JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group secures sale of Historic Grand Eastonian

NEW YORK CITY, July 14, 2025 – JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group announced today the $5.6 million sale of the Grand Eastonian Hotel & Suites, a historic 50-room hotel located in downtown Easton in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania.

JLL represented Nature Nurture Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which sold the property to CanalHouse Hospitality Enterprises LLC, a business founded by a family of long-time Easton residents.

The Grand Eastonian Hotel & Suites occupies a prominent location on Northampton Street, the city's main thoroughfare, with stunning views of the Delaware River. First opened in 1927, the property was acquired by the nonprofit in 2000 and completely renovated thereafter. Over the course of its history, many famous visitors have stayed there, including Eleanor Roosevelt in the earlier days and Mikhail Gorbachev since the renovation.

The current hotel features 50 spacious accommodations ranging from traditional hotel rooms to one and two-bedroom suites with full kitchens and dining areas. The hotel also includes five commercial spaces at street level, a heated indoor saltwater pool, a fitness center and approximately 1,650 square feet of meeting space plus a 2,200-square-foot outdoor terrace.

The property is strategically located just minutes from major demand generators, including Lafayette College, the Crayola Experience and State Theatre, as well as the area's largest employers. The Lehigh Valley's central location between New York City and Philadelphia has made it a thriving hub for manufacturing, distribution, healthcare and education.

The renovation of the hotel is credited with having contributed to the revitalization of the City of Easton, which is experiencing an extraordinary renaissance with new development underway throughout downtown. The hotel is now poised to benefit from that transformation.

"After decades connected to the business as both employees and patrons, we are thrilled to acquire this historic hotel, a cornerstone in downtown Easton’s revitalization," said Trevor Thomas, Principal at CanalHouse Hospitality Enterprises LLC. "We look forward to partnering with local businesses to showcase Easton as the vibrant, welcoming destination our family calls home."

Speaking for the seller, Jane Stanley added, “We could not be more pleased to pass ownership on to a purchaser that knows the building well and has the creative talent and resources to take the hotel to new heights.”

Vasilis Halakos, Director, JLL Hotels & Hospitality, shared, "The hotel’s A+ location, historic significance and recent operational improvements position it perfectly to capitalize on the continued economic growth of the city and the entire Lehigh Valley."

JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group has completed more transactions than any other hotels and hospitality real estate advisor over the last five years, totaling $83 billion worldwide. The group’s 370-strong global team in over 20 countries also closed more than 7,350 advisory, valuation and asset management assignments. Our hotel valuation, brokerage, asset management and consultancy services have helped more hotel investors, owners and operators achieve high returns on their assets than any other real estate advisor in the world.

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Nurture Nature Foundation (NNF) is a nonprofit that seeks creative ways to address the conflict between environmental protection and economic development. NNF’s projects have often focused on ways to enhance urban living, in recognition of the fact that thriving cities support land preservation efforts. The major investment NNF made in restoring the Grand Eastonian hotel in the heart of Easton was one such project, which helped usher in an urban renaissance in that City. Another project NNF has undertaken in Easton is the establishment of the Nurture Nature Center, which is currently being expanded to include a new “Earth and Sky Dome”.

Canalhouse Hospitality Enterprises LLC is a family-owned business that was established with a mission to enrich the communities in which we operate by preserving local history and culture, creating stable local jobs, and delivering exceptional hospitality. Rooted in the city our family has proudly called home for the past 24 years, our company is committed to honoring the past while building a vibrant future.