Casino de Montréal Gets a 200-Room Hotel
On Monday, Loto-Québec announced the construction of a 200-room hotel on the site of the Casino de Montréal, an investment project worth close to $150 million.
Loto-Québec will be the sole owner of the hotel. The company will join forces with a “renowned” hotel partner to be chosen shortly.The Crown corporation points out that “a hotel offer accompanies the entertainment offer of the vast majority of establishments on the scale of the Casino de Montréal”.
“For 30 years, the Casino de Montréal has been a landmark in the metropolis. We are very proud to announce the construction of a hotel that will propel the Casino into the ranks of top entertainment destinations. The hotel will be unique in its kind, thanks to its location in the heart of Parc Jean-Drapeau, and will provide Montreal with a wonderful showcase,” says Jean-François Bergeron, President and CEO of Loto-Québec.
Loto-Québec will soon issue a call for tenders to begin designing the hotel, which is to be built on the existing parking lot number 3.To respect the unique character of Parc Jean-Drapeau, Loto-Québec is favoring a “low-rise” building concept with a “quality architectural signature”. In doing so, the corporation is committed to meeting “the highest standards” of sustainable development.
Loto-Québec hopes to welcome its first guests to the Casino de Montréal hotel within the next two to three years.This hotel will join the two others already part of Loto-Québec’s real estate portfolio, the Hilton Lac-Leamy and the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu. See Loto-Québec President and CEO Mr. Bergeron’s speech on the Casino de Montréal hotel project in the video above.
“Any new hotel is welcome in Montreal”
Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx welcomed Loto-Québe’s announcement, pointing out that tourism “is a powerful vector of economic development” and generates significant spin-offs “for the greater benefit of our communities, in every region of Quebec.Speaking at the Loto-Québec press conference, Ms. Proulx pointed out that Montreal boasts some 23,000 lodging units, and that occupancy rates “exceeded the 80% mark last August and September”.“Between January and October 2023, the number of occupied units increased by 20% compared to 2022, and we still have room to grow over the next few years,” she asserted, stressing the importance of developing and renewing the tourist accommodation offer not only in Montreal, but throughout Quebec.The Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, said that Loto-Québec’s hotel project “is fully in line with the City of Montreal’s desire to offer residents and visitors opportunities to enjoy nature in the city”, as well as enhancing the attractiveness of Parc Jean-Drapeau.“It’s a hotel on a human scale […], there’s room for a smaller, more nested hotel offering that will integrate into an extremely rich environment. […] We want to protect this very strong link between Montrealers and Parc Jean-Drapeau,” explained Ms. Plante.
