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.

Toronto, ON [September 22, 2026] – Atlific Hotels is proud to announce the completion of extensive renovations at Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown. The top-to-bottom transformation spans the hotel’s guestrooms, lobby, meeting spaces, and fitness centre, complemented by the introduction of an all-new dining concept, Amber Road Restaurant and Lounge. Completed as of summer 2026, the thoughtful updates blend enhanced functionality with modern design, while reflecting the vibrant character and spirit of Vancouver.

“Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown is committed to making guests feel at home through comfort and convenience, and these renovations represent an exciting new chapter for the hotel,” said Philippe Gadbois, COO at Atlific Hotels. “The refreshed look and feel, together with our brand-new restaurant offering, give us confidence that these enhancements will delight returning guests while attracting new visitors.”

Guests are immediately welcomed into a fresh, modern lobby filled with natural light and surrounded by comfortable seating. Whether it’s connecting over happy hour at the new lounge bar, treating yourself to a service at the on-site spa, or maintaining your wellness routine in the upgraded 24/7 fitness centre, there are plenty of ways to unwind and recharge after a busy day.

All 245 rooms and suites have been newly renovated with contemporary touches, including sleek, modern bathrooms and high-quality bedding designed to ensure a restful night’s sleep. Select rooms offer the added comfort of a private balcony and cozy sofa bed, while guests seeking more space can upgrade to a suite for an elevated stay.

New to the property, Amber Road Restaurant and Lounge draws its name and inspiration from the legendary trade route that once connected the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea. Reflecting the route’s legacy of connection, Amber Road offers a welcoming gathering place where great food, thoughtful service, and meaningful moments come together. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant is complemented by a stylish lounge bar serving handcrafted cocktails and shareable bites, giving guests something to enjoy from morning to night.

Corporate groups can choose from four versatile event spaces, accommodating eight to 225 guests and offering a range of features, including natural light and modern multimedia and audiovisual presentation options. From initial planning through to the final farewell, the hotel's experienced event planning and catering sales team manages every detail with care and precision, taking the stress out of the planning process and ensuring a seamless event experience.

Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown is ideally located in the heart of the city, just a short walk from BC Place Stadium and steps from Rogers Arena, Yaletown, Robson Street, the Granville Entertainment District, and top attractions like Stanley Park and Granville Island. With convenient on-site amenities such as parking, car rental services, and flexible event spaces, alongside the renovated fitness centre, new restaurant and lounge, and Altum Spa & Wellness, the family-friendly hotel offers something for every type of traveller.

For more information, please visit www.atlifichotels.com.

VICTORIA, BC (September 21, 2026) – Fairmont Empress has once again been awarded a MICHELIN One Key, marking the third consecutive year the iconic Victoria hotel has received the prestigious distinction. As part of the MICHELIN Guide’s 2026 hotel selection, the recognition places Fairmont Empress among the world’s most exceptional hotels.

Curated by the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors, the MICHELIN Guide hotel selection showcases more than 9,000 remarkable properties in over 100 countries worldwide. MICHELIN Keys honour properties that distinguish themselves through outstanding design, architecture, service, individuality, and the quality of the overall guest experience.

“Receiving a MICHELIN One Key for the third consecutive year is an extraordinary honour and a meaningful reflection of how far Fairmont Empress has come,” said Dan McGowan, General Manager of Fairmont Empress. “Since Nat and Flora Bosa assumed ownership, it has been a journey of investment, renewal, and continuous improvement. Their commitment has allowed us to enhance the hotel while preserving its unique character and heritage. Each improvement supports our vision to make the hotel better and more relevant for guests, colleagues, and the community. We are proud of our achievements and remain focused on raising the standard of hospitality.”

Fairmont Empress continues to evolve through thoughtful investment in guest experiences, rooms, and common areas. Recent updates include the revitalization of The Bengal, the reimagined Q at the Empress, and ongoing enhancements such as expanding select guest rooms and renovating bathrooms in the Humboldt Wing to offer guests more space and comfort.

The historic 1908 property continues to elevate its diverse portfolio of guest experiences, from the exclusive Fairmont Gold experience to its world-renowned Afternoon Tea, distinctive culinary offerings, and celebrated service. Together, these experiences reflect the hotel’s enduring sense of place while offering guests new and memorable ways to enjoy Victoria’s most iconic spot.

To learn more about Fairmont Empress or stay up to date on the latest developments, visit: https://www.fairmont-empress.com/.

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.