Tuesday, October, 21, 2014


The city of Alexandria is seeking to contract for expertise from Windfeel Properties, which is managing the downtown Alexander Fulton Hotel.(Photo: Town Talk photo)



Alexandria officials will work toward a consulting agreement with the company managing the Alexander Fulton Hotel for advice on ways to get the most out of the downtown convention-related facilities, including the Riverfront Center.


The details haven’t yet been worked out, but the City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance for the city to enter into an agreement with Discount Realty, LLC, doing business as Windfeel Properties, which has been managing the Alexander Fulton Hotel since September 2013.


The approval is to ensure “the continuing operations, management and sale of the Alexander Fulton Hotel and Convention Center in furtherance of the stated and adopted goals of the downtown hotel initiative …”


The ordinance passed by a vote of 4-3, but it was an unusual alliance on the “no” votes. The councilmen voting against it were Lee Rubin, Ed Larvadain III and Jules Green. Rubin, who raised questions about any marketing expertise Windfeel Properties can offer, has rarely, if ever, voted with Larvadain and Green on issues when the council vote was 4-3.


Mayor Jacques Roy said any agreement with Windfell Properties would be “budget-neutral,” and if any additional funding would be needed, the matter would go back before the council. It also would return to the full council if any council member objects to the agreement once it is fleshed out through negotiations.


“We are in discussions to purchase their unique knowledge about the challenges in that hotel as it relates to the Alexandria Riverfront Center,” Roy said.


“It is not about buying from them something that imposes obligations on the new group (Southern Hospitality Group), it is about purchasing from them their specific knowledge and due diligence of the challenges and problems in a hotel that has run under the grade it is supposed to for 10-plus years.”


Windfeel Properties, owned by Reggie Winfield, was on the losing side of a 4-3 council vote at the Nov. 25 council meeting. The council voted to sell the city-owned hotel to Southern Hospitality Group instead of giving Windfeel Properties more time to try to get financing together.


Winfield had sought an extra 120 days. The administration and council members said Windfeel Properties has done a good job of running the hotel, but Southern Hospitality Group had the financing to buy the hotel in hand while Windfeel Properties did not.


Southern Hospitality Group and the city have agreed to a $1 million purchase price and a commitment to securing and maintaining a major brand “flag,” with the company having to pay an additional $3.1 million if it fails to do so. Roy has said the company plans to upgrade the hotel to Holiday Inn status.


Roy said the timetable for the transition for Southern Hospitality Group to take over operations hasn’t been set. It is expected within the next several months.


Council President Chuck Fowler said Windfeel Properties officials “have done a remarkable job” in running the hotel and can offer guidance in dealing with challenges relating to the hotel and convention facilities.


Rubin said, “I agree wholeheartedly there is some remuneration due to the Windfeel group … but I don’t know what type of credentials, if any, the Windfeel group has in that (consulting) area. As far as running a hotel, yes, they absolutely do, but I want to know what their expertise would be in generating leads or conventions for the area.”


Roy said he wants the city to learn of the obstacles Windfeel Properties has faced with the hotel and how those might be overcome. He said Windfeel Properties has “very direct experience” that can benefit the city.


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