InterContinental Toronto Centre
Sub-brand
UnclaimedA downtown Toronto hotel beside the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and close to the CN Tower.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
InterContinental Toronto Centre is a hotel in the downtown core of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The property stands on Front Street West in the former Railway Lands and forms part of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre complex. Its location places it near Union Station, the CN Tower, Rogers Centre, and other major downtown destinations, with the hotel and several nearby attractions connected through Toronto's pedestrian SkyWalk network. The building was developed by Canadian National Railway on former Canadian National railway land. It opened in 1984 under the name L'Hôtel and became the final hotel constructed for Canadian National Hotels. The tower was designed as a modern concrete-clad building and was associated with the wider Metro Centre development planned for the former railway lands. Although that broader development was not completed as originally envisioned, the CN Tower and the hotel became important elements of Toronto's redeveloped waterfront-side downtown district. The property was initially operated by CN Hotels. In 1988, CN Hotels merged with Canadian Pacific Hotels, after which the hotel continued under the Canadian Pacific management structure. Ownership and management subsequently separated: the property was transferred from Canadian National to Canada Lands Company, while CP Hotels continued to manage it. In 1993, InterContinental Hotels Group assumed management and the hotel was renamed Crowne Plaza Toronto Centre. A major repositioning took place in 2003. Following a C$21 million renovation, the hotel moved into IHG's upscale InterContinental brand in September of that year and adopted its current name, InterContinental Toronto Centre. The change aligned the property with the international InterContinental Hotels & Resorts portfolio and marked a shift from the Crowne Plaza identity to a more luxury-oriented positioning. The hotel serves both business and leisure travelers. Its principal offer consists of guest rooms and suites, food-and-beverage services, fitness facilities, and meeting and event space. Its convention-center setting gives it a strong business-events role, while its proximity to the CN Tower, sports and entertainment venues, Union Station, and downtown attractions supports leisure demand. The property overlooks the rail tracks approaching Union Station and the southern portions of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. In September 2011, Canada Lands Company sold the hotel to Oxford Properties for C$225 million. The transaction changed the property's ownership while the InterContinental brand and IHG management relationship remained central to its market identity. The hotel is therefore best understood as an individual branded hospitality property rather than a standalone hotel chain: its physical asset has had multiple owners, while its operating identity has evolved through several hotel-management and brand affiliations.
History
InterContinental Toronto Centre occupies a site with a direct connection to Toronto's railway and convention infrastructure. The property was built by Canadian National Railway on former CN railway land in the Railway Lands area of downtown Toronto. The land was intended to form part of the Metro Centre development, a large redevelopment concept for the former rail yards. That plan was only partly realized; the CN Tower was built, while other elements of the original vision did not proceed in the same form. The hotel opened in 1984 as L'Hôtel. Its modern tower, characterized by a concrete-clad exterior, was the last hotel built for Canadian National Hotels. From its opening, the property benefited from a strategically central location on Front Street West. It was positioned beside the developing Metro Toronto Convention Centre complex and near Union Station, making it suitable for convention visitors, railway travelers, and downtown business guests. It also overlooked the tracks leading from Union Station and the southern sections of the convention center. The first major corporate transition occurred in 1988, when CN Hotels merged with Canadian Pacific Hotels. The merger placed the hotel within the Canadian Pacific hotel portfolio and changed the corporate context in which it was managed. The property did not remain permanently under a single owner, however. It was transferred from Canadian National to Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation involved in the management and disposition of surplus or strategically significant public real estate. CP Hotels continued to assume the management role after the ownership transfer. In 1993, InterContinental Hotels Group took over management of the hotel. The property then operated as Crowne Plaza Toronto Centre, using another IHG brand positioned toward upscale business and convention hospitality. This period connected the hotel more directly to IHG's international operating system while preserving its function as a large downtown convention-oriented property. The next decisive stage came in 2003. The hotel completed a renovation reported at C$21 million and transferred to IHG's InterContinental brand in September. It was renamed InterContinental Toronto Centre. The rebranding represented a move from the Crowne Plaza identity to the higher-end InterContinental Hotels & Resorts identity. The new name also associated the property with the international InterContinental network while retaining its local geographic designation. The physical and commercial setting supported the repositioning. The property is part of, or directly associated with, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre complex and is connected by the downtown SkyWalk system to the CN Tower and other nearby destinations. Rogers Centre, Union Station, the CBC Broadcasting Centre, Simcoe Place, and the Fairmont Royal York are among the surrounding landmarks and institutions. This environment gives the hotel a mixed demand base: convention and corporate travelers are important because of the adjacent meeting facilities, while tourists and event attendees are drawn by the CN Tower, sports venues, entertainment facilities, and central transit access. In September 2011, Canada Lands Company sold the hotel to Oxford Properties for C$225 million. The transaction changed the ownership of the physical property but did not erase the hotel's established InterContinental identity or its relationship with IHG management. The property's history therefore illustrates the distinction between hotel ownership, management, and brand affiliation. It began as a Canadian National Hotels property, moved through the Canadian Pacific Hotels structure, operated under the Crowne Plaza name after IHG assumed management, and ultimately became the InterContinental Toronto Centre after its 2003 renovation and rebranding. The hotel remains an active downtown Toronto hospitality property. Its core proposition is built around accommodation, dining, fitness, and meetings and events, with its location and convention-center adjacency serving as its principal competitive advantages. Unlike a standalone hotel company, it is an individual property operating within the broader InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand and IHG's global hotel platform.
