OPENINGS, SALES AND RENOS Jan. 14, 2020

ALT Hotels’ $50 million transaction

QUEBEC CITY — Germain Hotels announced a new $50-million round of investment in ALT Canada Investment Partnership L.P. aimed at enabling the company’s cross-country growth in the coming years. Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec was the lead investor on the transaction. This marks the third round of investments in the hotel chain and brings the total investments in Alt Hotels to $210 million in the past decade.

“We’re pleased to be able to once again count on the support of our partners, some of whom have been with us since the very beginning of Germain Hotels in 1988. Building on the success of our boutique-hotel concept, we’re determined to pursue our growth across Canada in the years to come and continue serving clients whose expectations are increasing and are looking for unique experiences,” say Christiane and Jean-Yves Germain, co-presidents of Germain Hotels.

The investments over the past nine years have resulted in the hotel company’s growth from two hotels in 2008 — located exclusively in Quebec — to 12 hotels across the country.“This latest investment will allow the Alt brand to continue to grow and to add new hotels to the chain, whose success benefits our depositors and showcases Quebec talent across Canada,” says Charles Émond, executive vice-president, Private Equity and Strategic Planning at la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

Best Western Rimbey sold by CBRE

RIMBEY, Alta. — CBRE has sold the Best Western Rimstone Ridge Hotel in Rimbey, Alta. to Rimbey Ventures Inc. The hotel is located within a two-hour drive of Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer, Alta.

As the only globally branded hotel in the market, the property enjoyed a strong market position as a Best Western to reach corporate and leisure demand attracted to Rimbey. It is the largest lodging establishment in Rimbey and offered the most extensive amenities, including an indoor pool with waterslide, whirlpool, fitness centre, business centre and guest laundry.

Although the Hotel’s operating performance had declined in recent years due to Alberta’s economic downturn, the hotel’s streamlined rooms only operation is well positioned for growth once economic conditions improve. Located on just over three acres, the hotel opened in 2009 and has 60 guest rooms, a breakfast area, 1,200 square feet of function space, and indoor pool with waterslide, fitness centre, business centre and guest laundry.

Clique to manage Blackcomb Springs Suites Resort

WHISTLER, B.C. —Clíque Hotels and Resorts is proud to announce the Blackcomb Springs Suites Resort in Whistler as their newest managed property in BC. Blackcomb Springs Suites is one of the few resorts that features true ski-in and ski-out.

It is located on the slopes of Blackcomb mountain, and only a few minutes away from Whistler Village. It features 186 well-appointed studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites with optional slope side views. All suites include kitchens and provide a warm and luxurious environment. Other amenities include a year round heated swimming pool and two hot tubs, on site rental shop, meeting rooms, underground parking and a breakfast area, and a frequent complimentary shuttle to the Village base.

Pablo Contreras-Rodríguez has been appointed GM of the Blackcomb Springs Suites. He brings over 15 years of hotel and restaurant management with a focus on sales and brand management experience.

Previously with Intrawest, Contreras-Rodríguez’s high energy and customer-oriented management style will be a true asset to Clique’s newest managed resort. Clique Hotels & Resorts is a marketing consortia that operates under Summit Resort Management which was founded in 1997 by Jim Muir. Summit continues to operate 8 top rated Hotels and Resorts in Alberta with all properties having enjoyed number one rankings on TripAdvisor and continue to be the best performing properties in the Canmore market. Blackcomb Springs Suites by Clique will be the 9th property and the first one in BC.

PHI Hotel Group buys Pacific Gateway Hotel

VANCOUVER — PHI Hotel Group announced the the acquisition of the seven-acre Pacific Gateway Hotel, Vancouver Airport in mid-December. Colliers made the sale.

The 382 room Pacific Gateway Hotel is located on Sea Island Richmond, just minutes from Vancouver International Airport. Amenities include close to 25,000 sq. feet of versatile meeting and function space, a 158-slip marina on a nearly 5-acre waterfront on the Fraser River, several food and beverage options, including waterfront dining at The Deck Kitchen + Bar.

