Sukhdev Toor, Manga Hotels, and a family vision for the future
FEATURE PROFILE: Feature from the FALL 2024 ISSUE of STAY Magazine
News about Colliers, AHIP REIT, Bayview Wildwood, Comfort Inn Valemount, Fairfield Belleville, Hazleton Hotel, HIEX YYZ South , HGI/Homewood Calgary, Holiday Inn Chatham, Hotel Le Clos Saint Louis, Le Germain Montreal and more.
Colliers International Hotels announced that it acted as advisor and exclusive agent in the sale of the five-property, 738-key, Canadian Select Hotel portfolio on behalf of institutional clients to a private investment group. The portfolio includes Holiday Inn & Suites Windsor, Ont.; Greenwood Inn & Suites Corner Brook, N.L.; Quality Inn, Medicine Hat, Alta.; Mount Peyton Resort & Conference Centre in Grand Falls/Windsor, N.L.; and Holiday Inn Sydney-Waterfront, N.S.
VANCOUVER —American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP announced late last month that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire a portfolio of 12 well-maintained premium branded hotels for $191.0 million excluding closing and post-closing adjustments. The 12 hotels, totalling 1,203 guestrooms, are located across the United States and will significantly strengthen AHIP’s geographic presence in Texas and the Midwest.
The properties have all been constructed within the past five years, are stabilized and have minimal brand mandated property improvement plans. The transaction is expected to close during December 2019, at which point AHIP’s portfolio will consist of 79 Premium Branded hotels, representing 8,887 total guestrooms, that are licensed primarily with Marriott, Hilton and IHG.
SEVERN BRIDGE, Ont. — The Ascend Hotel Collection, a network of upscale resorts, historic properties and boutique hotels that offer guests a uniquely local experience, has opened a new property in the picturesque Muskoka region. Nestled on the shores of Sparrow Lake, The Bayview Wildwood Resort is a full-service four seasons resort catering to families, couples, corporate retreats, conferences, meetings and special events such as weddings, reunions and receptions.
The Bayview Wildwood Resort is the 16th property in Choice Hotels Canada’s Ascend Hotel Collection. The resort offers families an “all inclusive” style of stay, including meals and accommodation. Package options include the always popular “Girls Weekend”, as well as partnering with local operators for specialty weekend packages such as Golf and Fishing. Catering to business clientele as well, the resort provides a variety of Corporate Meeting Package options.The resort offers varied accommodations, including suites, rooms and cottages with full kitchens. Select rooms have private lake view balconies and separate living and sleeping areas.
“We are excited to add a second Ascend Hotel Collection resort in Muskoka. The Bayview Wildwood Resort is knownfor offering a quintessential Canadian experience,” says Rob Alldred, director of membership development, Ascend Hotel Collection at Choice Hotels Canada. “Through our relationship with our valued franchise partner, Sunray Group, we continue to broaden our Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio in Canada, offering even more options for our more than 2 million Canadian Choice Privileges members.”
“Sunray Group has always enjoyed a close relationship with Choice Hotels Canada and we have 10 hotels in its system,” says Kenny Gibson, president of Sunray Group. “We have had great success with the Ascend Hotel Collection and we look forward to working on more resorts in the future.”
VALEMOUNT, B.C. —Visitors to one of Canada’s most breathtaking destinations, Mount Robson Provincial Park, have a new place to stay with the opening of the Comfort Inn & Suites in Valemount. This new build addition to the area is located close to the entrance of Mount Robson Provincial Park, the highest peak in the mountain range with spectacular views of Jasper. Another popular vacation spot, Jasper National Park, is also only an hour and a half drive from the hotel.
This is Choice Hotels Canada’s third opening of a newly built Comfort Inn & Suites in 2019. It is part of a larger revitalization of the brand, which includes both new build hotels, as well as extensive renovations or updates to existing properties across the country.
“This is one of the largest brand initiatives we’ve undergone in our 25-year history,” says Brian Leon, president, Choice Hotels Canada. “Our new Valemount property embodies all the great amenities of the Comfort brand, while being situated in an ideal location for both business and leisure travellers.”
The hotel has many onsite amenities, including a fitness centre, sauna and indoor pool. Guests of the hotel are also provided with free Wi-Fi and a complimentary hot breakfast. All guest rooms have microwaves, fridges, flat-screen TVs, sofa beds, irons and desks.
Located at 885 Cranberry Lake Road, the Comfort Inn & Suites is just off the Southern Yellowhead Highway in Valemount, BC. The area is also home to the awe-inspiring Emperor Falls and Berg Lake and heli-hikes are popular in the area.
BELLEVILLE, Ont. — CBRE Hotels was exclusively retained as advisor to owners Williams Hotels (2004) Limited for the sale of its fee simple interest in the 114-room Fairfield Hotel & Suites Belleville at 407 North Front Street in Belleville. The hotel offers a complementary mix of amenities to attract both corporate and leisure guests including more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space and the largest indoor pool in the market.
The property recently completed a full scope renovation including all 114 guest rooms, including 38 suites, and all public areas. The hotel opened ini 1961, and is situated on 4.2 acres of land.
The buyer was OM Hotel & Resort Ltd., and they have retained InnVest Management Hotels Ltd. as hotel manager.
TORONTO — The Hazelton Hotel in Toronto has announced a forthcoming renovation project that will include a transformed guest experience and a renewed approach to food and beverage at chef Mark McEwan’s signature ONE Restaurant. The hotel and restaurant will remain open during the renovation, which is set to be completed by early summer 2020.
“The Hazelton was born with the vision of bringing international luxury to Toronto,” says Hani Roustom, managing director, The HazeltonHotel. “This exciting next step reasserts our passion for continually elevating the standards of luxury within our city, as well as within the wider global hospitality industry.”
