Canadian casino operator Loto-Quebec has announced plans to add a 200-room hotel to its Casino de Montreal property in order to help the six-story venue ‘cement its reputation as a prime tourist destination’.

The state-owned enterprise declared the $112 million scheme is due to be finished ‘within two to three years’ so as to bring the Montreal casino up to the standards of competitors such as neighboring Ontario’s 669-room Casino Niagara in featuring ‘an entertainment offer that extends to accommodation’.

Prestigious Property

The largest enterprise of its kind in Canada, Casino de Montreal was opened in 1993 and already comes complete with a 526,000 sq ft gaming floor hosting a selection of some 115 gaming tables and over 3,200 slots alongside keno, speed lottery and virtual titles. The Quebec venue sits within the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which hosts the annual Canadian Grand Prix motor racing extravaganza, and currently also features four restaurants, a trio of bars, a cabaret lounge and extensive meeting and banquet facilities.

Incoming Association

The President and Chief Executive Officer for Loto-Quebec, Jean-Francois Bergeron, revealed his organization is to maintain sole ownership over the future hotel but soon intends to select a partner to handle operational duties. He additionally stated the Casino de Montreal expansion will join a real estate portfolio already embracing the 400-room Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu and 349-room Hilton Lac-Leamy with its revenues being utilized to ‘benefit the entire Quebec community’.

“The Casino de Montreal has been a landmark in this city for 30 years and we’re very proud to announce the construction of this hotel as it’ll move the casino to the top among the best entertainment destinations,” Bergeron said. “Its location at the heart of Parc Jean-Drapeau will put this hotel in a class all by itself and it’ll showcase Montreal beautifully.”

Conservation Commitment

Loto-Quebec pronounced the finished Casino de Montreal hotel will respect ‘the unique character’ of its Parc Jean-Drapeau home via the utilization of a ‘a low-height’ design constructed upholding ‘the highest sustainability standards to minimize the environmental impact’. The operator moreover asserted this will allow the coming venue to blend into its surroundings and preserve ‘the natural beauty of the landscape’.

Political Pillar

For her part, the mayor of Montreal, Valerie Plante, called the hotel plan ‘completely in line’ with her administration’s commitment to providing residents and tourists ‘with opportunities to enjoy nature in the city’.

“Providing Parc Jean-Drapeau with a master plan that ensures the protection of its exceptional environment and guarantees the sustainability of the projects developed on its grounds was critical for our administration,” Plante said. “This new accommodation offer strives for the highest environmental standards and will further enhance the attractiveness of Parc Jean-Drapeau, which is already a prime destination dear to the Montreal community’s heart.”