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14 + WATERLOO CHRONICLE « Wednesday, November 2 Home away from home Local bed and breakfasts offer ‘personal flavour‘ to visitors ith the technology indusâ€" W"y exploding in the region over the past decade, Waterioo has become an important destination for many business travellers. And while a hotel can be conâ€" venient for a quick stopover to RIM Park or a conference at the Centre for International Goverâ€" nance Innovation, a couple of days in a sterile, lonely environment can be hard on the soul â€" and the wallet. At least that‘s what Sandi Marâ€" ques is hoping. Marques, a Camâ€" bridge native and renowned wine expert, has opened a new bed and breakfast with her husband David in the centre of the city, minutes from the business park in a quiet suburb off of Albert Street. "A lot of people like to come for an extended stay. They like the extra attention," David said. "It‘s more of a home." A bed and breakfast can also stave off the loneliness that often besets business people when they are away from their loved ones, "They get to interact with a family and if you don‘t know anyâ€" ane in town, at least here you have someone to talk to," Sandi said. The Marques opened their bed and breakfast, called the Sugarâ€" bush Guest House, in September and have seen a steady stream of clients. Many have been people in town for business conferences, but they‘ve also seen parents of uniâ€" versity students, members of hockey‘teams and visiting univerâ€" sity professors. _ "It‘s been sort of a mixed bag but we‘ve been booked solid," Sandi said. By GrEG MacDonaAip Chronicle Staff Sandi Marques, an internationally renowned wine taster and appraiser, runs the Sugarbush Guest House in Waterloo. The Sugarbush Guest House offers wine tasting and mixology classes in a cosy environment. Bed and breakfasts have quickly become a popular temporary accommodation for business travellers in the region. GAEG MACDONALD P She admitted to being surprised by the variety and calibre of guests that have stayed at Sugarbush. _ "We‘ve had people come in for the fullâ€"length animation festival, Oktoberfest, business conferences, everything," Sandi said. â€" ts a t;g change from the city she remembers from when she was growing up. 2007 BUSINESS "When l left Cambridge in 1991, Waterloo was very small time," she said. "But now, it‘s almost big time." her "It is big time," David said. The Sugarbush Guest House features four cosy rooms for weary travellers, which range in price Her husband is quick to correct O CHRON from $70â€"$85 per night, with dis counts for longâ€"term stays. The Maple Room and Angelic Room are bright and crisp, while the Siesta Room features a Mexiâ€" can theme perfect for a midâ€"afterâ€" noon power nap. _ The largest room is called the Sugar Shack, a cosy cabinâ€"like room designed for monthâ€"long GiEG MACDONALD PHOTO stays. The shack features a private bathroom and a separate entrance. "We get a few jokes about the name," Sandi admitted. "You wouldn‘t believe the stuff Lhear." While business has already been solid, the Marques hope to expand their clientele by opening a fitness room in the new year and offering wineâ€"tasting classes in February. "People will learn anything and everything to do with wine and other alcoholic beverages," she said. Sandi, a member of the Internaâ€" tional Sommelier Guild, is a noted wine expert and one of the counâ€" try‘s few wine appraisers. She hopes her expertise will help disâ€" tinguish Sugarbush from the 27 other bed and breakfasts in Waterâ€" loo Region. Bed and breakfasts are a boomâ€" ing industry in the region, said Marianne Guistini, viceâ€"president of the Waterloo Region Bed and Breakfast Association. "We offer home away from homes," Guistini said. "We offer a personal flavour that hotels can‘t." Dss While St. Jacobs and Stratford are natural communities for bed and breakfasts, with popular marâ€" kets and festivals, the Waterloo clientele is usually in town for more practical purposes, mainly business meetings and conferâ€" ences. Business people often prefer bed and breakfasts because they offer a more relaxed and intimate start to the day, Guistini said. "What can l say, businessmen like to get up and have a nice breakfast," she said. For more information about the Sugarbush Guest House or any of the region‘s bed and breakfasts call 519â€"634â€"1170 or visit www.bbwaâ€" terlooregion.ca.