Group Germain Hotels invests $35 million in second location in the Atlantic provinces
NEW ALT HOTEL IN ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND TO CELEBRATE LOCAL CULTURE AND HISTORY
Group Germain Hotels will be blending its signature style into the charming landscape and historical harbour front of St. John’s, Newfoundland with the opening of a new Alt Hotel there in 2017.
The hotel represents the second property in the Atlantic provinces for the family-owned Canadian company, following the 2013 opening of the Alt Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “The announcement of the St. John’s opening brings our company one step closer to our goal of offering 20 properties to visitors across the country by 2020,” states Jean-Yves Germain, co-president of Group Germain Hotels.
With its rich history, unique heritage and vibrant character, St. John’s was a natural choice for the newest addition to the company’s rapidly expanding portfolio of thoughtfully curated properties across Canada. Mr. Germain adds, “We’re excited about this newest addition to the Group Germain Hotels family, and we’re proud to be progressing so quickly and successfully towards our vision of making our signature style and quality available in Canada’s most popular and convenient locations from coast to coast.”
Situated in a prime area of downtown on the northeast corner of Water Street and Prescott Street, the four-storey, 148-room hotel overlooks the harbour and offers a stunning view through The Narrows. The picture-perfect vista is an ideal complement to the hotel’s close proximity to meeting and convention centres as well as the city’s main tourist attractions, making the location a highly desirable one.
Christiane Germain, co-president of Group Germain Hotels, comments, “Like all Alt Hotels, our St. John’s location will feature the modern yet unpretentious design and high quality comfort our guests appreciate, all at an accessible price. In this particular location we’re also adding some custom features that will pay homage to the site’s important cultural history.”
Honouring the history of the Marshall Brothers cellar
The hotel will be built on the grounds of the circa-1800’s Marshall Brothers cellar, the only remaining marker of the former Marshall Brothers store that was in operation in the mid-1920s. Respectful architectural planning has ensured that the outline of the cellar footprint will be incorporated into the hotel’s exterior landscaping and paving, making it a celebrated feature and effectively allowing the old and the new to coexist in harmony. A feature wall in the hotel lobby will display a montage of tactile materials excavated from the cellar, as well as historical photographs and descriptive text.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Alt Hotel to the downtown core of St. John’s,” states Dennis O’Keefe, mayor of the city of St. John’s. “We’re impressed with Group Germain Hotels’ conscientious efforts to ensure the site’s heritage is celebrated.”
Designed by architects LEMAY MICHAUD, the hotel will feature 4000 square feet of meeting space equipped with cutting-edge technology, a 2500 square-foot area for a restaurant and patio, a fitness centre, and ample parking for hotel guests as well as the general public.
Of course, guests can also look forward to Alt Hotel’s signature "basic luxuries" including complimentary WiFi, ultra-comfortable beds, as well as friendly and helpful staff. Construction will begin shortly.
A rendering of the new Alt Hotel St. John’s is available here.
About Alt Hotels
Alt Hotels can be found in Québec City, Montréal, Brossard, Toronto, Winnipeg and Halifax. Alt Hotels boast a series of energy-saving features: geothermal heating and cooling; heat recovery from indoor air that is vented outside and from the water used in commercial washers; energy-efficient lighting, and a direct digital control system for ventilation, heating and cooling. For more information please visit Alt Hotels.
About Group Germain Hotels
Group Germain Hotels is a family-run Canadian company that owns and operates Le Germain Hotels and Alt Hotels across Canada. Ranked as one of Canada’s 50 best-managed companies, the company is renowned for its exceptional approach to hospitality and the unique style that characterizes its hotels. Since the first Group Germain Hotel property welcomed its first guest in 1988, the company’s 800 employees have now hosted close to 2.6 million overnight stays. For more information please visit Germain Hôtels.
For information:
Julie Tremblay
National Public Relations Manager
Group Germain Hotels
jtremblay@groupegermain.com / 514-954-0702