The new Alt Hotel at the Ottawa International Airport gives travellers one less excuse to miss those dreaded early flights. Connected to the terminal by a fully enclosed walkway, the hotel replaces the dash to departures with more of a leisurely stroll.

On Thursday, nearly 100 guests attended an opening celebration held in the hotel’s lobby, bar and restaurant. It also included a philanthropic announcement supporting CHEO Foundation.

In town for the event were Marie Pier Germain and Hugo Germain, co-presidents of the Canadian family-run business Germain Hôtels, based in Québec City. The cousins represent the second generation to lead the company.

Germain Hôtels’ portfolio includes the Alt Hotels brand. The opening marks the company’s third property in Ottawa, joining two downtown locations: Le Germain Hotel on Daly Avenue and the Alt Hotel on Slater Street.

Ottawa International Airport president and CEO Susan Margles, who stepped into her role early last year, said the project had been “years in the making,” with “twists and turns” along the way. Delays stemmed from several factors, including the pandemic and an unsuccessful bid for a municipal tax incentive. The project moved ahead, regardless.

“It’s great that we’ve arrived here this evening,” said Margles of the “exceptional” determination and perseverance required to bring the project across the finish line.

Susan Margles, president and CEO of the Ottawa International Airport Authority, congratulated Hugo Germain and his cousin Marie Pier Germain, co-presidents of Canadian hotel chain Germain Hôtels, on the opening of their third hotel in the nation’s capital, the Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The hotel features 178 rooms. Amenities also include two sun-filled boardrooms and a 24-hour gym.

The Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport opened in late February, with its restaurant, Sosta! Pizzeria, launching in early April. Its bar received its liquor licence the day before the party, making for a timeline that was “a little tight,” said general manager Dino Gurusamy, formerly GM of Alt Hotel Ottawa and an employee of Germain Hôtels for more than 20 years.

Business has been good, with the hotel seeing strong demand, said Gurusamy. “It’s just been an issue of the operations catching up.”

Krista Kealey, vice president of communications and public consultation at the airport, considers a hotel attached directly to the airport to be “next level.” She noted its convenience for flight crews and passengers alike, especially for early-morning departures. “Eventually, as our connecting traffic grows, it’s a great option for overnight layovers.”

Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association president Steve Ball said the hotel is well positioned to serve airport travellers, pointing to the company’s airport properties in Toronto and Halifax. “Alt has all the expertise in terms of how to run and manage an airport hotel,” he said.

From left, Steve Ball, president of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association, and Dino Gurusamy, general manager of the Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Hugo Germain and his cousin Marie Pier Germain, co-presidents of Canadian hotel chain Germain Hôtels, welcomed about 100 guests to the grand opening of the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Le Germain Hotel Ottawa general manager Jacques-Alexandre Paquet and his Ottawa colleagues, Alt Hotel Ottawa Downtown general manager Marie Boissonnault and Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport general manager Dino Gurusamy, at the grand opening of Germain Hôtels’ third property in Ottawa. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Krista Kealey from the Ottawa International Airport Authority with Erin Benjamin from the Ottawa Board of Trade at the grand opening party of Alt Hotel’s new property, which is linked to the Ottawa airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe stopped by to offer congratulations and present a framed letter to the hotel owners and management. He and city councillor David Hill were among several guests who wore Ottawa Senators jerseys in the spirit of the team’s playoff game later that evening.

Hugo Germain also donned a Sens jersey. He told CiTC that he cheers for all the Canadian teams. “Go Sens Go,” he would later close his remarks with, causing the room to break out in smiles and applause.