“We are very excited about adding the Pacific Gateway Hotel to our portfolio,” said Sukhi Rai, president of PHI Hotel Group. “Our focus as a company has been on growing our footprint within the Vancouver market. We have renewed investment plans, in addition to future development on the excess lands.”

EIGHT opens in Calgary East Village

CALGARY — Situated in Calgary’s East Village, EIGHT opens January 17 as a discreet culinary enclave with matte textured black walls, dark ceilings, black marble counters … and just eight seats.Showcasing a fresh, modern expression of Canadian cuisine, chef Darren MacLean sparks evening-long dialogue with guests – eight seats at a time – around Canadian food and what it means to call the nation home.

Beyond a meal, EIGHT fuels momentum as part of a movement to enrich cultural understanding and celebration of all things Canadian. The chef and guests come together in learning, laughter and a love of culinary adventure at EIGHT.

Seats at EIGHT are available by advance reservation only via its website eightCDN.ca and on Tock https://www.exploretock.com/eight/. The restaurant opens at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Guests with reservations will find the location by speaking with the hosts at NUPO located through the lobby of the Alt Hotel East Village.

Four Seasons Vancouver closes this month

VANCOUVER — The 40-year-old Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Vancouver will host its last guests and permanently shut its doors on January 31, 2020.According to a statement from the hotel, Four Seasons manages the Hotel under a long-term lease agreement with the property’s landlord, Cadillac Fairview Corporation; the current term of the lease expires in 2020, and will not be renewed.In 2017, Four Seasons Vancouver Hotel was sued by Cadillac Fairview for allegedly failing to modernize its facilities and equipment in line with newer luxury hotel properties in the city. The dispute began in 2015, but Four Seasons allegedly failed to resolve the issues within 60 days, and it became a matter for the court in the fall of 2017.

Grand Opening Microtel Portage La Prairie

CALGARY – Award-winning hospitality has arrived in Portage la Prairie, Man., with the grand opening of the newly constructed Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham hotel at 5100 Crescent Road West, Keeshkeemaquah Dr., Man., in partnership with the Long Plain First Nations and Arrowhead Development Corporation.

This hotel marks Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham’s first location in Manitoba and nineteenth across Canada. Located conveniently off the TransCanada, and close to restaurants and shopping, this 75-room pet friendly hotel offers guests an elevated hotel experience at an attractive price point for groups, corporate and leisure travelers looking to get more out of their budget.

Hotel highlights include complimentary hot breakfast, high-speed Internet designed for video streaming, a well-equipped fitness room, a market, meeting facilities, hot tub, and an indoor pool with water slide. All rooms feature deluxe queen-size beds, a mini-refrigerator, a microwave, a 42-inch television, and coffee maker.

Guests can also reserve one of Microtel’s popular kitchen suites which include a full refrigerator, stove top, and microwave oven. Microtel by Wyndham Portage la Prairie officially opened on November 7, 2018.

Manga opens Hilton Garden Inn St. John’s

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. —Manga Hotels, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, has just opened the Hilton Garden Inn in St. John’s, N.L. This is the company’s second hotel opening in Newfoundland.

The Hilton Garden Inn St. John’s is a 154-room property ideally located in the heart of historic downtown St. John’s.

“This property showcases excellent lodging and hospitality in the St. John’s market, offering a beautiful design along with superior service. We are excited to add it and its excellent team to our portfolio allowing us to create synergy between our properties in Toronto, Halifax, and Buffalo,” said Sukhdev Toor, president of Manga Hotels.

Business and leisure guests will be able to enjoy being in downtown St. John’s. Guests will also be able to enjoy state-of-the-art facilities, including 4,000 square feet of meeting space, high quality, comfortable water view rooms and great dining options,” he added.

