By the time the Liberty Inn opened this past February, its husband-and-wife owners had already made countless renovations to a building that was once a post office in Caledon, Ont. But the most poignant new feature – a flag pole – was still to come.
With many Canadians protesting Donald Trump’s remarks about becoming the “51st state,” and bristling at the U.S. President’s tariffs, flying the maple leaf “just feels like the right thing to do,” Bruno Roldan said. “A few guests have mentioned taking a break in Canada instead of the States, and others have said they’ll be coming back here more often as long as the situation in the U.S. continues.”
The good news for travellers is that Canadian hotel openings are set to reach their highest levels since the start of COVID-19 pandemic. According to commercial real estate consultancy CBRE, this year will see 6,500 new rooms become available across the country, which is more than double the number added in 2024. Of those new digs, hundreds can be found in the new and soon-to-open lodgings explored below.
Blueberry Inn, Churchill, Man.
The upscale lodge on Churchill’s main road includes a vaulted guest lounge with panoramic windows. The 16 rooms contain either queen and twin beds, or two twins. More info: blueberryinn.ca
Rosemead House, Esquimalt, B.C.
Danielle Lindenlaub & Kim Jay/Supplied
Formerly the Old English Inn, this relaunched 109-year-old property features 28 guest rooms, long-term stay suites, the Janevca Kitchen and Lounge eatery, and the Salt and Ivy Spa. More info: rosemeadhouse.ca
Hotel Morado, Chilliwack, B.C.
Set in District 1881, downtown Chilliwack’s dining and shopping hub, Hotel Morado is home to a dozen mid-century modern-inspired rooms with queen-sized beds. Families and groups can book adjoining digs, and there’s also a wheelchair-accessible room. More info: hotelmorado.ca
Villas on the Inlet, Egmont, B.C.
Part of the upscale West Coast Wilderness Lodge, these 20 self-catering suites overlooking Sechelt Inlet offer 650 square feet of living space and full kitchens. More info: villasontheinlet.com
Kenrick Hotel, Banff, Alta.
Newly opened after a full revamp of the former High Country Inn, this property embraces a modern, upscale aesthetic. Amenities include a saltwater pool area with a sauna, steam room and cold plunge, a pillow menu, a library and on-demand white-noise machines, board games and LPs to play on some of the larger suites’ turntables. More info: thekenrickhotel.com
Liberty Inn, Caledon, Ont.
Renovations to this five-suite boutique inn include adding 10,000-plus decorative tiles adorning the stylish bathrooms and kitchenettes, and a private stand-alone outdoor spa with a cedar hot tub, a Finnish sauna and a cold plunge. More info: thelibertyinn.ca
Kat Florence Hotels, Elora, Ont.
Founded by its namesake jeweller, this boutique retreat in a restored 1848 hotel offers five uniquely designed suites, including a three-bedroom cottage with a full kitchen, hot tub and gas fire pit. More info: katflorencehotels.com
Belvedere Hotel, Kingston
Built in 1880 as a private residence, this newly renovated downtown hotel is in the midst of a phased opening that will ultimately encompass 29 guest rooms, a dining lounge and an indoor-outdoor spa featuring thermal therapy treatments. More info: belvederehotel.ca
Nobu Hotel Toronto
Brandon Barré Photography/Supplied
Opening in June in Toronto’s Entertainment District, this is the first Canadian location of the luxury hotel brand founded by Japanese celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro and film producer Meir Teper. Set above the historic Pilkington Glass Factory, the Nobu’s 36 suites deliver panoramic views of the city skyline and Lake Ontario. Guests are also afforded priority booking at the property’s two-level eponymous restaurant, which features a separate bar and lounge, two private dining rooms, a sushi bar and an outdoor terrace. More info: nobuhotels.com/toronto
Hard Rock Hotel, London, Ont.
Canada’s first Hard Rock Hotel will launch in London’s 100 Kellogg Lane entertainment complex. Accepting bookings as of April 17, the property features 164 guest rooms, the Sessions Restaurant, the 1913 speakeasy, an indoor and outdoor pool and an extensive collection of music memorabilia. More info: hotel.hardrock.com
The Postmark Hotel, Newmarket, Ont.
This boutique property on Newmarket’s main downtown drag has transformed a 1914 post office into a community hub featuring 55 art-adorned guest rooms, the Lobby, a café and bar, and a rooftop restaurant, Overlea, which provides panoramic views and a seasonally changing menu. More info: thepostmarkhotel.ca
South Beach Motel, Southampton, Ont.
A Miami-inspired sister property to the nearby Beach Motel, this newly renovated 12-suite boutique building offers private kitchenettes and a courtyard with ping pong tables, a bocce court, a sauna, fire pits, a bar and a gas barbecue. More info: thebeachmotel.ca
TOOR Hotel, Toronto
Said to be the first of four TOOR Hotel Collection properties slated to open in downtown Toronto over the next five years, this 232-room boutique hotel features a French-inspired bistro and bar set over two of 33 floors, a 1,500-square-foot fitness centre and yoga studio and a 3,000-square-foot terrace. More info: toorhotel.com
Union Hotel, Toronto
Neil Anthony Watson/Supplied
Five years after the venerable Strathcona Hotel shut down – and a year after the building played host to a temporary homeless shelter – its 90-year-old Financial District digs have been reborn as a 189-room boutique property. There’s a café and lounge on site, playfully dubbed Humble Donkey, as well as a lobby marketplace selling locally sourced products. More info: unionhoteltoronto.com
Hotel Maurice, Quebec City
After serving as the headquarters of the Union Nationale from 1937 to 1972, and as a popular nightclub from the 1980s to the 2010s, the Price Manor has been transformed into a boutique hotel, restaurant and cigar lounge on Quebec City’s lively Grande Allée. More info: hotelmaurice.ca
Moxy Montreal Downtown
Set to open by the end of April, Moxy Montreal Downtown will be Quebec’s first hotel under Marriott’s playful Moxy brand. Steps from Old Montreal and the Bell Centre, the 216-room property features an industrial-chic design, flexible co-working spaces, a restaurant/bar and a fitness centre with an indoor pool. More info: moxy-hotels.marriott.com
Le Petit Hotel Notre Dame, Montreal
Justin Van Leeuwen/Supplied
The city’s second Le Petit Hotel is home to 17 stylish rooms steps from Notre-Dame Basilica. A complimentary breakfast is provided, and can be delivered to guests’ rooms upon request. Read the full Globe and Mail review here. More info: le-petit-hotel.com
Sandman Signature Dartmouth Hotel & Suites
This pet-friendly chain hotel includes an indoor pool and hot tub, a 24-hour fitness centre and complimentary onsite parking. The 212 rooms range from king-bed doubles to one-bedroom suites with living rooms and kitchens. More info: sandmanhotels.com
