Two landmarks in downtown Paris are under new ownership.
The Arlington Hotel and Dominion Telegraph Event Center have been acquired by Carmen’s Group, a hospitality company based in Hamilton, Ont., from The Other Bird, another Hamilton-based hospitality company.
“With over 45 years of experience in events and hospitality, we are thrilled to welcome these two beautiful spaces to the Carmen’s Group family,” Carmen’s CEO PJ Mercanti said in a news release. “Our good friends at The Other Bird have done an amazing job in preserving the iconic legacy the hotel holds in the community of Paris and creating memorable experiences for guests.”
Mercanti said the Arlington’s legacy will be carried forward into “a new era of extraordinary events and experiences.”
Built in the early 1850s, the hotel currently has 23 recently restored, literary and artist themed rooms, and its original stone wine cellar, while a former private event space opened on Nov. 24 as a dining lounge called The Library Bar.
Across the street from the hotel, the Dominion Telegraph Event Center – where Alexander Graham Bell placed the first long distance phone call from Paris to Brantford in 1876 — retains its name for the building itself, while the event space within has been rebranded River’s Edge.
“Carmen’s Group will continue to operate both locations as a boutique hotel and private event space with plans to transform some of the hotel’s existing spaces into additional private event rooms,” said Diana Wetherly, director of sales and marketing.
“Carmen’s Group is committed to building off the hotel’s legacy as the epicenter of Paris, where some of the town’s greatest moments and celebrations take place.”
Carmen’s employs 450 people and operates more than 10 brands that include Carmen’s Banquet Centre, C Hotel, Baci Ristorante and the Hamilton Convention Centre.