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Where family and Hospitality Come Together

Where family and Hospitality Come Together

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Published By Brittany Fouquette

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George McGuey created Imperial Rentals in 1994 one suite at a time; he secured an apartment and rented it to a corporate client for a relocating employee and then repeated the process as he increased his inventory. During its 30 years in business, the company has navigated a market that’s fuelled by booms and then felled by events like September 11, Mad Cow restrictions, SARS scares, tanking energy prices and a global pandemic, all of which hit the hospitality and travel industry hard. But George came out stronger, and he illustrated the company’s resilience and growth with a rebranding to Imperial Suites in 2005 to better reflect the company’s offerings and a logo incorporating phoenix feathers to represent the company’s rise from the ashes after the various market crashes.

George found unexpected allies that helped him build for the future. He never intended to run a family business, but his wife Pauline stepped in to Calgary operations, their son Sheldon took over Edmonton operations, and their daughter Shannon dove into the business completely to learn at her father’s side, and after a stroke in 2021 forced George to slow down and step back, she was there to fill the management void. 

“I took an interest in the company and told him I’d like to work this as a career not a job,” says Shannon McGuey, general manager of Imperial Suites. “I started working in the industry associations and building relationships with providers like ourselves across the country.”

These relationships allowed the company to diversify its markets, and today Imperial Suites has a variety of one-, two- and three-bedroom furnished accommodations in Calgary, Edmonton, Airdrie, Sherwood Park and Montreal, and great partnerships to help clients looking for accommodations elsewhere in the country, too. Whether it’s an insurance placement after a flood or fire, corporate relocations or projects requiring temporary accommodations, Imperial has become the go-to partner for companies requiring vetted, quality-controlled midterm rentals in the market.

“We tailor ourselves to what our guests need to make it a better experience for them,” Shannon says. “We offer custom services depending on what’s required, like adaptable billing and flexible terms. Some employers do welcome baskets or groceries on arrival so we can set that up, and we can also assemble cribs and baby furniture rented through a partner company.” 

With guests coming from all over the world and staying a minimum of 30 nights, Imperial offers beautifully furnished accommodations that provides a residential experience in this new city, making them feel right at home. The team handles every detail, from biweekly housekeeping to 24-hour support to ensure guests are taken care of. It starts with a meet-and-greet upon arrival to walk guests through the property and answer questions about the space or the city followed by a check-in the next day to ensure all is going well. Security is key, and guests know that every point of contact entering their apartment is vetted and part of the Imperial team, and they can get to know them well. At the same time, Imperial’s real estate partners know that the guests have also been vetted to avoid security or maintenance issues in the suite.

The incredible team of 22 do an amazing job of meeting clients’ midterm housing needs with boots on the ground and high quality standards. As the industry continues to change, Imperial Suites will adapt and change along with it. Through a 30-year cycle of challenges followed by successes, like the phoenix, Imperial Suites continues to rise up and flourish.


www.imperialsuites.ca

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