For Immediate Release…Toronto, ON, December 2, 2009 - Toronto City Council voted 36-4, approving the hotel development with HKHotels on the grounds of Exhibition Place. Scheduled to go under construction in 2011 and open in 2013, the approved “Hotel in the Garden” will be located south of Direct Energy Centre and adjacent to the new Allstream Centre at Exhibition Place.
The hotel project is a key element in the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place strategy to boost the appeal of Direct Energy Centre and Allstream Centre, the largest exhibition and convention complex in the country.
“We are pleased City Council has overwhelmingly approved this development and look forward to the hotel attracting more jobs, leisure, meeting and convention business to Exhibition Place and the City of Toronto” says Deputy Mayor and Chairman of Exhibition Place Joe Pantalone. “This hotel is the last piece to become a reality in our long term development plan for Exhibition Place and with HKHotels as our partner, we are assured that the hotel will not only address the heritage of the site but be an iconic building within the City.”
The proposed design by HK Hotels demonstrates a well-thought out urban master plan specifically addressing the heritage and history of the Stanley Barracks and New Fort York site.
The hotel concept features some key design elements:
- 320 Room, 26-storey hotel to be a year-round attraction, with resort-style amenities
· Committed to Toronto Green Standard for New Construction and will target a LEED Silver rating and will feature extensive green landscaped areas
· Plan includes linkages to a renovated Stanley Barracks and Direct Energy Centre/Allstream Centre
· Parking will be accommodated underground for 400 cars with 2 access ramps
HKHotels is a privately run company that successfully operates four boutique hotels in New York City. The hotel developer has put together a strong development team including Maragna Architect Inc, and is committed to achieving LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver rating design standard.
About Exhibition Place
Exhibition Place is Canada’s largest entertainment venue, attracting over 5.3 million visitors a year. The 192-acre site is an integral component of Toronto and Ontario’s economy, particularly with respect to sport, festivals, recreation, culture and tourism. Direct Energy Centre is located at Exhibition Place, owned by the City of Toronto and governed by the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place. Direct Energy Centre’s over 1 million square feet of space available is the largest exhibition and convention centre in Canada and the sixth largest in North America. Allstream Centre, Canada’s most environmentally friendly conference centre, opened in October 2009 and is Canada’s first Conference Centre to target a LEED Silver rating. Exhibition Place has won several awards such as the Platinum Waste Minimization Award from the Recycling Council of Canada and is a member of Ontario's Environmental Leaders (Leaders) Program. The Leaders program is a voluntary leadership program that offers incentives to leading companies that commit to beyond compliance environmental improvements.
About HKHotels
HKHotels is a fully integrated hotel company involved in the construction, ownership and management of hotel properties. Founded by Henry Kallan and based in New York, HKHotels is a privately owned and operated hotel collection that takes a unique perspective to the business of hospitality. Since opening its first property in 1992, HKHotels has become renowned for developing hotels that have a distinct point- of- view and offer an outstanding level of service quality. Designs for new HKHotels are currently under development in other key locations in the U.S. and Europe.
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For more information contact:
Exhibition Place
Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone
City of Toronto
416-392-4009
Dianne Young
CEO, Exhibition Place
416-263-3611
Adele Gutman
VP Sales and Marketing, HK Hotels
212-201-1153
