Charting a new course Best Western Charter House undergoing $15M reno, adding two storeys, 47 guest rooms, will re-open as Hampton Inn by Hilton
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/02/2022 (995 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Hilton is moving into the heart of downtown.
The former Charter House Hotel at 330 York Ave. — which has since rebranded as the Best Western Charter House and the Best Western Plus Downtown Winnipeg — is undergoing a complete transformation.
Picture a taller building (by two storeys). More guest suites, less meeting rooms. And, of course, a name change: the Hampton Inn by Hilton.
“The whole interior is being brought back down right to the cement and the bones,” said Amanda Janz, the hotel’s general manager.
Construction was always on the then Best Western’s agenda, Janz said. But, it’s coming earlier than expected due to a visit from COVID-19.
“(We) went from being fully operational and 90 per cent occupied to five per cent occupied… within the matter of a week,” Janz, who’s been in her current role for around five years, said.
“It just made sense to take this time and move things up and start the process now.”
Demolition on the 63-year-old structure began last November. Alamo Management, who’s owned the property since 2000, rejigged their plans upon switching from a Best Western to a Hilton, Janz said.
She wouldn’t give a clear reason for the shift. But, it was a tough decision, she said — the site, just steps away from the RBC Convention Centre, has been a Best Western for nearly 20 years.
“They were a wonderful brand to deal with,” Janz said. “Our ownership (is) just ready for the next step.”
Best Western did not respond to requests for comment by print deadline.
The $15-million renovations display a sign of changing times, Janz said.
Unlike past eras, there won’t be a full-service restaurant inside. At one time, the Charter House had two of the busiest restaurants in town, the high-end Rib Room and the always-packed Tivoli Cafe.
“We have all these delivery companies (guests use),” Janz said. “And, we find that a lot of times the visitors coming in, they want to do breakfast (here) and then… go out into the city.”
There will be a space for complementary breakfasts, plus a new bar and limited menu for afternoons and evenings.
“Downtown, there’s so many restaurants at every corner,” she said. “It’s just not the way of how hotels and hospitality are moving forward.”
“Everything’s at your fingertips and within walking distance of us, so I think we’re feeling pretty good about where we will be once this project is complete.” – Amanda Janz
The former hotel had seven meeting rooms; the new one will have two. It comes after a two-year period of in-person conferences being nearly non-existent.
Janz is optimistic about the hotel’s finances and future despite the pandemic-times plummet in revenue.
“I think that things are starting to look good. We’re starting to see things reopen,” she said. “Everything’s at your fingertips and within walking distance of us, so I think we’re feeling pretty good about where we will be once this project is complete.”
The number of guest rooms is increasing to 134 from 87. Floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies with sliding doors and enhanced security and air quality are in the plans, Janz said.
“Everything’s been completely gutted, so there literally is no old guest rooms right now,” she said.
The Hampton Inn near Winnipeg’s airport does not have the same owners, she said. York Avenue’s former Best Western employed 90 people; some who’ve been working at the site for decades have kept their jobs during the pandemic.
Alamo Management will hire more closer to opening, which is scheduled near 2022’s end, Janz said.
The facelift is “good news,” according to Scott Jocelyn, the Manitoba Hotel Association’s president and CEO.
“We’re always excited when people are trying to invest in the industry,” he said. “If that hotel, and the improvements in that hotel, helps attract more people to the city, then everybody benefits.”
The hotel sector is scarce of good news these days — the road to economic recovery is long and unpredictable, Jocelyn said.
Historic Winnipeg hotels for sale
Two hotels with roots in Winnipeg for over 100 years are up for sale.
The Marlborough Hotel at the corner of Smith Street and Ellice Avenue, and the Windsor Hotel on Garry Street, are on the market.
The first is minutes from Portage and Main and has a storied past: it was the founding place of the Royal Canadian Legion in 1925 and the long-time home of the Winnipeg Press Club, among other things.
Buyers can secure the 148-room property for $6.9 million. A Colliers listing says the building is 249,881 square feet and comes with 47,410 square feet of land.
Two hotels with roots in Winnipeg for over 100 years are up for sale.
The Marlborough Hotel at the corner of Smith Street and Ellice Avenue, and the Windsor Hotel on Garry Street, are on the market.
The first is minutes from Portage and Main and has a storied past: it was the founding place of the Royal Canadian Legion in 1925 and the long-time home of the Winnipeg Press Club, among other things.
Buyers can secure the 148-room property for $6.9 million. A Colliers listing says the building is 249,881 square feet and comes with 47,410 square feet of land.
Neither The Marlborough Hotel’s owner, nor Mike Gervais, the broker listed as selling the property, responded to multiple interview requests by print deadline.
The Marlborough touts meeting space to fit 1,500 people and a restaurant, VLTs and a pool with a waterslide, according to the advertisement.
Roughly 650 metres south, the Windsor Hotel is listed at $3 million.
The 22,800 square foot lodge is known for its live blues music, and, in recent years, unsavoury activity.
The building, loved by some for its shabbiness, is nearing its 120th birthday. It made headlines in early 2020 when a homicide happened outside its doors; months prior, police had seized drugs, guns and large amounts of cash.
Colliers, who’s selling the site, advertises the Windsor’s close proximity to Winnipeg hubs like the RBC Convention Centre, The Forks and True North Square. It has 43 rooms and parking stalls.
— Gabrielle Piché
Notable Winnipeg hotels, including The Marlborough and the Windsor, are up for sale.
“It’s interesting that we haven’t seen a lot of hotels officially close,” Jocelyn said.
Banks could be providing more leeway to hotels — they typically have bigger investments than a shop or restaurant leasing space, Jocelyn said.
“Financial institutions have probably been very generous, but how long does that last?” he said.
Most of hotel expenses are fixed, and the businesses’ taxes are based on previous revenue, Jocelyn said.
“Right now, hotels are paying their tax based on their 2018 revenue. Well, there isn’t a hotel that’s performing at 2018 levels,” he said.
The industry’s problems won’t be solved as soon as restrictions lift, and more government funding is needed, Jocelyn said.
“We’re optimistic,” he said. “Today’s better than it was yesterday, but yeah, we’re still climbing a hill here.”
“We still could see the landscape of hotels in Manitoba look different as we come out of this.”
Hiring staff is a substantial issue, he added.
gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com
Gabrielle Piché
Reporter
Gabby is a big fan of people, writing and learning. She graduated from Red River College’s Creative Communications program in the spring of 2020.
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