Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Announces Latest Addition to Collection and First Twin Cities Property - The Grand Hotel Minneapolis
Recently acquired by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust ("Pebblebrook"), the four diamond-rated hotel is located in the city's downtown business district in a 14-story building originally constructed in 1912 to house the famed Minneapolis Athletic Club. Linked to the Minneapolis Skyway System, the property is connected to key entertainment, retail and convention venues and sits in close proximity to the Walker Art Center, the Guthrie Theater, Target Stadium and the Riverfront District.

Featuring extensive meeting space and one of the largest ballrooms in the downtown area, The Grand Hotel Minneapolis is already extremely popular with travelers doing business in the Twin Cities. With its transition into a Kimpton hotel, The Grand Hotel Minneapolis will now also feature the personalized services, programs and amenities for which the Kimpton brand is known. Such programs include the hosted evening wine hour, Guppy Love (companion goldfish upon request for lonesome travelers), signature leopard print robes, luxurious custom Frette linens, Forgot It, We've Got It list of travel essentials, more than 100 eco-friendly EarthCare operating practices, pet-friendly services and more. In addition, the hotel will undergo some refurbishments to refresh the interior design and make it reflective of Kimpton's personality and style. At the same time, a dozen or more guest rooms will be converted into Tall Rooms, Kimpton's custom room design for very tall guests. The refurbishments are expected to be completed by early 2011.

This is the third Pebblebrook owned hotel to be managed by Kimpton. Pebblebrook also owns the Kimpton-managed Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco and Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C.

"We are thrilled with the opportunity to take over the reins of such a revered Minneapolis institution and are confident that locals and visitors will enjoy the unique Kimpton offering we will bring to this beloved hotel," said Kimpton CEO Michael Depatie. "We're also thrilled to be partnering again with Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, with whom we have worked so successfully in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco."