Grand Union Hotel

What Grand Union Hotel does

Grand Union Hotel is a privately held, single-property historic boutique hotel operating in Fort Benton, Montana. Built in 1882 at the height of the Upper Missouri steamboat era, the property features 26 guest rooms and suites (Deluxe Single, Deluxe Double, ADA Accessible, Junior Suite, and Master Suite) and is Montana's oldest continuously operating hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel runs four revenue streams: nightly lodging with seasonally tiered rates, the on-site Union Grille restaurant (farm-to-table, open 7 nights weekly in summer), event hosting (weddings up to 100 guests, corporate meetings up to 50 in the Lewis & Clark Room), and a charitable donation program for nonprofit fundraising auctions.

The hotel serves leisure travelers, history enthusiasts, outdoor recreationists (fly fishing, hunting, canoeing), corporate meeting planners, and wedding couples, with distribution primarily through direct booking via ResNexus and phone, supplemented by OpenTable for restaurant reservations and earned media through regional Montana publications. The Union Grille is led by Chef Keith Chinn, a Culinary Institute of America and French Pastry School-trained chef with experience at Relais & Châteaux properties. The business is owned by Colette and Tony Longin of Great Falls, MT, who purchased the property in June 2022; the previous owners, James & Cheryl Gagnon, completed a multi-million dollar restoration in 1999 with support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, U.S. Parks Department, and Montana State Historic Preservation Office.

The underlying technology stack is conventional hospitality infrastructure — ResNexus for reservations, OpenTable for restaurant bookings, Google Analytics for web traffic, and standard in-room amenities (Wi-Fi, cable TV, individually controlled HVAC). The property's competitive positioning is anchored primarily in its historic character, riverside location on the Upper Missouri Wild and Scenic River, and partnerships with local outfitters and the Signal Point Golf Club; technology is not a material differentiator. The hotel operates 23 employees and is privately held with no disclosed funding, debt structure, or revenue figures.

Name

Grand Union Hotel

Legal name

Grand Union Hotel

Website

https://grandunionhotel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Grand Union Hotel is a privately held historic boutique hotel in Fort Benton, Montana, operating 26 restored guest rooms, the Union Grille farm-to-table restaurant, and event venues for weddings and corporate retreats, serving leisure travelers, history enthusiasts, and outdoor recreationists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Historic Hotel

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAGADAD

Heritage & Historic Boutique Hotels

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Boutique & Lifestyle Hotels

SECONDARYTHAGAAAG

Historic & Heritage Full-Service Hotels

Travel & Hospitality/Lodging & Accommodation/Hotels (Full-Service)

Keywords

• Historic boutique hotel
• Lodging and dining
• Wedding and event venue
• Corporate meeting venue
• Farm-to-table restaurant

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Benton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Lodging: The hotel generates primary revenue from 26 guest rooms and suites available for nightly rental. Room categories include Deluxe Single (queen bed), Deluxe Double (two queen or full beds), ADA Accessible Deluxe, Junior Suite, and Master Suite. Rates vary by season with highest rates in June, July, and August.
2. Restaurant (Union Grille): The on-site Union Grille restaurant serves dinner 7 nights weekly during summer peak season (June 1 - September 30) and Wednesday through Sunday during fall/winter/spring. The restaurant features farm-to-table cuisine, fine wine, craft beers, and seasonal outdoor dining. A saloon offers casual fare. Private dining rooms are available for events.
3. Events and Celebrations: The hotel generates revenue hosting weddings (up to 100 person receptions), corporate meetings (up to 50 people), celebrations (anniversaries, birthdays, graduations), and private events in the Lewis & Clark Room (650 sq ft), Union Grille, and seasonal riverside patio.
4. Donations and Gift Certificates: The hotel donates deluxe Queen guest room certificates to nonprofit organizations for fundraising auctions, requiring organizations to purchase a $100 gift certificate for the restaurant. This drives future revenue while building community goodwill.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Grand Union Hotel operates as a historic boutique hotel in Fort Benton, Montana, offering 26 elegantly restored guest rooms and suites with many featuring Missouri River views. The property runs the on-site Union Grille farm-to-table restaurant, and provides event spaces including the Lewis & Clark Room (650 sq ft) for weddings up to 100 guests, corporate meetings up to 50 attendees, and private celebrations. Built in 1882, it is Montana's oldest operating hotel and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Product overview

