VICTORIA, B.C. (Songhees, Xwsepsum and W̱SÁNEĆ territories), September 22, 2026 — Accent Inns and Hotel Zed CEO Mandy Farmer announced today that the company’s ownership will transition to Vancouver-based Synvest Group of Companies, with the transition expected to take place at the end of November.

The transaction brings together two B.C. based organizations with deep roots in hospitality and a shared commitment to people, culture and exceptional guest experiences. Throughout the process, both parties identified a strong alignment in their values and approach to hospitality, which became an important consideration in moving the transaction forward.

“This is an emotional day for me and for our team. I am deeply proud of the company and culture we have built together, and it mattered enormously to me to find a new owner who understood what makes this company special,” said Mandy Farmer, CEO of Accent Inns, which includes Accent Inns, Hotel Zed and ROAR. “Throughout this process, we found a shared set of values with Synvest, particularly around how we care for our people and our guests. ”
Accent Inns and Hotel Zed informed team members directly before making the announcement public. Both organizations are committed to a thoughtful and responsible transition that prioritizes team members, guests and business partners, while providing continuity through the change in ownership.

“For our family, hospitality has always been about people. Mandy, her family and the team have built something distinctive at Accent Inns and Hotel Zed, with a culture that genuinely cares about its people and guests,” said Azim Virani, Founder and Principal of Synvest Group of Companies. “We have tremendous respect for what they have built and are excited to work alongside these incredible teams, welcome their guests and carry forward the culture and hospitality that have made these brands so special.”

All eight hotel properties and restaurant ROAR remain open, reservations continue to be honoured and day-to-day operations continue as usual. Guests, groups, event clients and business partners can continue working with their existing Accent Inns and Hotel Zed contacts through the transition.

Accent Inns, Hotel Zed and Synvest will not comment on confidential transaction terms. Confirmed information affecting team members, guests, partners or operations will be communicated directly as the transition progresses.

dormakaba has signed a binding agreement to acquire Alliants, the guest experience technology partner behind more than 100,000 hotel rooms for the world’s leading hospitality brands. The acquisition will strengthen dormakaba’s position as a global hospitality access solutions leader. It expands the company’s hospitality offering beyond physical access control, connecting room entry with digital guest engagement to support a seamless guest journey while preserving customer choice.

Founded in 2009 in Southampton, United Kingdom, Alliants provides proprietary guest experience software and managed services that help hotels serve guests from pre-arrival through their stay and beyond. Its capabilities include concierge, contactless check-in, mobile key, payments, messaging, and agentic AI. The company operates globally and employs more than 100 people. With a strong track record of delivering hotel room keys to both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, Alliants’ digital hotel key technology was recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the best inventions of 2025.

By pairing Alliants' powerful and established experience platform with dormakaba's global portfolio and scale, hotels will have the option for an end-to-end solution across digital guest engagement, access, and hotel operations.

Both dormakaba and Alliants will remain interoperable with other providers across the tech stack providing real choice for hotels to work with other manufacturers and software partners to best fit their needs.

Till Reuter, CEO of dormakaba, says: “Hotel owners and operators increasingly view access and guest experience as part of the same strategy. Alliants adds proven technology and deep hospitality expertise that help us better serve hotels today and as their needs evolve. Hospitality is a key growth vertical for dormakaba, and this acquisition reflects our continued investment in the sector globally while broadening the value we can deliver to hotel customers.”

Tristan Gadsby, CEO and Founder of Alliants, says: “Access and guest experience stopped being separate problems some time ago; the industry's tooling just hasn't caught up. Alliants brings the digital guest journey, and dormakaba brings a proven track record in access and a presence in more than 130 countries. Together we can offer hotels one route through it – without asking them to give up the partners they already trust.”

The parties have agreed not to disclose further details or the financial terms of the transaction. The agreement was signed today, and dormakaba expects the transaction to close after regulatory approval, expected within this year.

The recognition places The Hazelton among the elite 1% of AAA Diamond-designated hotels in North America

TORONTO, Sept. 17, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Hazelton Hotel ("The Hazelton") has earned the prestigious AAA Five Diamond designation, a highly exclusive honour awarded to only two hotels in North America in 2026, making The Hazelton the only hotel in Canada to receive the distinction this year.

The achievement marks another significant milestone for The Hazelton, further strengthening a remarkable record of recognition that includes Forbes Five-Star, Two MICHELIN Keys, and the #1 hotel ranking in Toronto on Tripadvisor. Together, these accolades place The Hazelton among the most highly recognized independent luxury hotels in North America, demonstrating that an independent Canadian hotel can compete at the highest levels of luxury hospitality.

"Receiving the AAA Five Diamond designation is an extraordinary honour and a testament to the passion, consistency and genuine care our team brings to the guest experience every day," said Gaurav Dutta, General Manager of The Hazelton Hotel. "This recognition belongs to our entire team. They live these standards every day, take pride in what they do and care deeply about the experience we create for our guests. That is what makes this recognition so meaningful. It reflects the people behind The Hazelton and the culture we have built together. We are incredibly proud to see that commitment recognized at the highest level and to represent Toronto and Canada on the global luxury stage."

Serving as the anchor of Yorkville, Toronto's premier luxury district, The Hazelton is a 77-key, family-owned boutique hotel designed by Yabu Pushelberg and distinguished by its exceptionally generous guestrooms and suites, each with a private terrace or Juliet balcony. The hotel offers a distinctive collection of experiences and amenities, including ONE Restaurant, with its vibrant bar lounge, refined dining room and iconic wrap-around patio; Spa by Valmont, with a fitness room, indoor saltwater pool, steam rooms and a broad range of spa experiences; elegant meeting and event spaces; and the private 25-seat Norman Jewison Cinema, equipped with DCP capabilities.

