The Park Hyatt, steps to Toronto's toney Yorkville district and home to some of the world's most expensive retailers, is key to the company's Canadian presence.
"It was sold under a long-term management contract, so it will be a Hyatt for a very long period of time," said Richer about the 2014 sale of the 346-room hotel for US$90 million to Oxford Properties, a subsidiary of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System. "It was moved to Oxford [from a Hyatt affiliate] under the premise that it would be undergoing a major renovation."
Renovation began on the site in December 2017, and the hotel is set to reopen in the spring of 2020 with 220 guestrooms and suites, a new ballroom, meeting and event space and restaurant, as well as a fully refurbished spa and roof lounge. Oxford also plans to build luxury rental units at the site.
"It might be some of the best real estate in the country," said Richer, noting Park Hyatt is the luxury brand among 14 brands -- half of which are being developed in Canada by the hotelier. The Toronto location will continue to be the only example of the "five-star" brand in the country, of about 40 around the globe…