The Grand Union Hotel is a historic boutique hotel operating as a single-property hospitality business with two main service offerings: lodging (26 guest rooms and suites) and dining (Union Grille restaurant). The hotel also offers event and meeting spaces, wedding services, and a charitable donation program. The property was built in 1882 and is Montana's oldest operating hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grand Union Hotel Lodging
• Union Grille Restaurant
• Meetings and Retreats
• Wedding Services
• Celebrations and Private Events

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 guest rooms generating revenue year-round with varying seasonal rates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Local Canoe and Equipment Outfitters in Fort BentonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe hotel partners with local outfitters in Fort Benton who provide canoe rentals, camping supplies, shuttle services, and guided trips for guests exploring the Missouri River. These partnerships enable the hotel to offer complete outdoor adventure packages to guests.
• Signal Point Golf ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearby 9-hole golf course in Fort Benton that the hotel recommends to guests. The hotel markets golfing packages in partnership with this local course, promoting Fort Benton as a golfing destination.
• VisitMT.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Montana tourism website where the Grand Union Hotel is listed among accommodations, driving awareness and bookings from statewide tourism marketing efforts.
• FortBentonChamber.orgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber of commerce website promoting Fort Benton businesses including the Grand Union Hotel for convention and tourism visitors.
• National Trust for Historic PreservationcoreOthersThe multi-million dollar restoration (1999) was supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, U.S. Parks Department, and Montana State Historic Preservation Office. These organizations provided funding and guidance for the preservation effort.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Izaak Walton Inn: Historic 1939 lodge in Essex, Montana near Glacier National Park offering lodging, dining, and outdoor recreation packages. Comparable heritage lodging positioned around railroad/wilderness history and outdoor access.
• The Lodge at Whitefish Lake: Montana lakefront lodge resort with lodging, multiple restaurants, event/wedding venues, and outdoor recreation amenities. Comparable full-service Montana hospitality property serving leisure and group segments.
• Murray Hotel: Restored early-1900s hotel in Livingston, Montana with restaurant, saloon, and event venue. Comparable boutique size, heritage positioning, and Montana gateway-town location.
• Sacajawea Hotel: Historic hotel in Three Forks, Montana featuring on-site dining and event hosting. Comparable Montana heritage lodging with restaurant and group business mix.
• Chico Hot Springs Resort: Long-running historic Montana resort (since 1900) with lodging, restaurant, saloon, hot springs pools, and event/wedding business. Highly comparable multi-revenue-stream heritage hospitality property in rural Montana.
• Pollard Hotel: Historic (1893) boutique hotel in Red Lodge, Montana with on-site dining and event spaces. Closely comparable to the Grand Union as a small-town Montana heritage hotel serving leisure, history, and outdoor recreation travelers.

Broad incumbents

• Old Faithful Inn: Iconic 1904 national park lodge in Yellowstone, considered a landmark of American hospitality architecture. Comparable heritage-status full-service lodge with dining and event appeal, but operated at much larger scale under a national park concessioner.
• Many Glacier Hotel: Historic 1915 national park lodge in Glacier National Park, Montana, operated by Xanterra. Comparable heritage lodging with restaurant and outdoor recreation adjacency, but at much larger scale and inside a national park.

Emerging players

• Triple Creek Ranch: Relais & Châteaux luxury ranch resort in Darby, Montana offering all-inclusive lodging, fine dining, and outdoor experiences. Comparable premium Montana heritage hospitality positioning at the luxury end of the segment.
• The Resort at Paws Up: Luxury ranch resort in Greenough, Montana combining lodging, dining, and outdoor recreation. Comparable Montana destination with multi-revenue structure, but at a higher price point and larger scale than the Grand Union.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grand-union-hotel

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grand Union Hotel