Thompson Hotels Announce First International Location

Toronto property set to greet guests in May 2010

TORONTO, Feb. 17 /CNW/ - Thompson Hotels, the luxury, design-driven brand of elite hotels, announces that its first international property, Thompson Toronto, will open in May 2010. Located at 550 Wellington Street West, Thompson Toronto's 16-floors will feature 102 guestrooms as well as an unprecedented 30,000 square feet of dining and event space, including a signature restaurant, operated by New York-based Scarpetta with Chef Scott Conant.

Thompson Toronto is a partnership among Toronto-based companies Freed Developments, Global Edge Investments (GEI) and Time Equities, Inc. Principal, Peter Freed, Freed Developments, developed the overall property, and Tony Cohen, principal, GEI and Thompson Hotels were then brought on board to develop, operate and manage the hotel under the Thompson banner.

"Thompson Hotels offers guests a truly unique and luxurious experience, one that both visitors and locals will enjoy for many years to come," says Cohen. "With the residential and retail expansion in the vibrant King West Village, the time is right to introduce more dynamic offerings to the city," adds Freed.

Well known for its quiet luxury, Thompson Hotels has nine locations in the United States including the famous 60 Thompson in New York and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. In Toronto, its first international location, the 110,000 square foot hotel and amenity spaces will be adjacent to a 336 unit condominium project. This represents the first time Thompson Hotels has been linked to a multi-use property.

"The success of the Thompson Hotel brand in the United States proves we have a concept that appeals to a chic, urban clientele," says Jason Pomeranc, co-owner of Thompson Hotels. "Toronto shares many of the same attributes as our most successful markets and the development Tony and Peter brought to us fit Thompson perfectly. The decision to come on board was simple."

Although Thompson brings a cohesive approach to service and design to all of its hotels, each property maintains distinct architectural and design features. Thompson Toronto will be the most modern of the portfolio with an entirely glass exterior. The interior, designed by New York-based Studio Gaia, will feature floor-to-ceiling glass on every level creating unobstructed views of the city, making inside and out one seamless environment. The contemporary, clean look will carry through to the interior design with dark oak hardwood floors and accents of red and orange.

Adding to Thompson Toronto's unique offering in the city are the size and scope of its dining and entertainment amenities. Scarpetta, the signature restaurant, will anchor the food service at Thompson Toronto, complemented by a classic 24-hour diner as well as a sushi restaurant. A stunning lobby bar, featuring a 125 foot wide by 12 foot high hand-painted, three dimensional mural of Toronto's skyline by renowned Spanish artist Javier Mariscal, will welcome guests and locals alike.

Thompson Toronto's private 16th floor - with a panoramic view of the city - will be comprised of a rooftop pool area, complete with seasonal cabanas, and an indoor lounge open year-round with a fireplace and bar. A 40-seat screening room with state-of-the-art projection and sound equipment will allow the hotel to offer regular film programming and special events for television and movie features.

A conference room, function room, fitness facility and yoga studio, all showcasing state-of-the-art equipment with refined design, complete Thompson Toronto's many signature features.

The spacious guestrooms and suites, including the 2,100 square foot signature Penthouse Suite, will feature hardwood flooring, custom millwork with built-in workstations, floor-to-ceiling windows and luxurious carrera marble bathrooms with heated floors. The colour palette is cool white, set against a backdrop of rich hardwood floors with splashes of lush orange. All rooms feature custom SFERRA linens, digital temperature control units, Lutron Lighting systems and dual phone lines with speaker and conference capabilities.

    
    Global Edge Investments
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Global Edge Investments (GEI) is a hospitality and lifestyle-based investment and management company founded by Tony Cohen in 1998. GEI has a range of investments in the hospitality industry including award winning restaurants, hotels and online hospitality sites.

    
    Freed Developments
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Freed Developments is an award winning Toronto-based real estate development company with more than one billion dollars of projects currently under development. Peter Freed of Freed Developments strives to push the envelope to define world-class design and inspired lifestyles. With the exception of the Muskoka Bay golf course community, the company's projects are concentrated in the Central King West area of Toronto.

    
    Thompson Hotels
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Thompson Hotels is a hotel management company with a portfolio of small, elite hotels including 60 Thompson in New York City, Hotel Sax in Chicago and Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. The company has expanded extensively through the more recent openings in New York city including Gild Hall in the Financial District, Six Columbus in Midtown Manhattan, Thompson LES on the Lower East Side, Smyth in Tribeca, as well as Thompson Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and Donovan House in Washington, D.C. Developments will continue internationally with the opening of Thompson Toronto in 2010 and Thompson Seoul in 2012. Thompson Hotels is a partnership among Larry, Michael and Jason Pomeranc and Stephen Brandman.

    
    Time Equities, Inc. (TEI)
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Established in 1966, Time Equities, Inc. has been in the real estate investment, development, asset and property management business for over 40 years. With properties in 25 states, four Canadian provinces and Germany, the TEI portfolio benefits from a diversity of property types, sizes and markets.

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For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Domestic: Shauna McMahon, Jane Gill & Associates, [phone] ext. 26, [email protected]; United States: Erica Cornwall, Starworks PR, [phone], [email protected]; International, Travel Trade: Melanie Brandman, The Brandman Agency, [phone], [email protected]