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Big Investment in Canadian Hotels

hotelresortinsider.com

Over $800 million dollars invested into Montreal’s hotels

An astounding 2000 more hotel rooms are being created over the next 2 years offering clients greater choice, variety and availability. Two international hotel companies, Ritz-Carlton and Starwood Hotel’s, are investing $100 million dollar each into their respective properties. Starwood Hotel’s Westin, with 400 rooms, featuring a floor dedicated to conference rooms, and a spa opening in Autumn 2008. The Ritz-Carlton Montreal will undergo a complete transformation aimed at restoring it to its place among North America’s grandest hotels. The next big spend on property is an $80 million dollar investment in the Crystal de la Montagne, located in the heart of Montréal’s downtown shopping area, will be opening in December 2007, with 131 rooms and 59 luxurious suites. The project with the biggest budget however has to be the $400-million redevelopment project for Montréal’s historic former Viger Station Hotel. Restoration to bring this 225 room hotel back to its former glory commences in summer 2008.

‘No frills chic’ hotel in Montréal

A brand new concept for cheap-chic hotels offering affordable accommodation without compromising on design and comfort has been introduced in Montréal by ALT Hotels. The first ALT Hotel was built at a cost of $21 million Canadian dollars right in the heart of the South Shore, a stone’s throw from downtown Montreal at the new Quartier DIX30 complex made up of boutiques, restaurants, cinemas and a 900 seat theatre. Construction now completed features the very latest in eco-friendly energy-saving technology. In addition to the leisure market, ALT Hotels will also target business, meetings and convention market. To serve this clientele, the hotel will have more than 5,000 square feet of space for business meetings including a main conference room located on the top floor, with breath-taking views of Montreal.

Toronto Goes Lux

The luxury-hotel boom is well underway with close to 1,000 luxury hotel rooms opening up across Toronto. In August 2007, Toronto saw the opening of its first five-star hotel in the city-The Hazelton Hotel. With 77 rooms and 16 private residences, the Hazelton Hotel provides a feeling of intimate luxury conceived on a European scale. By 2010, Toronto will have four new 5-star hotels with major players such as Trump, the Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and Shangri-La. Existing hotels have steeped it up a notch undergoing extensive refurbishments in 2007. The Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel recently completed an $80 million renovation, including all guestrooms, public areas and its 10,000 sq ft meeting space. While the Westin Harbour Castle, a landmark waterfront property located in the heart of downtown Toronto, has focused its efforts solely on its guest rooms and now feature a 32” wall mounted plasma screen television, and enhanced pillow top mattresses and lux bathrooms.

Four Seasons Vancouver beautifies with $5.3 million in refurbishments


Vancouver's luxury Four Seasons Hotel recently began a refurbishment that will produce a brand new restaurant, bar and lounge, as well as refresh the upper and lower lobbies. Creating quite a buzz, the yet-to-be-named restaurant will feature an open kitchen and a bar set against the backdrop of a "green" wall of live foliage. The restaurant will also house an exclusive glass-enclosed private dining room with sketched images of coastal mountain scenes. Work on the 6,750-square-foot restaurant/bar area and 5,000-square-foot upper lobby is scheduled for completion in November. The lower lobby will be renovated between January and March 2008. The hotel remains open for business during the renovations.

Prestigious luxury boutique hotels open their first Canadian properties


The Buddha Bar Hotel will open on St Jacques St. in Old Montréal at the end of 2008. The Buddha Bar concept started in Paris in 1996 and is evolving as there are 4 hotels Buddha Bar being built in the world in Prague, New York, Dubai and Montréal. The Montréal Buddha Bar Hotel will have 106 rooms and will be located in the former building of the Provincial Bank.

Properties Unveiled in run up to 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games


Targeting high-end global business and leisure travellers, the Melville area is fast becoming a hotbed of upscale boutique hotels. The 127-room Ritz-Carlton hotel takes centre stage in a 50 storey building. The 77-room Loden Vancouver is Kor Hotel Group's first Canadian property scheduled to open this fall. The Shangri-La Hotel, is under construction with a scheduled opening of September 2008. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2009, the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel will be a four-star hotel offering a range of accommodation for business and leisure travellers.


Existing hotel properties have undergone major refurbishments in 2007. The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver has completed a multi-million dollar renovation of La Grande Residence which now features 164 fully furnished terraced residences with many "green" features including energy efficient light bulbs, refrigerators and dishwashers. Hyatt Regency Vancouver has completed an extensive six year, $40 million refurbishment, including all 644 guest rooms and 45,000 square feet of public space. Vancouver's luxury Four Seasons Hotel recently commenced a $5.3 million refurbishment which will result in a brand new restaurant, bar and lounge, as well as refreshing the property's upper and lower lobbies.

 Printable Version  | published Oct 17, 2007