McWhinney, a Colorado-based real estate investor and developer in commercial, multifamily, hospitality, residential, and mixed-use assets, has acquired Thompson Denver, located at 1616 Market St. in Denver’s LoDo neighborhood. The acquisition includes the hotel property and its associated amenities, which McWhinney plans to build on through thoughtful investments in programming and guest experience.
“Thompson Denver is an ideal addition to growing our portfolio of lifestyle hotels in Denver,” said Omar Palacios, chief hospitality officer at McWhinney. “From upgrading and relaunching The Crawford at Union Station to the ground-up development and construction of The Maven at Dairy Block, McWhinney has a proven track record of elevating locations and continually investing in and improving the quality of Denver’s hospitality offerings. Put simply, we create places people love. Collaborating with premium hotel brands and operators like Hyatt enables us to align our long-term value creation and investment priorities with the high-end operational standards and distinctive experiences that today’s hotel-goers expect. McWhinney has a longstanding relationship with Hyatt, and we look forward to working with them on this new opportunity.”
The 216-key, 11-story new-build hotel, developed and formerly owned by T2 Hospitality, opened in February 2022. The hotel features luxury guest rooms and suites, over 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, and on-site dining at the traditional French brasserie, Chez Maggy, and Parisian cocktail bar, Bar M – both curated by Michelin-starred chef Ludo Lefebvre.
“As we begin our efforts with Hyatt’s newly formed Lifestyle group, we’re excited to collaborate with McWhinney at Thompson Denver, a property that embodies the spirit of the Thompson Hotels brand,” said Amar Lalvani, president & creative director, Lifestyle, Hyatt. “Our team’s creativity, McWhinney’s deep dedication to the market, and Hyatt’s best-in-class operations and commercial services infrastructure create a winning combination.”
Thompson Denver has garnered significant acclaim in the hospitality industry, including being recognized with a Muse Hotel Award in 2023 and being named to Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards as one of the Top Hotels in Colorado in 2024. Additionally, the hotel has been honored as the Best City Hotel by Sunset Magazine Travel Awards for two consecutive years and received the downtown Denver Award for its contributions to revitalizing public spaces, fostering economic growth, and enhancing community connectivity.
“As a local investor, McWhinney has the advantage of deeply understanding this market, allowing us to craft offerings that embody a strong sense of place and establish a distinctive position for each of our properties within the downtown hospitality landscape,” Palacios added. “For Thompson Denver, this means building on its existing strengths with thoughtful investments in programming and operational excellence to create an even more exceptional guest experience and a standout destination in the heart of the city.”
A leading developer in the hospitality sector, McWhinney, in partnership with top hotel brands, develops and operates hotel properties across the U.S. In addition to their Denver projects, their portfolio includes other notable boutique assets such as the Austin Proper Hotel, the Santa Monica Proper Hotel, the AC Hotel Portland Downtown, and The Elizabeth Hotel in Northern Colorado.