TORONTO — It’s the end of an era at the Chelsea Inn. For 37 years the 1,599-room hotel has been part of the Delta family. But, on July 1, as Canadians celebrate Canada Day, the Delta Chelsea Inn will officially become the Eaton Chelsea Toronto.

The new affiliation marks the beginning of a new era for one of Toronto’s longest-serving hotels, and the first hotel of its kind in Canada. It joins other Eaton Hotels located in Hong Kong, Shanghai and New Delhi.

The Langham Hospitality Group, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Great Eagle Holdings, which also owns the property, will assume management of the hotel and will rebrand it the Eaton Chelsea Toronto. “With strong expansion plans, Langham has decided to assume management themselves,” confirmed Joe Ebner, regional vice-president, and managing director of the Delta Chelsea, at a media dinner to announce the new name.

“Great Eagle Holdings has owned the hotel for almost two decades, but the time is now right for the Langham Hospitality Group to assume management,” said Brett Butcher, CEO of Langham Hospitality Group. “It represents a tangible development for our company in North America as we are now represented in the U.S. market with properties in Boston and Pasadena, with new hotels opening in New York and Chicago this year.”

Langham was founded in 1990 when it purchased the Renaissance Hotel in London. ”Langham is all about luxury,” explained Ebner, but “the Eaton brand is more in keeping with the Chelsea. It’s all about balanced living, great service and great rates. Being such a large property, we couldn’t be a luxury hotel, but this is a good first-class opportunity,” said Ebner, who told media that the company has made a commitment to retain current staff. “It’s business as usual,” he said.

As part of its new unfolding history, the company will begin a series of renovations. “In repositioning to an Eaton brand [there will be] some significant renovations. We are excited to now share a design philosophy of smart, modern and uncomplicated interiors and an enthusiastic “can-do” service culture, which will set us apart from the competition in downtown Toronto. We’re spending millions to beautify balconies, to renovate the lobby and to makeover the Elm Street Lounge. “You won’t believe the look,” boasted Ebner. On July 2, after the name change, the hotel will begin renos of its guestrooms.

As the wholly owned subsidiary of Great Eagle Holdings, Langham Hospitality Group encompasses hospitality brands, which include hotels, resorts, residential serviced apartments, restaurants and spas, located on four continents. The Group currently owns and/or manages 16 hotels under The Langham, Langham Place, Eaton and 88 Xintiandi brands with more than 24 hotel projects either confirmed or in a developed stage of negotiation from China through Asia and India to the Middle East. North America remains a focal point for the group’s development with more than 2,000 rooms planned to be added in 2013 to the existing portfolio.

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