Guests also included retired Ottawa Airport president and CEO Mark Laroche; Canadian Airports Council president Monette Pasher; Ottawa Tourism president and CEO Michael Crockatt and the chair of his board, Nyle Kelly, GM of Brookstreet Hotel; and Erin Benjamin, executive vice president of advocacy and strategy at the Ottawa Board of Trade.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe presented Marie Pier Germain and Hugo Germain, co-president of Germain Hôtels, with a framed letter of congratulations at the grand opening of Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, retired Ottawa Airport president Mark Laroche with his successor, Susan Margles, and Monette Pasher, president of the Canadian Airports Council, at the grand opening party for the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Chef de partie Bronson Passant kept the party sizzling while sautéeing some mushrooms during the grand opening party for the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport, held Thursday, April 23, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Michael Crockatt, president and CEO of Ottawa Tourism, with his board chair, Nyle Kelly, GM of Brookstreet Hotel, at the grand opening party for the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport, held Thursday, April 23, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Speaking at the podium, Hugo Germain expressed pride in the company’s latest expansion. “Opening a new hotel always means a lot to us,” he said. Germain Hotels now has 20 properties across Canada, with further plans to grow.

Marie Pier Germain described the hotel as “a place to pause — somewhere you can have a coffee, answer emails, wait for your flight or simply breathe for a moment. We really feel that this hotel will make a big difference.”

Instead of lavishing guests with party swag, the hotel decided to 30 overnight stays to CHEO families in need of accommodation. CHEO Foundation president and CEO Steve Read noted that many families travel from outside the region for care at the children’s hospital, and that family-support accommodations provided by charities are often at capacity.

Just as the Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport has been progressing through construction, CHEO is also in the midst of building its new Integrated Treatment Centre to meet growing demands from an expanding population and wider catchment area, stretching as far as Thunder Bay, Fredericton and Iqaluit, Read said.

“To provide a bit of comfort and support to these families, this is such a beautiful gesture,” Read said on stage with the hospital’s mascot beside him. “Thank you very much.”

CHEO Bear showed off some surprisingly good dance moves while making his entrance to the party. Only later was it revealed that he was a hotel employee. “We’ll see if he still has the same zip after 10 minutes in that costume,” Read joked. Apparently, it can get pretty hot in there.

Steve Read, president and CEO of CHEO Foundation, in the audience while the owners of Germain Hotels announced a gift to the children’s hospital, which serves children and youth from the region and beyond. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Rachel Roesner, director of sales for Germain Hôtels in Ottawa; Syntax Strategic senior director Mackenzie Houston; Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) head of events Ellie Dellis; Syntax Strategic chief operating officer Jennifer Madigan;fovernight and Soula Burrell, director of membership and business development at GOHBA, at the grand opening party for Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Alt Hotel Ottawa Downtown general manager Marie Boissonnault and Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport general manager Dino Gurusamy escorted CHEO Bear into the grand opening party, which included a gift to CHEO Foundation in the form of 30 free stays at the hotel for out-of-town CHEO families in need of accommodations. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Ottawa city councillor David Hill in his signed Ottawa Senators jersey, shortly before the start of the playoff game, and Joel Tkach, vice president of business development and marketing at the Ottawa International Airport Authority, at the grand opening party for the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

The dessert table included Ottawa Airport-customized cookies for the grand opening party of the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Evan Szelepcsenyi, who works at the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport, and his mom, Michelle Groulx, chief advocate for the OCOBIA (Ottawa Coalition Of Business Improvement Areas), at the grand opening party held Thursday, April 23, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Liz Ellwood, who’s the new senior account executive at Phantom Productions, with Rachel Roesner, director of sales for Germain Hôtels in Ottawa, and Alex Dorward, COO at WebMarketers and CEO of Ascribe Marketing, at the grand opening party for the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Alex McMahon, owner at Arlo Wine & Restaurant, with his friend Clarah Germain, manager of guest experience for Germain Hôtels, at the opening of the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa broadcaster and professional fundraiser Sam Laprade and Scott Phelan from Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s Office at the opening of the new Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Monette Pasher, president of the Canadian Airports Council, and Michael Crockatt, president and CEO of Ottawa Tourism, at the grand opening party for Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport. Photo by Caroline Phillips

A stationary Porter Airlines aircraft is seen from the window of an Alt Hotel Ottawa Airport room. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WEALTH (WCPD), Syntax Strategic, RBC, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, Welch LLP, and Brazeau Seller Law.
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