OTTAWA, April 15, 2019 /CNW/ - This evening, Morguard Corporation ("Morguard" or the "Company") (TSX: MRC) and Hilton will celebrate the grand opening of the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Ottawa Downtown. Morguard, who owns the property, began a redevelopment process in 2016 which has culminated in the first dual brand conversion of an existing building in Canada and the first Hilton hotel in downtown Ottawa.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson is scheduled to join Morguard Chairman and Chief Executive Officer K. Rai Sahi and over 200 guests at the gala celebration. Festivities include tours of the newly opened properties, delicious appetizers from Executive Chef David Vinoya and the team at Tulip Restaurant and Bar, and a unique ribbon joining ceremony that celebrates the collaboration and integration of two distinctive Hilton hotel brands.

The gala marks the end of a remarkable transformation of the 44-year old two-tower hotel complex that modernized the towers both inside and out. The Morguard-led redevelopment included a new HVAC system, extensive exterior brick work, new exterior glazing and windows, enclosed balconies, a completely redesigned lobby, modern floorplans and finishes, and construction of a new bank of elevators.

"This transformative development is a testament to Morguard's investment in the Ottawa region and commitment to redeveloping existing properties for long-term value," said K. Rai Sahi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Morguard. "As one of the largest commercial landlords in Ottawa, we are delighted to celebrate the addition of this marquee property to our Morguard Hotels portfolio."

Morguard's owned and managed commercial real estate portfolio in the Ottawa region stands at over five million square feet. In 2018, Morguard acquired the Jean Edmonds Towers, a two-tower office complex in downtown Ottawa, as well as 41 rue Victoria in nearby Gatineau. Other commercial holdings include the Performance Court office tower, the St. Laurent Centre mall, the CBC Ottawa Broadcast Centre and 350 Sparks Street, the office tower next to the hotel which serves as Morguard's Ottawa office.

Located at 361 Queen Street in Ottawa, the hotel is within walking distance of the National Art Gallery, Rideau Canal, Byward Market, museums, shopping, restaurants and paved bike paths. The property is steps away from the upcoming Lyon light rail transit station, scheduled to open in 2019.

"A tremendous amount of vision went into every step of the property's transformation to create best-in-class accommodations in a very central and accessible location of Ottawa's downtown," said Sanjay Rateja, Vice President, Hotel Operations, Morguard. "We are proud to partner with Hilton on this exciting addition to the city's hospitality offering."

The 17-storey Hilton Homewood Suites has 171 guest rooms for extended-stay accommodations, featuring a combination of studio and one-bedroom accommodations, kitchen appliances and other facilities to make guests feel at home. The 10-storey Hilton Garden Inn provides 175 guest rooms for short-stay accommodations. The hotel also offers flexible meeting and event space that can accommodate up to 250 people.

"What makes the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton unique is thoughtfully designed accommodations and shared amenities, curated to provide a smart, reliable and convenient stay," said Denis Gilles, General Manager. "We are proud to offer our guests the certainty that they will always receive high-quality service from the first moment they get in touch with us."

About Morguard Corporation

Morguard Corporation is a major North American real estate company. It has extensive retail, office, industrial, multi–suite residential, and hotel holdings owned directly, or through its investment in Morguard North American Residential REIT (TSX: MRG.UN), Morguard REIT (TSX: MRT.UN), and Temple Hotels Inc. (TSX:TPH). Morguard also provides real estate management services to institutional and other investors. Morguard's owned and managed portfolio of assets is valued at $21.0 billion. Please visit morguard.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Hilton Garden Inn

The award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand provides business and leisure guests upscale, affordable accommodations and unexpected amenities for an experience that is 'Simply on Another Level.' The Hilton Garden Inn Promise affirms the brand's goal to make each guest's stay better and brighter. Guaranteed. Team Members at more than 810 hotels in 40 countries around the world ensure today's busy travelers have a bright and satisfying experience, starting with the first hello. As a recognized F&B leader, Hilton Garden Inn serves locally-sourced food and beverage at its full-service restaurants and bars, featuring cooked-to-order breakfast, handcrafted cocktails, and on-trend small plates. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. For more information about Hilton Garden Inn, visit www.hgi.com or newsroom.hilton.com/hgi, and connect on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

About Homewood Suites by Hilton

Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hilton's upscale, all-suite, extended-stay hotel brand with more than 480 locations in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is an award-winning leader. The first choice for guests seeking comfortable accommodations when traveling for an extended or quick overnight stay, Homewood Suites offers inviting, generous suites featuring separate living and sleeping areas, and fully-equipped kitchens with full-size refrigerators. Additional value-driven essentials include: complimentary internet, a daily full hot breakfast, and complimentary evening socials every Monday - Thursday. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can't be found anywhere else, free standard WiFi, and digital amenities like digital check-in with room selection and Digital Key (select locations), available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app. Homewood Suites is focused on guest satisfaction and stands behind each stay with its 100% Suite Assurance® guarantee. For more information on the extended-stay advantage, visit www.homewoodsuites.com or newsroom.hilton.com/homewoodsuites, and connect with Homewood Suites on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

SOURCE Morguard Corporation

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