Alt Hotel Ottawa opens in a burst of colour and style

Alt Hotel Ottawa - mural by Jean-François Frenette #AltExpo
1000 666 Daniel Fountain
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Visitors to the Canadian capital now have even more choice of quality accommodation to choose from thanks to the opening of the 148-room Alt Hotel Ottawa. The newly-built property is conveniently located on Slater Street, just a few blocks away from the city’s iconic Parliament Buildings and is less than a mile from the bustling ByWard Market district.

The opening is the latest offering from the Montreal-based group Germain Hospitalité; a hotel operator that currently has a portfolio of 13 properties comprising the Alt and Le Germain brands. The company specialises in a ‘no frills chic’ concept which sees guests enjoy all the luxury of a high-end hotel experience without the price tag. The group is enjoying rapid expansion with plans to open up to seven more hotels by 2020.

Designed by LEMAYMICHAUD Architecture Design and Chmiel Architects, the 14-floor, $30 million (£16 million) Alt Hotel Ottawa offers intelligent design, comfort and attentive service.

 

As well as a fully equipped fitness centre it is home to 4,000 square feet of meetings space furnished with top of the range facilities including smart large format televisions and high-spec projection screens. Special touches in every room, such as ‘ultra-comfortable’ beds and spa-inspired bathrooms, all lend the hotel a decidedly upscale feel that defies its affordable year-round nightly flat rate.

Visitors to Alt Hotel Ottawa are greeted by an impressive eye-catching installation called ALT Expo. Dominating the lobby walls, the striking mural by artist Jean-François Frenette is composed of 9,000 colourful photographs featuring iconic Canadian landscapes. Within the mosaic there are special LCD panels that stream Instagram images that have been shared by hotel guests and members of the public using the hashtag #altexpo. Also in the lobby is the Altcetera Café, the perfect place for guests to enjoy an informal breakfast, lunch or dinner. The café offers a variety of simple, delicious food prepared by local caterer Epicuria as well as a range of hot beverages by Canadian tea specialists DAVIDsTEA.

The new opening further strengthens the capital’s diverse hotel offering. UK visitors to Ottawa can already choose from a wide range of accommodation from intimate boutique properties to state of the art business hotels. Whether seeking the ultimate in luxury or the perfect family hotel there is something to suit every traveller’s budget.

Daniel Fountain / 31.05.2016

Editor, Hotel Designs

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

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Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

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Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

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