Victoria-founded hotel brands Accent Inns and Hotel Zed are changing hands

Two hotel brands built in Victoria and now recognized across BC are preparing to enter a new era after four decades under the ownership of the Farmer family.

Vancouver-based Synvest Group of Companies has entered into an agreement to acquire the Accent Inns and Hotel Zed portfolio, with the ownership change expected to be completed by the end of November.

Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Here in Victoria, the sale includes Hotel Zed Victoria at 3110 Douglas Street and Accent Inns Victoria at 3233 Maple Street.

Both hotels will remain open throughout the transition, according to the companies. Existing reservations will be honoured, while guests, event organizers and business partners can continue working with their current contacts.

The roots of Accent Inns stretch back to 1986, when Terry Farmer opened his first motor inn in Victoria.

What started as a local family business eventually grew into a five-property Accent Inns chain with hotels in Victoria, Richmond, Burnaby, Kelowna and Kamloops.

Mandy Farmer later took over leadership of the company from her father, becoming president and CEO in 2008.

She went on to create Hotel Zed, launching the first location in Victoria in 2014 by transforming the former Blue Ridge Inn on Douglas Street into a colourful, retro-inspired hotel.

The Victoria location has since become known for its unmistakable personality, including vintage decor, boldly themed rooms, Grandma’s Basement, an indoor pool and the Zedinator waterslide.

The hotel underwent another major transformation for its 10th anniversary, adding a mixture of 1970s-inspired spaces and neon-filled 1980s rooms.

Hotel Zed later expanded to Kelowna and Tofino, but Victoria remained the birthplace of the unconventional brand.

“This is an emotional day for me and for our team,” Farmer said while announcing the planned sale.

Farmer said she was proud of the company and workplace culture her family and team created, adding that finding a new owner who understood what made the business special was extremely important.

The acquisition includes all five Accent Inns properties in Victoria, Richmond, Burnaby, Kelowna and Kamloops.

It also includes Hotel Zed locations in Victoria, Kelowna and Tofino, along with ROAR, the restaurant located inside Hotel Zed Tofino.

Combined, the eight hotels represent approximately 800 guest rooms across BC.

Employees were informed about the planned ownership change before the deal was publicly announced.

The companies say they are working toward a smooth transition that will provide continuity for employees, guests and business partners. No hotel closures or immediate changes to the brands have been announced.

Synvest is a Vancouver-based investment and hospitality company led by founder and principal Azim Virani.

The company owns the Royal Scot Hotel & Suites near Victoria’s Inner Harbour and the Bedford Regency Hotel on Government Street.

Virani said the company has tremendous respect for what the Farmer family and its employees have built, and intends to work alongside the existing teams while carrying forward the culture that made the brands successful.

Additional information affecting hotel operations, employees or guests is expected to be shared as the transition progresses.