WILKES-BARRE — Jay Batra, CEO of Whitestone Companies, announced on Friday that Whitestone Capital, a division of Whitestone Companies, has partnered with PJD Capital to buy the 152-room Holiday Inn East Mountain in Wilkes Barre.
Batra stated that this purchase is the first collaboration between the two real estate companies.
The property will be changed to a DoubleTree Hotel.
“We are excited about our new partnership with PJD Capital to transform this property into a product the Wilkes Barre community has been desiring,” said Batra. “We expect the change to occur in two stages, with the first stage starting later this year.”
The first stage of the transformation will involve a complete renovation of all areas of the hotel and a rebranding.
“The property will become a unique type of DoubleTree Hotels,” Batra explained. “A DoubleTree affiliated with Hilton, but with a different feel. This property will have more of a soft brand, with design focused on a community-centered, light resort atmosphere.”
The renovation of the public areas will include a redesigned lobby that better integrates a more modern setup for the restaurant and bar.
“We collaborated with the Whitestone team to brainstorm different ways to maximize the potential of this beautiful mountainside property,” said Prakash Datwani, CEO of PJD Capital. “Two main ideas emerged — transforming the property into an upper upscale mini-resort style facility, while also embracing the latest trends in design and event setup.”
The second phase of the project will involve building a three-season, outdoor pavilion that can be converted from an open, airy outdoor space to an enclosed facility within minutes, depending on the weather and guest preference.
“You will be able to truly have your wedding in the woods while only steps away from a modern, full-service hotel,” said Datwani.
Whitestone Capital was honored by Hilton Hotels and Resorts with the 2022 Hampton Inn Conversion of the Year Award for their work in converting another Holiday Inn to a Hilton Brand at Newark Airport, Newark, New Jersey.
Whitestone Capital also owns another Wilkes Barre hotel — the Hilton Garden — which is currently undergoing an extensive renovation set to be done in June of this year.
The Holiday Inn East Mountain is located at 600 Wildflower Drive and includes 152 guestrooms, an on-site restaurant and lounge, and over 6,000 square feet of event space. While the hotel’s pool, sauna, putting green, and gazebo are well known by locals, the igloos are the property’s signature feature during the winter months.
Whitestone Capital, a division of Whitestone Companies, is a real estate investment firm specializing in the development and repositioning of hotels, multi-family units, and corporate office space across the United States. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Whitestone Capital’s current portfolio consists of assets in over 10 states.
PJD Capital is a real estate investment firm focused on the hospitality sector. Based in New Jersey, the company has an active pipeline in both the Midwest and east coast by recently purchasing several properties.
Hilton Hotels and Resorts is a top worldwide hospitality company with 22 excellent brands and over 7,500 properties offering more than 12 million rooms in 126 countries and territories.
