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WHITESTONE CAPITAL, A subsidiary of Whitestone Cos., acquired the 189-key Westin Great Southern Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, in an all-cash deal-its 14th purchase in 24 months and first in downtown Columbus. The company selected ZMC Hotels to manage the property. Whitestone Cos. is led by CEO Jay Batra. "While we've acquired many assets nationwide, this one is especially meaningful as it's in our hometown," Batra said. "We're excited to add this historic property to our portfolio." The Westin Great Southern Hotel, built in 1896, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally the Great Southern Fireproof Building and Opera House, it has hosted figures including Presidents William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. "When you step into the two-story marble lobby, you feel a century of history around you," said Batra. "You see the craftsmanship that built it. They don't make them like this anymore."

WHITESTONE CAPITAL RECENTLY partnered with PJD Capital to purchase the 152-room Holiday Inn East Mountain in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, marking the first joint venture between the two real estate companies. Whitestone Capital, a division of Whitestone Companies, is led by CEO Jay Batra, while PJD Capital is headed by CEO Prakash Datwani. The Holiday Inn East Mountain features 152 guestrooms and more than 6,000 square feet of event space, the companies said in a joint statement. "We are excited about our new partnership with PJD Capital to reposition this property into a product the Wilkes Barre community has been craving," said Batra. "We expect the transformation to happen in two phases, with the first phase starting later this year. The property will be converted to a very select class of DoubleTree Hotels. A DoubleTree in name, driven by the power of Hilton, but not a typical DoubleTree. This property will feel more like a soft brand with design centered around a community-focused, light resort feel."