Yabu Pushelberg, the hotel’s original design firm, has been entrusted with bringing the hotel’s transformation to life. The team shares a commitment to preserving the identity of the property, with the new design offering a powerful reinterpretation of the hotel’s aesthetic.
The 77 redesigned guestrooms and three signature suites will feature layered textures, modern technologies and a chic palette of soft greys with pops of teal, as well as bronze panelling and rose-tinted mirrors. The reimagined lobby will create a warm and luxurious atmosphere, with a timeless palette of soft creams and pewters. Custom-designed oversized furniture will be accented by the original deep-green stone-slab flooring and leather paneling. The renovations will also include the Spa by Valmont and the hotel’s gym, including a new couples’ massage room.
The restaurant and bar renovations will feature a sleek design incorporating a bustling bar and plush dining room. New menus by chefs McEwan and Darby Piquette will feature diverse yet approachable fare driven by the freshest ingredients.
TORONTO – LHM Canada Inc. broke ground last month on a new 120-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel in the Toronto Pearson International Airport area. The new hotel will be called the Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Toronto Airport South. LHM Canada has a long history with the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) and has developed and managed several other IHG branded hotels over the years.
The hotel is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2020. It will be owned by 2530498 Ontario Inc. and managed by LHM Canada Inc., under a license agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group.
Minaz Rahemtulla, managing director at LHM Canada Inc. said, “We look forward to partnering with IHG and providing future guests with the unmatched comfort and hospitality that comes with staying at a Holiday Inn Express and Suites Hotel.”
The seven-story Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel will feature the brand’s newest design solution which was created to meet the evolving needs of the brand’s target guest: today’s business traveler and active families. The design provides an appealing combination of fresh, energetic and engaging elements and distinctive style that is evident at every touch point of the Holiday Inn Express brand experience.
CALGARY — Funds controlled by Timbercreek Asset Management have recapitalized the 320-room dual branded Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites Downtown Calgary East Village. InnVest Management Hotels Limited has been retained as manager. CFO Capital arranged the mortgage financing. Colliers International Hotels acted as advisor.
CHATHAM, Ont. —Dean Bradley, president of Brad-Lea Meadows Ltd., owner of the Chatham Holiday Inn Express, announced today that the company is embarking on a renewal of its Holiday Inn Express franchise for 2020 with a potential expansion in the number of guest rooms and suites from the current 117 to a total of 165.
“Part of the renewal of our franchise as a Holiday Inn Express requires us to make a major capital investment to meet the franchise’s new brand standard called “Formula Blue”, Bradley said. “We have formally commenced the renewal process and as part of this exercise are incorporating plans to add up to an additional 48 guest rooms.”
Bradley explained the top four floors of the ten-storey tower that contains the Express have been empty ever since the old Wheels Inn closed its doors back in 2010. “While we have the potential to actually add 98 rooms based on the empty upper floors, there are certain considerations that do not justify adding more than 48 at this point.”
Bradley cited the development of the new Cascades Casino immediately next to the hotel as one of the major reasons for the expansion. He also indicated adding more rooms would depend on how well the hotel fared under the new Formula Blue standard and the addition of the casino in combination with the John D. Bradley Convention Centre and Holiday Inn Express.
“We feel very positive that the new casino can only add to the draw and appeal of bringing people to Chatham, but it is still early days. We’ll see the impact of all these changes and then decide if adding any more rooms can be justified.’
QUEBEC CITY — Colliers International Hotels is pleased to announce the sale of the Hotel Le Clos Saint Louis on behalf of Gestion Dagyno Inc. to a private investor.
Originally constructed in the 19th century, this charming and award-winning boutique hotel benefits from its strategic location on a primary corridor within the walls of Old Quebec City, nearby the waterfront and major landmarks as well as the City’s best shopping, dining and entertainment.
The transaction closed earlier this month.
MONTREAL — Le Germain Hotel Montreal now has two new restaurants — the Le Boulevardier Restaurant and Flâneur Bar Lounge.
“Guests will feel like time has stopped when they sit down at Le Boulevardier Restaurant,” says Bruno Durand, the restaurant’s partner and operator. “The atmosphere is at once vintage and contemporary and, combined with the unique view of President-Kennedy Avenue, is at the heart of the enjoyable experience the restaurant offers and, of course, so is the cuisine.”
Le Boulevardier offers a menu inspired by Parisian brasseries, featuring fresh and local fare, with a strong emphasis on seafood. A French-inspired wine list, reinvented retro cocktails and a variety of whiskies and cognacs round out the offering.
Flâneur Bar Lounge serves three of the great gastronomical pleasures — coffee, bubbly and oysters. The concept is simple, guests can start their day by sipping a cup of steaming coffee and finish on a high note with a glass of bubbly and freshly shucked oysters.
The concepts are led by chef David Pellizzari, who boasts 24 years of experience in renowned restaurants such as Santropol, Réservoir, Buvette chez Simone and Lili Co.
The 125-seat restaurant offers an additional 45 seats at the bar. Le Boulevardier also serves hotel guests during special events that take place at the hotel.
TORONTO — The 474-room Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto Pearson International Airport has been sold to Knightstone by CBRE Hotels, which was retained as exclusive and agent to an affiliate of Marriott International Inc.
The 474-room hotel, which opened in 1991, enjoys a coveted advantage as the only in-terminal hotel at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, with the airport being one of the busiest international airports in North America, servicing some 50 million passengers annually.
This institutional grade hotel asset has consistently operated at e
FEATURE PROFILE: Feature from the FALL 2024 ISSUE of STAY Magazine
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