Loto-Québec to build hotel on Montreal Casino site
Posted December 18, 2023 12:47 pm.
Last Updated December 18, 2023 1:04 pm.
Loto-Québec announced the construction of a 200-room hotel on the Casino de Montréal site, set to open in the next two to three years. The project represents an investment of nearly $150 million.
“For 30 years, the Casino de Montréal has been a landmark of 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 one-of-a-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.
They add that it will be an environmentally-friendly project that will respect the character of Parc Jean-Drapeau.
“Loto-Québec has opted for a low-rise building concept. The hotel’s high-quality architectural signature will enable it to blend into its surroundings, while leaving plenty of room for the natural beauty of the site. The company will also ensure the highest standards of sustainable development to minimize the environmental impact of the building’s construction.”
Calls for tender will soon be issued to begin the design of the hotel.
Loto-Québec will be the sole owner of the hotel, but will join forces with a renowned hotel partner to be chosen shortly.
“The Casino de Montréal is a major tourist attraction, attracting millions of visitors every year. The addition of a hotel on the Casino site will increase its drawing power and raise Montreal’s profile on the international scene. This is good news, because this project is exactly in line with one of our objectives, which is to continue developing the hotel offer. Tourism is a powerful vector for economic development. It generates significant spinoffs for the benefit of our communities in every region of Quebec,” explains Caroline Proulx, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Lanaudière region.
“It was crucial for our administration to provide Parc Jean-Drapeau with a master plan that would protect its exceptional environment and ensure the sustainability of the projects being developed there. Loto-Québec’s hotel project is fully in line with our desire to offer residents and visitors opportunities to enjoy nature in the city. This new lodging offer meets the highest environmental standards and will enhance the appeal of Parc Jean-Drapeau, which is already an exceptional destination for Montrealers,” adds Valérie Plante, Mayor of the City of Montreal.
City councilor calls announcement ‘concerning’
Independent city councilor Craig Sauvé strongly denounced what he calls the “privatization of public space” for the new hotel.
“Parc Jean-Drapeau is a jewel that deserves to be developed further, but not by adding a luxury hotel. I cannot believe the city is going to let a hotel be built in the center of a prestigious park. This is a completely unacceptable commodification of public space.,” said Sauvé in a press release.
He adds that Between 2018 and 2019, the OCPM held extensive consultations on the future of the park and that the report showed “we must preserve and enhance the blue and green spaces of Parc Jean-Drapeau, its heritage and ‘the resolute affirmation of its public and accessible character’.”
According to Councillor Sauvé, having a hotel in the park goes against these recommendations and he explains that the construction of a private hotel in Parc Jean-Drapeau does not appear anywhere in the “Parc Jean-Drapeau Master Plan recently adopted by the municipal council in 2021.”
District: Saint-Henri-East–Little-Burgundy–Point-Saint-Charles–Griffintown
Sud-Ouest Borough
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