An ongoing expansion push will drive global hospitality company Hilton over 200 hotels in Canada this year, and that growth isn't expected to slow anytime soon.

Hilton and Mississauga-based Inspiration Group have just signed a franchise agreement for Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport, which is slated to open in 2028.

The 16-storey, 193-room property, to be designed by architecture firm Khalsa Design and owned and developed by Inspiration Group, will be the first Tempo by Hilton hotel in Canada when it opens.

Inspiration Group is involved in real estate development, hospitality, construction and technology.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to expand our portfolio across Canada and welcome first-in-market brands with the right owner to meet the ever-evolving needs of our guests,” Jeff Cury, senior director of development for Hilton in Canada, said in an email interview with RENX.

Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport, to be located at 5900 Elmbank Rd. in Mississauga, will feature four suites. Some guest rooms will also include Peloton exercise equipment. 

Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport amenities

The hotel’s amenities will include: a coffee bar; a complimentary hydration bar; a fitness centre with a cardio space, weights area and recovery zone; an indoor swimming pool; and more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms and four meeting rooms.

“The brand’s ethos is built around the ambitious traveller seeking to maintain a sense of well-being and will offer a perfect retreat for our guests on the go,” Cury wrote.

Once open, Tempo by Hilton Toronto Airport will form part of Hilton Honors, the guest loyalty program for the company’s 24 brands. 

Hilton’s growth in Canada

This latest addition to the company’s portfolio supports Hilton’s continued growth in Canada, where it has more than 190 hotels operating with more than 30,000 guest rooms across 13 brands. It will surpass 200 hotels in Canada this year.  

“Across the country, we have nearly 110 hotels with more than 13,000 rooms across 12 brands in our development pipeline and in various stages of design and construction,” Cury explained. 

“This year, we expect to open a total of nearly 20 hotels, including three Spark by Hilton properties opened in Q1, and others expected through the end of the year across multiple brands, including Tapestry Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Spark by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Tru by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton.”

Cury said Hilton’s resilient business model and strong partnerships with building owners positions it well in the Canadian hotel market.

“Looking ahead, we remain confident in our ability to deliver net unit growth in 2025, with a strong pipeline and continued growth in conversion opportunities. We see tremendous opportunities across the lifestyle category while focused-service brands continue to fuel our growth in the market.”

Hilton plans to introduce new lifestyle category hotels in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and other desirable Canadian destinations during the next three years, Cury added.

Hilton’s global portfolio

Hilton’s global portfolio is comprised of more than 8,600 properties and nearly 1.3 million guest rooms in 139 countries and territories.

Tempo by Hilton is one of the company’s newest lifestyle brands, with recent openings in New York City, Nashville, Tenn., Louisville, Ky. and Raleigh, N.C. Close to 60 additional Tempo properties are under development in cities including Belfast, Northern Ireland, Reykjavik, Iceland and Lisbon, Portugal.

Hilton has set a goal of doubling its lifestyle category hotel portfolio — with brands including Canopy by Hilton, Curio Collection by Hilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Graduate by Hilton and Motto by Hilton — to 700 by 2028.

Inspiration Real Estate Group Ltd.

Inspiration Real Estate Group Ltd. was founded in 2007 and initially focused on purchasing commercial real estate properties in Ontario. 

The company has since diversified into real estate repositioning and development. It now has a portfolio that includes retail plazas, gas stations, car rental outlets, franchised restaurants, hotels and residential developments. 

Upcoming residential development projects include: Inspiration Tower and a townhome community in Windsor; and Inspiration Essa Tower in Barrie.

The company also has plans to further expand its hotel portfolio.