Group Germain Hotels Opens Newfoundland Property

Groupe Germain Hôtels opened its newest property in St. John’s, Newfoundland, in early December.

The 148-room Alt Hotel St. John’s is the Group’s second property to open in the Atlantic Provinces under the Alt banner. Located at the corner of Water and Prescott Streets, it is conveniently close to the St. John’s Convention Centre and the city’s downtown retail and restaurant district.

“We are delighted to introduce our colourful brand of hospitality to Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Jean-Yves Germain co-president of family-owned, Group Germain Hotels. “With its rich history, unique heritage, vibrant character and welcoming people, St. John’s was a natural choice for us. We are thrilled to invest in a city and a community we truly believe in. ’’

The property features:

• nearly 4,000 square feet of meeting space, all fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows and direct access to the terrace;
• a fitness centre;
• a range of eco-responsible features such as geothermal heating and cooling powered by the ocean, energy-efficient lighting, a heat recovery system and more;
• and an outdoor patio overlooking the harbours and The Narrows.

A coffee shop and restaurant, located adjacent to the lobby, are slated to open this year.

Designed by Canadian firm, Lemay Michaud Architecture, the hotel also features design elements that reflect the local landscapes, culture and history. The property is built on the grounds of a 1800s cellar, the only remaining marker of the historic Marshall Brothers store. As a result, an outline of the cellar footprint was incorporated into the hotel’s design and the lobby has a feature wall displaying a montage of materials from the cellar.

In addition, the lobby is home to colourful, artistic mural titled Altexpo.  Created from over 3,500 original images, the mural from local photographer Michael Winsor pays tribute to Newfoundland and Labrador’s unique landscapes.

The opening of this property brings Group Germain Hotels one step closer to achieving its goal of becoming the first independent Canadian hotelier to offer travellers a network of 20 properties coast-to-coast by 2020. The Group is rapidly expanding across Canada and is currently building new properties in Calgary, Saskatoon, Ottawa and Brossard, all of which are slated to open in 2018.