The Maid of the Mist Corporation, which runs tour boats at Niagara Falls in Canada, has acquired its first hotel from Sevenson Hotel Associates.

The acquistion of the Comfort Inn - The Pointe, , located at the entrance of Niagara Falls State Park, is also understood to include adjacent retail space which will become vacant by the end of the year if the leases of the six businesses currently occupying the site are not be renewed.

Tim Ruddy, vice president of marketing for Maid of the Mist, said: "The Maid of the Mist has recognised that there is already a need for quality hotel space in Niagara Falls. We feel that demand for hotel space will be increasing over the next few years."

Maid of the Mist has not yet decided what it will do with the retail space and will not announce a decision until after the sale has been finalised. The details of the sale have not been disclosed, but is expected to be completed January 2009.