by Jim Byers
Last updated: 7:27 AM ET, Wed June 26, 2019
While other hotel groups have been busy with blockbuster mergers, the folks at Hilton have been quietly - and effectively - making big changes in Canada and around the world.
A group of Canadian and American executives from a variety of Hilton positions gathered for a media roundtable session at the recently opened Home2 Suites-Hilton Garden Inn in Brampton/Toronto on Tuesday to talk about where they're going with their All Suites brands.
It's an impressive story.
Fresh off the heels of opening its 30th Canadian property in Ottawa, the All Suites brands by Hilton (consisting of Embassy Suites by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton) is celebrating the grand opening of its first Home2 Suites by Hilton property in the Toronto area - Home2 Suites by Hilton Brampton Toronto. The property has been dual-branded with a Hilton Garden Inn, and represents the first dual-branded hotel in the greater Toronto area. Both are sleek and stylish properties, but more on that later.
Hilton officials said there are 65 Hilton properties under construction right now across Canada. Hilton has 17 properties under its umbrella, including Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, Hampton, Canopy and Tru, one of the company's fastest-growing properties.
Officials said they're aiming to open 100 Home2Suites properties every year and could have 1,000 by the year 2025.
Alan Roberts, Global Head of Embassy Suites by Hilton, said all-suites hotels make up 16 to 20% of the market in the U.S. but only a fraction of that in Canada, which makes the Canadian market ripe for the picking. Growth for Hilton is strongest in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, but he said Atlantic Canada also is doing well and that Calgary is on the rebound.
Hilton's brands are deliberately created with different amenities and styles to give them points of differentiation. For example, Roberts said Embassy Suites has spacious suites, fully cooked-to-order breakfasts and free cocktails and snacks in the evening; something no other hotel brand has fully tried to mimic.
The Embassy Suites model would be a hard concept to sell in today's market, but the brand does extremely well around the world. Roberts said new Embassy Suites are planned for Aruba, St. Kitt's and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Colombia and other Latin American countries. They also have some coming on stream soon in the Middle East, including a four-to-five-star hotel in Dubai.
Homewood Suites hotels are being refreshed all over North America, said Adrian Kurre, global head of Home2 Suites by Hilton. Home2 Suites are a step below Homewood, with smaller rooms, a less expansive breakfast and other differences. But they're still great for long-term stays and families.
I had a chance to tour the Home2 Suites Brampton/Toronto property and found it bright, cheerful and stylish. The smallest suites are quite large, and the king suite is fantastic; close to 500 square feet with two separate rooms and a huge bathroom. It's a fabulous property for extended stays.
All the rooms have a fridge and freezer, dishwasher, microwave, sink and plates, as well as a spiffy work station, flat-screen TV's and other features. I was told they can bring in a plug-in convection oven if guests want one. All rooms also have pull-out sofas.
One cool feature are the outdoor barbeques. I was told they're used every night when the weather cooperates, and that guests love the idea of cooking a casual meal on the bbq in shorts and a t-shirt. The Home2 Suites Brampton/Toronto also has a nice, indoor pool and a sunny, large and bright gym with plenty of modern equipment.
The dual property is just a minute off Highway 410 and a few minutes north of the 401; making it perfect for folks visiting relatives in the northwest part of the city or for business folks who want to be near Pearson Airport or downtown Brampton/Mississauga.
I didn't see the rooms, but the attached Hilton Garden Inn has a cool, urban feel and a lovely lobby area with plenty of space to relax. There's a nice bar and a bright breakfast area. Little things also stood out, such as wavy, modern light fixtures and funky, deep purple sofas/seating areas.
Officials said they work closely with travel agents and advisors.
"We still work with traditional agents," Roberts said. "They're an important part of the business."
He also noted that Hilton has a partnership with Lyft that allows folks to collect Hilton Honors points.
Another project near and dear to the company is their Clean the World program, which works to improve living conditions in poor countries around the world through programs such as soap recycling.
Officials also noted that Home2Suites is Hilton's "greenest" brand, with no plastic straws allowed, a mandate for low-flow toilets, saline pools and other programs aimed at boosting the environment.
Officials from JM Hospitality, which owns the dually-branded Brampton property and other Hilton hotels in the Toronto region, said Hilton has been a terrific and innovative partner.
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