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For Joel Greaves, founder and CEO of Somewhere Inn, opening a hotel in Collingwood has been a dream years in the making. “Collingwood is the pre-eminent four-season playground in Ontario,” says Greaves, who opened Somewhere Inn Collingwood in March 2024. “As a company, we’re on a mission to inspire people to escape the hustle of the city and spend time in nature. That’s our brand purpose.”

As a fan of outdoor sports and activities, Greaves has been visiting Collingwood for many years. When his mother-in-law moved to the town several years ago, his family’s visits led him to develop a greater interest in the area and explore business opportunities in Collingwood. Greaves recalls that years before opening Somewhere Inn, he had meetings with a former manager and the team at The Town of Collingwood Economic Development Department. The meetings proved to be invaluable support for a better understanding of the market and its dynamics when the opportunity to purchase the hotel property eventually came up. Somewhere Inn Collingwood is the second location of the hotel, which also has a location in Calabogie in Eastern Ontario, 80 km south of Ottawa.

Joel Greaves Family

Hotel features

Somewhere Inn Collingwood is a historic century home turned boutique hotel in Downtown Collingwood. It’s a 12-minute drive from Blue Mountain Ski Resort, steps away from lakeside trails and Georgian Bay’s Sunset Point and minutes from Downtown Collingwood.

Somewhere Inn blends old and new with a modern, minimalist design. The rooms have vintage loungers, bespoke furniture, plush king beds, spa-like bathrooms and restored original flooring.

The hotel features a thermal cycle and walk-in tile showers, among many other amenities. The thermal cycle includes a sauna and cold plunge. Situated in a private tree canopied oasis on the grounds, the experience provides alternate exposure to high heat in a sauna, cold immersion in a plunge pool, and deep relaxation on the grounds. The thermotherapy cycle is free for guests and also available as a walk-in experience to the public for a fee of $25. Cold plunging involves submerging the body up to the neck in cold water, with temperatures ranging from 0°C to 4°C. When cold plunging is complemented with a sauna, the health benefits such as muscle recovery and stress reduction are enhanced. The thermal cycle is known for improving circulation, boosting energy, and promoting faster recovery.

 

Somewhere Inn

Beyond cozy accommodations and amenities, Somewhere Inn offers curated experiences that help guests make the most out of their experience. These include guided nature activities, stand-up paddleboarding, private yoga sessions and wine tastings, among others. The hotel has a wine bar that is curated in partnership with Gibson & Co. The wine list features organic, natural and biodynamic wines from around the world that are sourced from winemakers who avoid chemical inputs in the vineyard and handle the grapes as little as possible to ensure that the wine demonstrates the truest reflection of the region’s terroir.

 

Bedroom

The styles range from crisp whites and sparkling wines to rich reds, sourced from unique, low-intervention, organic and natural producers. To complement the wine-tasting experience, the hotel menu also features savoury sandwiches, cheese boards, refreshing salads and other snacks.

Wine and cheeseboards

 

Partnerships with local businesses

For the Somewhere Inn team, helping guests explore the area and make the most of their experience in Collingwood is a big priority. “We believe we are only as good as the surrounding business and the experiences that we have, so we love encouraging guests to explore the thriving downtown scene, and we help them make reservations before they arrive,” says Greaves. In addition to making individual stays memorable, the Somewhere Inn team provides larger group planning for team building, wellness and creative getaways. The space is family-friendly and dog-friendly, making it an ideal destination for guests seeking relaxation and connection. From booking spaces and activities to reserving dining experiences, the Somewhere Inn team is there for the guests from start to finish.

Somewhere Inn Tub

For this amazing team, building, strengthening and expanding its partnerships with other local businesses is a key focus. Its business partners currently include Cobs Bread, Gibson & Co, Everlove Yoga Studio & Coworking Space, and Georgian Bay Surf Club, among others. The hotel has also recently started partnering with Misfits Bodega, a local sandwich shop with a chef’s twist, for an elevated breakfast experience for its guests.

“We see our role as helping unlock other experiences from businesses in the area because that only enhances the experience of our guests. We don’t see the hotel as just a place to sleep at night—it’s about the totality of the experience, and we would like to be there for the guests from the moment they book until the moment they leave,” says Greaves.

Somewhere Inn Lobby & Bar

 

Somewhere Inn also partners with One Tree Planted, an environmental non-profit tree planting charity that plants trees in countries around the world. As part of this initiative, each stay at Somewhere Inn translates into one tree planted in Ontario. Greaves notes, “I have always been a big believer that you can make money and do good for the world and have an overall altruistic purpose for your business beyond just making a profit.”

Somewhere Inn

Staff make the magic happen!

Somewhere Inn Collingwood currently employs a total of nine people on a full-time and part-time basis. The hotel is part of the Ontario Living Wage Network and is a Rainbow Registered Business known for its 2SLGBTQ+ friendly and inclusive environment.

Since its opening in 2024, the Somewhere Inn Collingwood team has made a name for itself for the positive experience it provides to its customers. The hotel has been receiving consistent five-star reviews on Google from its guests. “All of our reviews mention how great our staff members are. At the end of the day, it is our staff who make the magic happen. I’m so proud of the team and everything they do,” says Greaves.

Check out the Somewhere Inn website to learn more and find special deals for your next stay in Collingwood.

Photo credits:  Jessica Crandlemire Photography (family)
Ian Patterson Photography:  Somewhere Inn

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Photo Credits: Dave West Photography