In Boston's dingy old Ames Building a month ago, Ernest F. Henderson, rumpled, fast-moving president of the Sheraton Hotel chain, got an urgent telephone call from Montreal. His Canadian manager, John C. Udd, excitedly told him that Canada's biggest private hotel chain, the Cardy Corp., was for sale. If Henderson wanted to buy it, he would have to give his answer by 5 p.m. that day. Henderson did some quick figuring and called back, "Yes." Then he hopped a train for Montreal.
This week Henderson took the Montreal train again, to clinch the deal with Montreal's Hotelman Vernon G. Cardy,...