- 2011
Sale to Oxford Properties
[1]Canada Lands Company sells the hotel to Oxford Properties for C$225 million.
- 2003
Renovation and InterContinental rebranding
[1]Following a C$21 million renovation, the property joins the InterContinental brand and adopts its current name in September.
- 1993
IHG assumes management
[1]InterContinental Hotels Group takes over management and the property becomes Crowne Plaza Toronto Centre.
- 1988
CN Hotels merges with Canadian Pacific Hotels
[1]The merger brings the hotel into the Canadian Pacific Hotels management structure.
- 1984
Hotel opens as L'Hôtel
[1]Canadian National Railway opens the property on former railway land in downtown Toronto as L'Hôtel, operated through Canadian National Hotels.
Products and positioning
Upscale luxury hospitality for business, convention, and leisure travelers in downtown Toronto.
Hotel accommodation · 1984
Guest rooms and suites
The hotel's principal offering is accommodation in a downtown Toronto property serving business, convention, and leisure travelers. Its central location places guests close to Union Station, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the CN Tower, sports and entertainment venues, and the pedestrian SkyWalk network.
Hospitality services · 1984
Dining and food-and-beverage services
On-site dining is part of the hotel's full-service hospitality proposition. Food-and-beverage operations support both overnight guests and visitors using the property for business, conventions, meetings, and downtown events.
Business hospitality · 1984
Meetings and events
Meeting and event services are supported by the hotel's position within the Metro Toronto Convention Centre complex. The location is designed to serve convention delegates, corporate groups, and other event-related travelers seeking accommodation adjacent to central Toronto's major meeting infrastructure.
Wellness · 1984
Fitness facilities
Fitness facilities form part of the property's guest amenities and complement its positioning as a full-service upscale hotel for both short business stays and leisure visits.
Brand decisions
2011
Sale of the hotel propertyM&ABackground
Canada Lands Company owned the physical hotel property after its earlier transfer from Canadian National.
Action taken
Canada Lands Company sold the hotel to Oxford Properties in September 2011.
Aftermath
Oxford Properties became the reported property owner, while the InterContinental operating and brand identity continued.
Sale price. C$225 million (September 2011)
2003
Renovation and transfer to InterContinentalGeneration changeBackground
The hotel pursued a higher-end brand position after operating as Crowne Plaza Toronto Centre.
Action taken
The property completed a C$21 million renovation and transferred to IHG's InterContinental brand in September 2003.
Aftermath
It adopted the name InterContinental Toronto Centre and became part of the international InterContinental Hotels & Resorts portfolio.
Renovation cost. C$21 million (2003)
1993
Adoption of the Crowne Plaza identityStrategyBackground
After IHG assumed management, the property needed a brand identity within IHG's hotel portfolio.
Action taken
The hotel was renamed Crowne Plaza Toronto Centre and operated under IHG management.
Aftermath
The property remained associated with IHG until its later repositioning under the InterContinental brand.
Recent events
- 2011
Canada Lands Company sells hotel to Oxford Properties[1]
M&A
Canada Lands Company sold the hotel to Oxford Properties in September 2011 for C$225 million.
- 2003
Property joins the InterContinental brand after renovation[1]
Product generation · Product launch
After completing a C$21 million renovation, the hotel transferred to IHG's InterContinental brand in September and was renamed InterContinental Toronto Centre.
- 1993
InterContinental Hotels Group assumes management[1]
Leadership change
IHG took over management of the property, which was subsequently operated under the Crowne Plaza Toronto Centre name.
- 1988
Hotel management changes following CN Hotels merger[1]
M&A · Leadership change
CN Hotels merged with Canadian Pacific Hotels, bringing the property into the Canadian Pacific hotel-management structure.
- 1984
L'Hôtel opens in downtown Toronto[1]
Other
The hotel opened on Front Street West on former Canadian National railway land. It was developed by Canadian National Railway and operated as part of Canadian National Hotels.
Sources1 sources
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