WITH two more floors than it had five years ago, there’s a good chance there will be room in the inn this Christmas.
The Hampton Inn by Hilton Winnipeg Downtown celebrated its grand opening Monday. Located at 330 York Ave., the establishment was formerly the Charter House Hotel before rebranding as the Best Western Charter House and then as Best Western Plus Downtown Winnipeg.
Toronto-based Alamo Management, who’s owned the property since 2000, started planning the renovation and rebranding in 2018. After COVID-19 pandemic-related delays, demolition began in November 2021; the hotel opened its doors July 18.
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS
Hampton Inn by Hilton Winnipeg Downtown general manager Amanda Janz and Aleem Jiwani, part of the Alamo Management ownership group, walk Monday through the breakfast lounge area in the lobby of the newly renovated former Charter House Hotel.
“We’ve been here for 25 years and we (thought we had to) either sell the hotel or move it to the next level,” said Alamo co-owner Altaf Mohamed. “And we moved it to the next level.”
Adding two floors to the building allowed for an increase in the number of rooms and suites, to 134 from 87. Colours throughout the hotel were updated to give it a look management describes as conservative and contemporary. South-facing rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies that overlook the RBC Convention Centre, which is just steps away.
The basement includes two meeting rooms that can be converted into one large meeting space. The main floor features a gym, a six-person board room and an area where guests can enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast.
There’s a bar in the lobby, which is unusual for a Hampton Inn, according to hotel manager Amanda Janz.
The pet-friendly hotel also boasts a multi-sport simulator where people can play on world-class golf courses or choose from sports like soccer, baseball, hockey and football. The cost is $25 per half-hour or $45 an hour, plus taxes and fees. Hotel guests receive discount rates.
Alamo Management started planning the renovations in 2018. In addition to the pandemic, inflation, construction costs and rising interest rates posed challenges along the way. What was projected to be a $15 million project ended up with a $30 million price tag.
“God knows it wasn’t easy, but (the hotel) is spectacular,” said Jeff Curry, senior director of franchise development for Hilton Canada. The industry term for what the hotel underwent is “a conversion,” but that’s an understatement, he said.
“This is not a conversion,” Curry said. “This is a complete transformation, down to the studs.”
The wait was worth it, according to Janz. “It’s amazing to finally have it open and be operating, and have our guests back and just be a part of the community again.”
The renovated hotel is the first in a three-phase project Alamo Management is undertaking. Mohamed said the company plans to add a parkade and another hotel in downtown Winnipeg in the next three to five years. The company will invest in excess of $70 million in the projects.
For now, he and his partners — which include his sister-in-law, Laila Jiwani, and her children — are happy the Hampton Inn by Hilton is open for business.
“We’re very excited about this investment in Winnipeg’s downtown,” Mohamed said.
The renovated hotel is an exciting addition to the area, according to Michael Juce, Manitoba Hotel Association president and CEO.
The global hotel industry had a phenomenal year in 2023, he said, with many people participating in “revenge travel” — taking trips that weren’t able to happen due to the pandemic.
This year hasn’t been quite as successful, with higher interest rates and inflation leaving people with less money for leisure travel.
“2024 is going to be a good year, but softer than 2023, which was unique,” Juce said.
While it’s too early to tell what 2025 will be like, Juce is excited about what hosting the Canadian Elite Basketball League championship in August and the CFL’s Grey Cup title game in November will mean for Winnipeg’s hotel industry.
“(It’s) shaping up to be an exciting year with all of these events coming to town,” he said.
The Hampton Inn by Hilton Winnipeg Downtown is Canada’s 71st Hampton Inn. It joins a network of 3,072 Hilton hotels in more than 41 countries around the world.
The building was originally constructed in 1959.
Aaron Epp
Reporter
Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
