The companies involved in the sale and renovation of suites in the Delta Whistler Resort have confirmed that details on Hilton’s involvement will not be shared with the public or potential new owners until after the units have been sold.
Playground Real Estate, which is a division of Intrawest, WWHotels, the Whistler Real Estate Company and the Westmont Hospitality Group have all been involved in a marketing campaign to promote the sale of 170 suites inside the Delta for the past month.
One of the most significant marketing points for this sale is the fact that Hilton is expected to flag the hotel once the renovations on the hotel have been completed in 2005.
But a spokesperson for Playground Real Estate and Thomas Wingham from Hilton Hotels Corporation in London, England would not confirm Hilton has signed any deal.
However, potential buyers are being assured of Hilton’s involvement via telemarketing and in marketing literature.
Wingham would only confirm that, "it is our company’s policy not to confirm or deny details about impending and/or current talks or negotiations about a potential business deal between Hilton and another hotel owner/management company.
"Once an agreement has been signed and completed between the appropriate parties, we are happy to confirm and share specific details and intentions on a project."
The only indication Pique Newsmagazine has been able to identify that highlights the fact that Hilton has not officially signed a deal with the Delta’s management company is in fine print on the back of a brochure.
The fine print says: ".…Neither Hilton, Hilton International Co., nor any of their affiliates are in any way participating in or endorsing the sale of the strata lots and none of them will receive any proceeds from the sale of the strata lots and the purchasers of the strata lots will not receive any interest in Hilton, Hilton International Co. or any of their affiliates. Hilton has approved the application for a Franchise License Agreement for the Hotel between the owner of the Hotel and Hilton but this Agreement has not yet been entered into by the parties, nor is Hilton providing any assurance that this will occur. If the Franchise License Agreement with Hilton is not entered into, then the Hotel will not have the right to use the Hilton name."
A consultant to Playground Real Estate said, "out of respect for the Delta they’re (Hilton) holding back details of their involvement."
The consultant said buyers would be given a full disclosure statement of Hilton’s involvement in the sale after the one-day sales event in Vancouver’s Pan Pacific Hotel on April 26.
James Askew, who is a consultant for Playground Real Estate, said there had been more than 1,000 inquiries about the suites in the Delta.
"The response has been overwhelming… what it has done is really confirm to us the quality of Whistler and truly a world class resort."
Askew said he was also not in a position to address the Hilton issue.
"I know they’re working hard to finalize things," he said.