The brand new hotel is just minutes from the scenic harbour front, iconic nightlife on George Street, and many popular restaurants. The property is also just steps from St. John’s Convention Centre and the Mile One Centre and St. John’s International Airport is a 10-minute drive away. The hotel has a full-service restaurant, 24-hour snack shop, pool, and fitness centre.

Morguard to acquire Temple shares

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Morguard Corporation and Temple Hotels Inc. have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Morguard will acquire all outstanding common shares of Temple not currently owned by Morguard.

The transaction will be effected by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act.

Under the arrangement, holders of Temple shares — excluding Morguard, which owns approximately 72.6 per cent of the total Temple shares — will receive cash consideration of $2.10 per Temple share from Morguard.

Morguard has entered into a support agreement with G2S2 Capital Inc. and Simé Armoyan (collectively, Armoyan), pursuant to which Armoyan has agreed to support and vote in favour of the transaction. Armoyan owns 12,714,834 Temple shares, representing approximately 16.9 per cent of the total shares issued and outstanding.

The arrangement must be approved by at least 66.66 per cent of the votes cast on a special resolution and a simple majority of the votes cast by shareholders, excluding Morguard and Chris J. Cahill, chairman of Temple and a director of Morguard.

The arrangement is subject to certain customary conditions, including among other conditions, approval by the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Commercial List) and applicable regulatory approvals, including the TSX.

New York’s Hudson comes to Canada

TORONTO — sbe, a leading international hospitality group that develops, manages and operates award-winning brands, announced last month that it is bringing one of the hotel industry’s most influential hotels, New York’s iconic Hudson, to Toronto.

Set to debut in 2024, the proposed 75,000 square foot project will be developed in partnership with Lamb Development Corp and IE Hospitality, featuring 146 rooms. Hudson Toronto will be a marquee addition to Toronto’s bustling King West community, the city’s vibrant entertainment and creative district.

Surrounded by a lively art scene, glowing nightlife and buzzing entertainment venues, the hotel will feature an array of sbe’s premium culinary and nightlife experiences, including a rooftop restaurant, a three-meal signature restaurant, expansive bar and café, among other features to be announced.

“I am very proud to see the iconic Hudson Hotel take its legacy outside of New York in the cosmopolitan city of Toronto,” said sbe Founder & CEO Sam Nazarian. “This marks the beginning of the Hudson brand’s global expansion and continuation of its innovation and well-known fame. We couldn’t be prouder to work with Lamb Development Corp and IE Hospitality, the most respected and well-known industry leaders, on this project and appreciate the trust they’ve put in sbe to bring one of the hospitality world’s true originals to Toronto.”

Located at 445 Adelaide St West, the hotel will be in the heart of Toronto’s King West community and immediately adjacent to St. Andrews Park. There are potential city plans to expand the park into a giant green space and urban playground for all ages. Known as a hotspot for wellness, food and entertainment, King West is attracting a range of urbanites, businesses and innovative commercial projects.

Radisson debuts on Las Vegas Strip

MINNEAPOLIS — Radisson recently announced the debut of Treasure Island – TI Hotel & Casino, a Radisson Hotel at 3300 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV. The award-winning resort marks the company’s first property on the world famous Las Vegas Strip and features nearly 3,000 rooms with a contemporary style and high-energy atmosphere.

“We are thrilled to welcome this hotel into our portfolio as Radisson Hotel Group continues to grow its presence in key gateway cities across the Americas,” said Aly El-Bassuni, chief operating officer, Americas, Radisson Hotel Group. “Our debut on the iconic Las Vegas Strip with TI is a prime example of our commitment to provide our customers with great destination hotels while offering our loyal guests an opportunity to redeem Radisson Rewards points in an exciting location.”

The property is home to a 95,000 square foot casino, an indulgent spa and salon, top-notch fitness centre, poolside cabanas and cocktails, along with 18 different upscale and casual restaurants, bars and