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Montreal's Ritz Carlton expansion

MartinMtl

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Ritz-Carlton TO UNDERGO COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION
INCLUDING ADDITION OF LUXURY RESIDENCES

“We intend to make the “Grande Dame†of Sherbrooke Street
the most prestigious hotel in Montreal and Canada.â€

*

MONTREAL—With an investment of more than $100*million, the Ritz-Carlton Montreal will soon undergo a complete transformation aimed at restoring it to its place among North America’s grand hotels. The central feature of this project is the total renovation of the hotel to meet the highest worldwide standards for luxury and comfort. The existing building will also be expanded, with the addition of luxury residences to this architectural treasure. *

“We intend to make the “Grande Dame†of Sherbrooke Street the most prestigious hotel in Montreal and Canada. The goal of this major redevelopment project is to showcase this Montreal heritage icon and ensure its continued existence while adding a new architectural dimension that will enable it to meet the highest international standards for hotels and luxury residences,†said Solly S. Lawi, chairman of the board of the Ritz-Carlton Montreal.
Once the transformation, developed by the Montreal architectural firm Provencher Roy + associés, has been completed, the hotel, which currently has 229 rooms and suites, will have 130*rooms and suites, 35 condo-residences and 15 condo-suites. Work is scheduled to begin in the winter of 2008 and is expected to take about 15 months.

Bold yet respectful

“Preserving and highlighting the hotel’s heritage and architectural elements was our priority throughout the development of this project,†explained Andrew*Torriani, general manager of the Ritz-Carlton Montreal. “We wanted to conserve the essence of the Ritz, which Montrealers have known and loved for close to a century, while bringing its offering in line with current worldwide standards for luxury hotels.â€

The building’s facade will be totally preserved and restored, as will the Lobby, the Palm Court, the Oval Room and, of course, the garden. The rooms will be renovated and redecorated to meet ever-rising standards of luxury and comfort.

The new residential wing will include construction of an elegant glass and stainless steel structure on the west facade and on the roof, which will discreetly enhance the unique character of the original building.

“In keeping with the principles of the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (Venice Charter) and the recommendations of the heritage study of the Ritz-Carlton Montreal, supervised by Jean-Claude*Marsan, we have opted for a boldly contemporary treatment to distinguish the new wing from the existing building, while maintaining a harmonious dialogue between the two,†said the project’s architect, Claude Provencher.

History coupled with the services of a grand hotel

Following the conversion of part of the existing building and the addition of modern, airy spaces with an abundance of windows, the Ritz-Carlton’s future residences will boast the charms of a historic building combined with the comfort of contemporary design, in the heart of Montreal’s Golden Square Mile.

“The Ritz-Carlton’s residences will represent the pinnacle of residential luxury in Montreal. Their residents will live in one of the city’s architectural and historical treasures, while enjoying the services of a luxury hotel,†said Mr. Lawi.

Already present in many large cities around the world, the Ritz-Carlton’s residences will offer hotel life in a residence of such exceptional and exclusive design that the project’s partners have assigned the sale of these units to Sotheby’s, a firm recognized for its involvement in high?end projects.

“By attracting prestigious clients from both home and abroad, these residences will further raise the Ritz-Carlton’s and Montreal’s profile as one of the leading destinations on the planet,†said Mr. Torriani.

About the Ritz-Carlton Montreal

Established in 1909, the Ritz-Carlton Montreal is located at the heart of the Golden Square Mile, the neighbourhood that was home to Montreal’s early 20th century business elite. A symbol of refinement and elegance, the hotel has welcomed some of the world’s most notable heads of state, artists and business people. Many leading figures of the 20th century have stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, including Queen Elizabeth, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Richard Nixon, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, George Bush Sr., The Rolling*Stones and Celine Dion, as well as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who celebrated their first marriage at the hotel.

Since 2007, the Ritz-Carlton Montreal has been owned by a consortium comprising Mirelis Financial Group, Torriani Group and Rolaco Group. It is managed by Torriani Luxury Hotel Management Canada, a subsidiary of Monaco Luxury Hotels and Resorts. Following its transformation, the Ritz-Carlton Montreal will have 130 rooms and suites, 35 condo-residences and 15 condo-suites.

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I thought the Ritz Carlton in Toronto was going to be the most prestigious in Canada? I guess they're all equally "most prestigious".

I'm torn on this addition. One part of me likes it, the other thinks it's a little fussy. The night shot is fantastic though.
 
RC is owned by Marriot, correct? Is RC Montreal some sort of "independent" RC, not part of Mariott?
 
True.

According to Wikipedia:

(...)In August 1983, Johnson Properties bought the Ritz Boston and US trademark for $75.5 million and established the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. In 1988, Johnson subsequently obtained the exclusive rights to the Ritz name throughout the world (except for the 210-room Hotel-Ritz Paris and the Ritz-Carlton in Montreal).


According to one of the press article that followed the expansion announcement, the "new" Ritz-Carlton Montreal will join the chain.
 
Then that explains why the RC in Montreal, on Expedia, is often priced at $189-ish per night. I could never figure out why a Ritz property would be priced so low, but that explains it.
 
Also, the Ritz in Montreal was going down the tube. The rooms were antique and dusty. It was an "old people" hotel. This makeover is long overdue.
 
^Big time. It was looking very run down and dowdy the last time I was there. And the service sucked.

Hopefully the revamp will change that.

Any word on Mulroney buying a suite?
 
Not bad, relatively respectful of the old building and street in general. Here's the current view:

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