"AAA is pleased to recognize The Hazelton Hotel with the Five Diamond designation, meaning its unwavering attention to both service and surroundings has placed it into the upper echelon of AAA's Diamond Program," said Stacey Barber, AAA Travel Vice President. "To maintain the exceptional standards required for this designation on a daily basis is an outstanding achievement. Five Diamond hotels and restaurants consistently exceed expectations to provide their guests a highly personalized, memorable experience."

For The Hazelton Hotel, AAA Five Diamond marks a significant moment in the hotel's journey and a distinction we are honoured to add to its story.
To learn more or reserve a stay, visit www.thehazeltonhotel.com or call +1 (855) 421-4087.

LAVAL, QC, September 10, 2026 – ÔMAGE Hotel Montréal/Laval officially opens its doors today following an extensive 10-month transformation. Formerly the Hilton Laval, the property unveils an entirely new identity as a boutique hotel and member of Tribute Portfolio, Marriott Bonvoy’s collection of independent hotels.

More than a physical transformation, ÔMAGE Hotel Montréal/Laval embodies a new vision of hospitality brought to life by Nadia Saputo. Inspired by her family roots and her own approach to the art of hospitality, she set out to create a property that reflects her personality. The name ÔMAGE itself is a personal interpretation of the word hommage—French for “tribute”—honouring her parents, her family and the legacy passed down to her.

Located at 2225 Autoroute des Laurentides, near Laval’s major highways, business districts and leisure destinations, the hotel offers an experience that brings together luxury, design, comfort, gastronomy and a strong sense of place, in an environment designed for travellers and the local community alike.

“ÔMAGE is deeply personal to me because it represents both my roots and the path I want to continue on. This hotel has been part of my family’s story for many years. When my parents passed it on to me, I felt an immense sense of pride, but also a great responsibility: to honour what they had built while bringing my own vision to it. To me, ÔMAGE is a bridge between generations—a way to pay tribute to my parents and my roots while writing the next chapter of this story,” says Nadia Saputo, owner of ÔMAGE Hotel Montréal/Laval.

A distinctive signature where luxury meets natural elements

This major transformation has given rise to a luxurious, distinctive and thoughtfully designed property, created in collaboration with CAMDI Design. The concept draws inspiration from the strength of the elements and the region’s natural resources. Wood, stone, steel, water and fire are woven throughout the architecture, furnishings and decorative details, creating an atmosphere that is elegant, warm and distinctive.

Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by an impressive chandelier designed by CAMDI Design, in a lobby flooded with natural light from an expansive glass atrium. A welcoming fireplace, long communal tables, inviting sofas, more intimate spaces and a new outdoor terrace come together to create an environment equally suited to relaxing, connecting and socializing.

Outside, the façade, redesigned by DMA Architectes, incorporates new architectural elements that evoke the power of nature and contribute to the property’s strong visual identity.

An environmental approach integrated into every detail

Environmental considerations are also central to the project. This approach is reflected in various aspects of the guest experience, particularly in the selection of materials and products used throughout the hotel, with a focus on renewable resources and local sourcing.

This commitment to making more responsible choices is part of a broader effort to create a hotel that is elegant, sustainable and in harmony with its surroundings.

Redesigned guest rooms and a distinctive extended-stay offering

Spanning 10 floors, the hotel features 190 fully renovated guest rooms in a colour palette inspired by nature. Each space has been designed to provide an experience that combines comfort, functionality and refinement.

The accommodations include 42 suites—each with a fully equipped kitchen, living room, and separate bedroom—designed for long-term stays. Some of which offer a particularly comprehensive experience with a private outdoor terrace featuring a BBQ and patio table. These suites offer a distinctive alternative to traditional accommodations for travellers seeking the comforts of home while enjoying the services and experience of an upscale hotel.

Spaces designed to work, connect and celebrate

The hotel’s corporate spaces have also been completely redesigned to meet the needs of business and event guests. A private library, flexible meeting rooms and a light-filled foyer provide a versatile setting for meetings, events and gatherings.

With its new outdoor terrace and inviting common areas, ÔMAGE also aims to become a destination for Laval residents and the surrounding community, rather than simply a place for travellers to stay.

Otentic: a dining experience inspired by Italian roots

The ÔMAGE experience continues at the table with Otentic, the hotel’s restaurant. This month, Executive Chef Thomas Deschamps will unveil a new menu inspired in part by Nadia Saputo’s cookbook, Chef Mom.

The new menu reflects the hotel’s desire to make gastronomy an integral part of its identity, inviting guests to discover cuisine inspired by the traditions, memories and flavours that have shaped the Saputo family’s story.

A Tribute Portfolio first in Laval

With its opening, ÔMAGE Hotel Montréal/Laval becomes the fourth Tribute Portfolio hotel in Quebec and the first in Laval, joining an international collection of more than 155 hotels across more than 30 countries.

As a member of Marriott Bonvoy, the hotel allows guests to earn and redeem points while enjoying exclusive benefits and unique experiences.

“Seeing ÔMAGE Hotel Montréal/Laval come to life is a tremendous source of pride for our entire team. This project brings an ambitious vision to life: creating a destination where design, hospitality, gastronomy and family history come together. We want our guests to feel at home from the moment they arrive and to discover a place with a true personality of its own,” says Annie-Ève Frigon, General Manager of ÔMAGE Hotel Montréal/Laval.

For more information about ÔMAGE Hotel Montréal/Laval or to book a stay, visit www.omagehotel.com.