Stafford’s Hospitality announces pending sale of hotels and restaurants

PETOSKEY — Stafford’s Hospitality announced on Thursday that the group would be selling its collection of hotels and waterfront restaurants.

Stafford Smith and equity partners, Dudley Marvin, Brian Ewbank, Butch (Christian) Paulsen, David Marvin and Reginald Smith announced the sale of Stafford’s Hospitality to Jon and Lauren Cotton of Grosse Point in a joint statement.

“We are proud to have served our guests, our associates and communities of Northern Michigan for over 60 years,” said Stafford, founder of Stafford’s Hospitality. “We are very excited for the future opportunities this transaction presents for our family of associates, our guests and the communities in which our properties are located.”

Jon Cotton added that "As a longtime resident of Michigan, I have dined and stayed in these historic establishments many times, and know what each of them mean not only to our state, but also, to their respective communities. We will be dedicated to maintain the legacy of Stafford's Hospitality and committed to retain their employees who have played such a key role in the success of these properties."

Hotel Investment Services (HIS) of Troy has been selected to manage this portfolio.

"It is a tremendous honor, and responsibility, that we will be standing on the shoulders of one of the great hospitality legacies in Michigan," said Ron Wilson, CEO of HIS. "Stafford is an innkeeper's innkeeper who has dedicated his working life to the art of hospitality.”

The Cottons and HIS, along with insight from Stafford's leadership, are in the beginning stages of planning renovations that will be appropriate for each of the historic properties. Joe Cotton has been doing similar renovations since he acquired the Hotel Iroquois on Mackinac Island.

The sale is expected to be completed in early January 2024.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Stafford’s Hospitality announces pending sale of hotels and restaurants