The Courtleigh Hospitality Group, led by founder Kevin Hendrickson, indicates that the completion of developments at 77 Knutsford Boulevard is slated for spring 2024. The disclosure came last week with the announcement of the sale of the group’s Knutsford Court Hotel to Novamed Inc.

The new deal, expected to close in three months, has apparently provided resources for the upgrade and expansion of other properties in the group.

The Courtleigh group indicated that, with this sale, focus can now be placed on the completion of development started at the former Wyndham and the redevelopment of the city’s tallest property, the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

Hendrickson had indicated back in 2019 that he was considering the construction of a new tower of 28 floors at the former Wyndham Hotel, located at 77 Knutsford Boulevard, on land currently occupied by a parking lot adjoining the hotel property.

The project was to be done in phases, with parking tackled first to meet the needs of all the hotels owned by Hendrickson in the area and also offer extra parking for the public in the New Kingston area. Already completed are three new floors on the property of 303 rooms which includes new convention space.

Hendrickson acquired the Wyndham property in 2014 when his bid of US$17.6 million was accepted at auction. In the draft design under consideration in 2019, the project visualised a tower with 10 floors of parking — some of which were slated to be underground, and 18 floors of condominiums.

A company release on July 7, 2022, stated, “Hendrickson’s ongoing development for the Knutsford Boulevard strip is to complete his vision to create an integrated hotel, convention and recreational complex offering three distinct hotel properties focused on delivering varied experiences will provide a world-class business and conference destination, with a secondary focus on the upscale leisure market.”

Hendrickson said in the company announcement that with a recent acquisition on an additional 40,000 square feet property located next to the former Wyndham/Hilton property, he would now be able to look at expanding the initial concept further.

It was noted that most of phase one of the development was already complete. The group is, meanwhile, undertaking the complete refurbishment of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel and also extensive work carried on The Courtleigh Hotel & Suites, “elevating it to a four-star boutique property. The third property (the former Hilton/Wyndham Kingston) continues to undergo a comprehensive rebuild and expansion, with completion slated for spring 2024”, it was stated.

— Avia Ustanny-Collinder