New catering service begins at convention center
The Unified Government today announced the sale of the 147-room Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Kansas City, Kan., to Fairwood Capital LLC, a real estate firm in Memphis Tenn., for $8.8 million.
The UG also announced a five-year agreement with Brancato’s Catering to manage the downtown Reardon Convention Center, located next to the Hilton Garden Inn, at 5th and Minnesota Avenue.
By selling the hotel, the UG will cover outstanding debt obligations on it, including a federal government loan, according to a UG news release. The name of the hotel will remain the same, a UG spokesman said.
Built in 2002, the Hilton Garden Inn underwent a $2 million renovation in 2013. A spokesman said the UG believes this new investment from the private sector will help attract more economic opportunities in downtown Kansas City, Kan.
With the sale, the UG will be able to invest $2 million for capital improvements and renovations to the convention center and return annual debt funding to the annual operating budget, according to the news release.
The UG will continue to own the Reardon Convention Center, and have access to the facility for civic and government-sponsored events, according to a spokesman.
A restaurant that is located indoors between the Hilton Garden Inn and the Reardon Center will continue to be owned by the hotel.
In the past the operators of the Hilton Garden Inn, KCK Hotel Group LLC, also operated and managed the Reardon Center, according to the UG spokesman.
Brancato’s Catering will provide exclusive booking, event and catering services to the downtown Reardon Convention Center beginning today, according to the UG.
“We are looking forward to the partnership with Brancato’s and their commitment to bringing the highest quality catering experience to our visitors and guests,” said Doug Bach, UG administrator, in the news release. “Their unique and diverse menu combined with the professional experience in event planning is a combination we’re confident will raise the bar of excellence at the Hilton Garden Inn and downtown convention center.”
Brancato’s has been in the catering business since 1968 in the metropolitan area, and has catered many large events in Kansas City.
“We are excited to begin this partnership with the Unified Government and we look forward to putting our many years of event knowledge and experience to work for the clients of the Reardon Center,” said Andrew Brancato, president of Brancato’s Catering.
The UG did not release financial details on the agreement with Brancato’s, but there is a management fee and a revenue sharing fee, according to a UG spokesman.