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Stacey
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Kimpton Hospitality
Partners Acquires PhiladelphiaÕs Historic
Lafayette Building for Planned Conversion to a Hotel Monaco
Second Philadelphia Hotel for San
Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
SAN FRANCISCO (Oct.
19, 2010) – Kimpton Hospitality
Partners II, a $202 million fully discretionary equity fund , announced today
it has acquired PhiladelphiaÕs historic Lafayette Building with plans to
convert the 11-story office building across from the Liberty Bell into a
271-room, four-star Hotel Monaco.
Built in 1906,
the Lafayette Building is located directly across from Independence Hall and
the Liberty Bell. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2011, with a
projected opening in Q3 2012. The Hotel Monaco Philadelphia will be Kimpton
Hotels & RestaurantsÕ second property in Philadelphia; Hotel Palomar and
adjacent restaurant Square 1682 near Rittenhouse Square opened in October 2009
and is also owned by the companyÕs KHP II Fund.
A pioneer in the hospitality industry
for adaptive reuse of historic buildings, KimptonÕs plans call for the
renovation and refurbishment of the distinctive building in the prestigious Old
City section of Center City. Upon completion, the new Hotel Monaco Philadelphia
will feature a chef-driven, 120-seat restaurant and bar and approximately
12,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 3,200 square foot ballroom
located on the ground floor with windows facing Independence Square. The
hotelÕs 271 guestrooms will include 23 suites and 25 King Spa rooms.
ÒPhiladelphia continues to grow as a leading
tourist destination as well as a hub for local and national business, which
makes it a perfect place to invest and expand the Kimpton brand,Ó said Kimpton
CEO Michael Depatie. ÒAs with Hotel Palomar here, weÕre also thrilled with the
opportunity to revitalize such an iconic, landmark building as the Lafayette.Ó
Hotel Monaco Philadelphia will be KimptonÕs 12th
adaptive reuse development, and the 10th Hotel Monaco in the Kimpton collection of
boutique hotels. The largest, most established player in the boutique hotel
segment, Kimpton currently operates 51 artfully designed hotels and 54 distinctive
restaurants and lounges in the United States and Canada.
Kimpton is looking to add more deals like this as
opportunities continue to arise in these steadily improving economic times.
According to Depatie, ÒWeÕre well poised at this point to move quickly on
attractive deals, either to work with developers looking for equity partners or
to rescue distressed properties. We are confident we can improve returns
through better management of existing properties and the growing strength of
the Kimpton brand.Ó
ABOUT KIMPTON
San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a collection of
boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants in the US, is an acknowledged
industry pioneer and was the first to bring the boutique hotel concept to
America. Founded in 1981 by Bill Kimpton, the company is well-known for
making travelers feel welcomed and comfortable while away from home through
intuitive and unscripted customer care, stylish ambience and having a certain
playfulness in its approach to programs and amenities.
Each hotel provides a range of exciting culinary experiences through
locally-loved, top-rated, destination, chef-driven restaurants. Kimpton
leads the hospitality industry in ecological practices through its innovative
EarthCare program that spans all hotels and restaurants. Market Metrix, a
recognized authority and leader in feedback solutions, consistently ranks
Kimpton above other hotel companies in luxury and upper upscale segments for
customer satisfaction. Privately held Kimpton operates 51 hotels and 54
restaurants in 16 states. For more information, visit www.KimptonHotels.com
or call 1-800-KIMPTON.
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