SOOKE, BC, July 13 /PRNewswire/ - This week, Travel + Leisure Magazine released their 2006 World's Best Hotel Awards. Sooke Harbour House received the following ratings:

    -   Rated Number Two Hotel in the Continental U.S. and Canada
    -   One of the Top 8 Small Hotels in the World
    -   One of the Top 15 Hotels in the World
           - Travel + Leisure Magazine, World's Best Awards, 2006

Travel and Leisure Magazine describes the 28 room Sooke Harbour House as a "charming clapboard inn overlooking a dramatic Pacific beach and the Olympic Mountains, 45 minutes from Victoria." The cutting edge, as stated in the T+L 500, is "Chef Edward Tuson's inventive Pacific Northwest cuisine that has made this a legendary food and wine destination." Two of the highlights mentioned were "Bald Eagle-spotting on the nearby protected Whiffen Spit" and the "Blue Heron Room, for its large balcony and panoramic ocean views."

Co-owners, Sinclair and Frederique Philip are delighted with the recognition. "Whether it is the local art work, the romantic oceanfront guestrooms, the certified organic gardens or the regional, seasonal cuisine, everything here at Sooke Harbour House is a celebration of southern Vancouver Island," says Frederique. "I am extremely happy with this recognition and hope that people from across the world will come to Sooke to relax and experience the stunning natural year round beauty of our area", says Sinclair.

Vancouver Island hotels lead the Continental U.S. and Canada list, winning three of the top five rankings. The Aerie and the Wickaninnish Inn were also in the top five in this category. Small, intimate hotels with fewer than 100 rooms occupy all but one of the top 10 spots and make up 48 percent of the entire list of the 100 top Continental U.S. and Canada. "These award-winning properties definitely set the standard for service excellence and guest experience, and the readers of Travel + Leisure are acknowledging this", said Dave Petryk, President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver Island.

At Sooke Harbour House, meals are savoured in a candlelit dining room warmed by a wood burning fireplace with spectacular views of the ocean and Olympic Mountains. After dinner you can spend the night in one of their 28 rooms featuring stunning ocean views, wood burning fireplaces, soaker or jetted tubs and steam showers for two.

    Complete results are available at www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest.

    For more information visit www.sookeharbourhouse.com.

CONTACT: or images please contact: Melinda Jolley, Media Relations, Phone: (250) 642-3421, ext: 201, 1-800-889-9688, melinda@sookeharbourhouse.com; Frederique Philip, Owner, Sinclair Philip, Owner, Phone: (250) 642-3421, frederique@sookeharbourhouse.com, sinclair@sookeharbourhouse.com

Source: Sooke Harbour House - Hotel and Restaurant