Chartwell Leisure

{{short description|American hotel company}}

Chartwell Leisure was an American hotel company. It was formed in 1994 as National Gaming, a spin-off of the gaming businesses of Hospitality Franchise Systems (HFS).{{cite news|title=Hospitality Franchise: Sees trading symbol of 'NAGC'|newspaper=Dow Jones News Service|date=November 10, 1994|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=dj00000020011101dqba0239r&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required|via=Factiva}} A year later, after finding little success, the company said it was leaving the casino industry, and would seek to acquire a business in a less risky field.{{cite news|title=National Gaming bitterly cashes in its chips|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|first=Daniel|last=Heneghan|date=November 11, 1995|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:PACB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EAEABD22B02B542&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D6884C8DA6CD5B5}} {{subscription required|via=NewsBank}}

In January 1996, the company changed its name to National Lodging, and paid $98 million to buy 16 Travelodge hotels and joint venture interests in 96 more from Forte, as part of a deal that also saw HFS acquire the Travelodge trademark and franchise operation.{{cite news|title=Natl Lodging, HFS buy Forte's North Amer Travelodge opers|newspaper=Dow Jones News Service|date=January 23, 1996|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=dj00000020011013ds1n00d4i&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required|via=Factiva}} In August, the company was renamed Chartwell Leisure after taking a $57 million investment from groups affiliated with the Fisher family, the Gordon Getty family, and the de Gunzburg family, giving them a total 52 percent stake in the firm.{{cite news|title=National Lodging holders okay sale of shrs to Chartwell, FSNL|newspaper=Dow Jones News Service|date=August 8, 1996|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=dj00000020011013ds8804k2n&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required|via=Factiva}}

In March 1998, the company was acquired by a partnership of Whitehall Street Real Estate (a Goldman Sachs affiliate) and Westmont Hospitality Group for $349 million, including $77 million in assumed debt.{{cite news|title=Whitehall, Westmont team acquires Chartwell|newspaper=Hotel & Motel Management|date=May 4, 1998|url=http://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?P=sa&an=hmmg000020010917du5400012&cat=a&ep=ASE}} {{subscription required|via=Factiva}} Westmont received a minority share, and took over operations of the company's 124 properties, under the new name WW Leisure.