Destination Hotels adds Quirk Hotel in downtown Richmond to Urban Collection

Published April 9, 2015 by Paula C. Squires

Destination Hotels & Resorts, the largest operator of independent hotels and resorts in North America, has added the soon-to-open Quirk Hotel in downtown Richmond to its urban collection.

This means the hotel, locally owned by Ted and Katie Ukrop, will be managed by Destination. As part of the deal, Destination said Quirk will undergo a transformation in keeping with Destination’s hotel flag, although the company would not divulge what that would entail at this time.

“As we are growing our urban portfolio, Richmond is an emerging destination, and we want to be part of (and help Quirk serve as the catalyst) for the renaissance,” Carrie Mosner, director of public relations for Destination Hotels and Resorts, said in an email to Virginia Business.

Mosner added that the company also was drawn to Quirk’s owners. “They are natural partners for us, entrepreneurial and passionate, similar to our culture and ethos as an organization.”

Destination, based out of Englewood, Colo., operates more than 40 upscale properties in the U.S. It said Quirk’s opening will coincide with Richmond acting as the host city for cycling’s international event, World Road Cycling Championships (Worlds) in late-September.

The hotel is an extension of the Quirk art gallery at 201 West Broad Street and Jefferson Street in the historic J.B. Mosby & Co. building in the heart of Richmond’s Arts District. The gallery hosts exhibitions of work by both established and emerging local artists.

According to Destination, the art theme will be carried over into the hotel’s 71 rooms, four suites, artisan restaurant, bar, rooftop terrace and conference rooms. 

“Quirk Hotel is an exciting addition to the Destination Hotels portfolio,” Jamie Sabatier, president and chief operating officer of Destination Hotels, said in a statement. 

Quirk Hotel was originally the luxury department store of J.B. Mosby Dry Goods Store. It’s located in an Italian Renaissance building that was originally built in 1916. The 60,000-square-foot property is part of the Broad Street Commercial Historic District, which contains a collection of turn-of-the-century commercial buildings in Richmond. 

Destination Hotels & Resorts, a privately owned company, is a subsidiary of Lowe Enterprises, a Los Angeles-based investment, development and real estate firm.