Who's Who Women in Business

8 who's who women in business Sager provides everything clients need in fully furnished suites — they just have to pack their toothbrush. h ome is where the heart is. And Sandy Sager puts a lot of heart into creating a cozy home away from home for people in need of a temporary residence. As president of Premiere Suites Canadian Prairie Ltd., Sager offers more than 100 fully furnished suites for rent in Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Regina. The ready-for-occupancy units provide accommodations for employee relocations, displaced home insurance claimants and extended-stay business travellers. "All our suites are furnished with everything in them — linens, towels, housewares, pots and pans, cheese graters, everything," Sager says. "They just need to go grocery shopping and bring their suitcases in and it's like they've moved into a home that's ready to go." The franchise was founded in Halifax about 15 years ago, and Sager brought the business to Winnipeg in 2010. In the beginning, she and her employees worked from a home office tucked in her basement. Since then, they have upgraded to office space in the Exchange District on scenic Waterfront Drive, within walking distance of more than 35 suites. "It was a great business opportunity. There was a real void in the marketplace here in Winnipeg in terms of high-quality furnished condos that could be rented out," she says. "There were other extended stays, but they just weren't at the same standard that Premiere was at. I saw an opportunity and thought maybe we could make a go of this." Sager understands the challenges of relocating through first-hand experience. In 1989, she moved to Winnipeg from Toronto for another work-related opportunity. She stayed in a hotel for a month while she got settled in her new city. "I can relate to the needs of my clients," she says. "Our average stay is about 45 nights." Among her achievements, Sager was honoured with the 2014 Manitoba Woman Entrepreneur Award for a franchise. She also received the 2012 Spirit of Winnipeg award for a business startup. Going forward, Sager is considering a growth opportunity — adding a lower-cost "essential line" of suites that would provide clients with additional options. She is also looking at adding townhouses to meet the needs of insurance claimants. In the process of providing clients with high-quality accommodations, Premiere Suites is also creating a positive first impression for visitors to the Prairies. "One of our objectives is that we want people who are moving to Winnipeg or visiting any of our major cities to have a really good impression of the city," Sager says. "Part of that is having a really nice place to stay." • Extended Hospitality { PreMiere suites ProVides all the coMforts of hoMe } By Jennifer McFee Sandy Sager, President of Premiere Suites Canadian Prairie Ltd. PHOTO By DARCy FINLEy

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