Montreal Luxe Offerings Primed for Fete-fueled Influx

From an architectural standpoint, the city of Montreal officially limits building heights to 233 meters (764 feet) above sea level so that no structure is higher than the top of the city s Mount Royal.

Release time : 2017-10-18 10:15:36

source : http://travelweekly-china.com/

(Source: Travel Weekly China)

From an architectural standpoint, the city of Montreal officially limits building heights to 233 meters (764 feet) above sea level so that no structure is higher than the top of the city's Mount Royal. From a celebratory standpoint, however, Canada's second-largest city jumps far higher than that.

With Canada celebrating its 150th anniversary, Montreal is doubling down by commemorating its own 375th anniversary.

In all, the city will throw more than 700 events this year to fete its history. With such celebrations in mind, Montreal is expected to boost its visitor numbers by more than 5% this year, to a record 10.7 million.

Fortunately, the city's upper-scale hotel inventory appears to be sufficiently updated to accommodate the throng. Typifying Montreal's old-new ethos is Le Mount Stephen, which opened in the city's Golden Square Mile in May and was redeveloped out of what was originally the 19th century home of George Stephen, the first president of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Front and center is the fully restored public area that includes a restaurant and lounge called Bar George, a ton of gorgeous wood paneling and stained glass and even a clock carved out of a mahogany tree. Adjoining the old structure at the rear is a modern, tasteful 90-room structure complete with four two-story Sky Lofts.

Old Montreal's Hotel William Gray, which opened last summer, also goes the old-new route, with its 127 rooms and 180-seat bistro being rebuilt by local hospitality veterans and brothers Tony and Costa Antonopoulos out of two 18th century buildings.

Last year also marked the opening of the 142-room Renaissance Montreal Downtown, which was rebuilt out of a 1950s-era post office facility and includes a 12th-floor lounge as well as an adjoining plunge pool. The hotel plays up its heritage by featuring hand-painted graffiti from local artists in its hallways as well as a 5-foot-high logo of the Canadiens hockey