place." added Vallee. "The Capri is a pillar of the Red Deer community and many people have an emotional connection to us because of family and other events that take place here."
The Capri is probably Red Deer's best known upscale accommodation and Central Alberta's only four star, full service hotel and convention centre. It is being transformed into a Sheraton Hotel and is set for $9.5 million worth of renovations this summer. The work to be done includes upgrading of all guest rooms, a new fitness centre, a redesigned lobby and safety upgrades.
Bellini's, a perennial winner in the Best of Red Deer Reader's Choice awards, is open Wednesday to Saturday 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. and features five sports screens, pool tables, daily happy hours and a DJ Friday and Saturday nights. Billy Bob's country music dance hall, a Red Deer institution for 25 years, goes from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday to Saturday and features a new theme or contest every night.
Family owned through most of its existence since 1955, the Capri covers 10 acres, employs 275 people and has 219 rooms ranging from singles to two-story suites. It has 55,000 square feet of banquet and convention space, the largest in Central Alberta.
“It's a unique place," says Vallee, who was raised in Red Deer and even worked at the Capri as a teenager. "We are community-minded and support many groups and causes, from Rotary clubs to the Food Bank and CNIB."
