CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 04, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian hotelier Group Germain Hotels celebrated the opening of Alt Hotel Calgary East Village by welcoming community leaders and media to learn more about the no-frills chic boutique hotel and tour the beautiful new property. This is Group Germain Hotels’ 17th property in Canada and the second hotel in Calgary, following the opening of Le Germain Hotel Calgary in 2010 and third overall, with Alt Hotel Calgary University District scheduled to open in 2020.
Conveniently located at the corner of Confluence Way and 6th Avenue SE, Alt Hotel Calgary East Village offers a breathtaking view of the Bow River and downtown. The hotel features 152 comfortable and well-designed rooms, with abundant windows providing unparalleled natural light. “The moment you enter the hotel, you know that this going to be no ordinary experience or no ordinary stay, says Hugo Germain, director of development Group Germain Hotels, “From the welcoming Altexpo mosaic of Calgary to the light-filled lobby, you want to pick up a coffee, sit down and enjoy the space!” he concludes.
Complimentary amenities at all Alt Hotels include ultra-fast WI-FI, Chromecast streaming media players, pet-friendly accommodations, fitness room, and no set check out times when guests book directly with us. Services offered in the hotel include a meeting space of nearly 3,400 square feet, divided into four multi-purpose rooms that offer state-of-the-art technology. Altcetera, an on-the-go food counter, located in the hotel lobby, offers a wide variety of snacks and refreshments.
Designed by Canadian firm LEMAYMICHAUD Architecture & Design, the Alt Hotel Calgary East Village features an ultramodern design inspired by the neighbourhood's industrial past. The exterior design is reminiscent of factories from another era, including the neighbouring building: the former Simmons mattress factory.
In addition to the opening, the company is pleased to announce that two restaurants will be joining the Alt Hotel Calgary East Village. First, CHIX Eggshop will be led by long time Le Germain Hotel Calgary collaborators Connie DeSousa and John Jackson, co-chefs and owners of CHARCUT Roast House and charbar at the Simmons. CHIX Eggshop concept is a fast-fine diner which is a quirky, nostalgic, counter service–only breakfast and lunch spot, with skillfully crafted and quickly served dishes alongside super-hip craft beverages and cocktails that are sure to shake things up. CHIX Eggshop is scheduled to open later this spring.
“We’re excited to partner with Group Germain Hotels again because the Alt Hotel brand is so unconventional with unmatched features and services, and CHIX Eggshop is a reflection of that,” says DeSousa. “The fast-fine diner will be a great spot for locals and visitors of Calgary to come together and share in the vision that will be unfolding in the months to come.”
“The new restaurant will be a highly anticipated hotspot that will fit right into the liveliness and quickly growing landscape in the East Village and ALT Hotel,” says Jackson. “We love that we’re bringing this new concept to the community as well, to help evolve and enhance an area of the city that we are truly invested in.”
The second restaurant to open will be Barshoku by renowned chef Darren MacLean. Barshoku is a sleek upscale concept that will purely celebrate fish and local Canadian vegetables. Opting to serve no meat, the restaurant will instead utilize fish and plants in new and exciting ways. MacLean’s philosophy of fin-to-scale cuisine will reflect in the innovative sushi options and ambitious nigiri creations featuring Canada’s first dry aging chamber specially designed for fish.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Group Germain Hotels and our neighbours, Connie DeSousa and John Jackson,” says MacLean. “In addition to Barshoku, I’m excited to announce NUPO, an eight-seat fine dining concept bar attached to the restaurant. Guests will experience a one-on-one, free-form, chef tasting menu that celebrates local produce and Canada’s cultural influences as well.”
The unique partnership for Alt Hotels will enhance the local food scene and engage the community while seeking to elevate the profile of the East Village, Calgary, and Canada.
East Village is a lively urban village with walkable streets, varied services, unique entertainment and proximity to nature. It is close to several local attractions including the Scotiabank Saddledome and Calgary Stampede, StudioBell – home of the National Music Centre, St. Patrick's Island and the new Central Library, to name just a few. Whether travelling for business or pleasure, the neighbourhood will please everyone.
“Alt Hotel Calgary East Village is an example of the East Village’s continual growth and the sophisticated development that has been attracted to this area, says Michael Brown, president and CEO CMLC. “This innovative, modern hotel is a perfect complement to EV’s dynamic personality and we are thrilled to see new visitors discovering the community. With the addition of these two restaurants, the area will most definitely become a must for Calgarians and travelers alike.”
About Connie DeSousa and John Jackson
Co-chefs and co-owners of CHARCUT Roast House, charbar restaurant, Rooftop Bar @ Simmons, Alley Burger
John Jackson and Connie DeSousa first met in Calgary in 1999 and instantly became culinary partners setting out to gain the experience needed to be successful restaurateurs. Fast forward to 2009, the partners returned to Calgary to open CHARCUT Roast House, an evolved and simple approach to dining in the truest Canadian farm-to-table fashion. The restaurant was quickly lauded Canada’s Best Restaurant and continues to top the list. After CHARCUT came the opening of charbar in 2015, an Argentine inspired restaurant with Italian and Spanish influences. Located in the Historical Simmons building along the Bow River in the re-established East Village, it was named Calgary’s best new restaurant for 2015. For more information about Chix Eggshop, visit www.chixeggshop.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook to see what’s hatching soon.
About Darren MacLean
Darren MacLean is a celebrated Canadian Chef and restaurateur. In 2016, MacLean opened a Japanese style brasserie, Shokunin, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For two years in a row, Shokunin has been listed as one of Canada's top 50 restaurants. Through his attention to detail and superior craftsmanship, MacLean has earned recognition as one of Canada’s best chefs and caught the interest of Netflix. Appearing on the Global cooking competition, The Final Table, MacLean beat out 20 of the world’s best chefs to cook for nine of the greatest chefs on the planet in the finale. Stay tuned for more information on Barshoku and NUPO and follow along on Instagram.
About Alt Hotels by Le Germain
At Alt Hotels, we march to a different beat by giving guests the best of what they want without any extra fluff. Located in Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Brossard, Quebec City, Halifax, St. John’s, Calgary and soon Saskatoon, all of our properties are carefully crafted to combine eco-friendly comfort within sleek urban spaces – all designed with guests in mind. Alt Hotels. Stay unconventional.
About Group Germain Hotels
Group Germain Hotels is a Canadian family-run business that owns and operates Le Germain Hotels, Alt and Alt+ Hotels across Canada. Ranked as one of Canada’s best-managed companies, the business is known for its exceptional hospitality philosophy and the unique style that characterizes its hotels. Having celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2018, Group Germain Hotels has achieved its ambitious goal of having 20 hotels by 2020, the 1250-employee company’s ultimate goal is now to become the first independent, truly pan-Canadian hotel group. Visit Group Germain Hotels.