A History of Responsibility

Our company was founded in 1960 by Isadore Sharp, a young Canadian architect who believed in only operating medium-sized hotels of exceptional quality with an objective to be the best.

As Isadore expanded the company into what soon became one of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands, he never lost sight of his guiding principle of the Golden Rule – the simple idea that we should treat others the way we would want to be treated. Today, Isadore Sharp’s vision remains deeply embedded in our company’s culture, and provides the foundation for our ESG programs. 

Isadore and his wife Rosalie are active philanthropists, having donated money, time and public support to both local and global causes for decades. At our managed properties and corporate offices, employees have demonstrated the Golden Rule through years of philanthropic and environmental partnerships benefitting their local communities. For more information on our current areas of focus and initiatives, please see the People and Planet pages, and access our latest ESG Report.