Sage Hospitality Launches Restaurant Group

DENVER— Sage Hospitality Resources has launched a restaurant division headed by Peter Karpinski, formerly with the Starr Restaurant Organization. Karpinski serves as svp/restaurants for Sage, which specializes in managing and renovating full-service and luxury hotels. The decision to establish an independent restaurant division “adds depth and critical expertise to our hotel management team and recognizes the significant role high-caliber restaurants play in the performance and positioning of competitive hotels, both as an important service and as a community attraction,” said Walter Isenberg, president/CEO of Sage. As director of operations for Starr Restaurants, Karpinski opened Barclay Prime and operated the firm’s 12 other restaurants. He also served as director of restaurants at Caesars Palace. In his new position, Karpinski will be responsible for concept development and design, as well as ongoing operations for new and existing restaurants in Sage hotels. One of Karpinski’s key assignments will be the creation and opening of signature restaurants for three new hotel renovation projects Sage is currently undertaking in Providence, RI; Portland, OR, and Chicago. The first is Temple restaurant and lounge for the $77 million restoration of the historic Masonic Temple in Providence into a luxury hotel. Slated for completion in fall 2006, the Renaissance Providence Hotel will feature 274 guestrooms and 10,000 square feet of ballroom and meeting space. Sage expects to start construction late this year on the $106 million renovation of the landmark Meier and Frank department store in Portland into a 300-room luxury hotel. As part of the project, the 90-year-old anchor store will be completely refurbished and occupy the lower five floors of the 16-story building. Sage also is in the predevelopment phase of another signature hotel renovation, The Blackstone, a landmark property in downtown Chicago.