Whitestone Capital, a division of Whitestone Companies, joined forces with PJD Capital to purchase the 152-room Holiday Inn East Mountain in Wilkes Barre, Pa. This acquisition marks the first joint venture between the two real estate companies.
“We are excited about our new partnership with PJD Capital to reposition this property into a product the Wilkes Barre community has been craving,” Jay Batra, CEO of Whitestone Companies, said in a statement. “We expect the transformation to happen in two phases, with the first phase starting later this year.”
Phase one of the transformation will consist of a complete renovation to all areas of the hotel and a change in the brand. “The property will be converted to a very select class of DoubleTree Hotels,” said Batra. “A DoubleTree in name, driven by the power of Hilton, but not a typical DoubleTree. This property will feel more like a soft brand with design centered around a community-focused, light resort feel.”
The public area renovation will include a lobby redesign to better incorporate a more modern configuration of the restaurant and bar. “We sat down with the Whitestone team and together brainstormed all the different ways we could maximize the potential of this beautiful mountainside property,” said Prakash Datwani, CEO of PJD Capital. “Quickly, two driving thoughts emerged, repositioning the property into an upper upscale mini-resort style facility while also embracing the newest trends in design and event staging.”
Phase two of the project will see the building of a three-season outdoor pavilion that can transform from an open, airy outdoor space to an enclosed facility within minutes, depending on weather and guest preference. “You will be able to have your wedding in the woods while only steps away from a modern, full-service hotel,” said Datwani.
Whitestone Capital also owns another Wilkes Barre hotel, The Hilton Garden Wilkes Barre, which is currently undergoing an extensive renovations set to be completed in June.
The Holiday Inn East Mountain has 152 guestrooms, an onsite 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, igloos are the property’s signature feature during the winter months.