Global hospitality company acquires Whitefish hotels

A Buffalo, N.Y.-based hotel and food service company has purchased two Whitefish hotels.

Delaware North recently announced its acquisition of the Pine Lodge and the Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge. The global hospitality company has 60,000 employees and an annual revenue of more than $3 billion.

With the Whitefish acquisitions, Delaware North now operates 40 hotels throughout the U.S. and Australia. Its parks and resorts division includes four properties in West Yellowstone as well as operations at Yosemite National Park in California.

“The purchase of these lodging accommodations in Whitefish is two-fold — they fit well with our existing portfolio of properties located near iconic destinations, in this case Glacier National Park, and they’re part of a long-term growth strategy for the business,” said Rick Abramson, president of Delaware North’s parks and resorts business.

The company expects to make improvements to both Whitefish properties.

“The greater focus will be at the Pine Lodge, where we will renovate and upgrade key guest touch-points, including rooms and public spaces,” Abramson said.

The Pine Lodge on Spokane Avenue offers 76 rooms and overlooks the Whitefish River. It opened in 1992 and was built by Dick Gordon and Joe Pastor.

The 79-room Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge is located on U.S. 93 South. It opened in 1995 and was built by Nicola and Martha DiRienzo.

Along with its hotel and resort portfolio, Delaware North owns and operates the TD Garden in Boston, home of the NBA Celtics and NHL Bruins.

The company also holds concession deals with dozens of major sports franchises, including the National Football League’s Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.

In recent years, Glacier Park Inc. acquired Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish and St. Mary Lodge and Resort in St. Mary, on the east side of Glacier National Park. Plans are in the works for a new 89-room hotel in downtown Whitefish.