Alt Hotel Saskatoon

What’s not to like? It’s Canadian. It’s part of a small family-owned chain of hotels. It showcases the prairies. And it’s in a great location. Alt Hotel Saskatoon is located across the street from Persephone Theatre and Remai Modern and right beside the riverbank. Choose the right room and you could lounge on your bed while enjoying the fireworks displays. There’s a building site next door at the moment – but not for long. Plans are in place for paths winding their way between grassy banks and around a pond with fountains.

I was fortunate to be invited to Alt Hotel Saskatoon’s grand opening and benefited from a private tour of the facilities. There’s a lounge and pool table at the back of the main floor. On the second floor, there’s a series of conference rooms, all with huge floor-to-ceiling windows, built-in AV equipment, and whole walls set up as whiteboards. There’s also a gym on the third floor.

We looked at 3 of the hotel rooms. They’re not large, but they’re well equipped with lots of light-coloured wood, big windows, and murals of canola fields. Dogs are welcome in some of the rooms. The hotel also offers a romantic weekend package with champagne and chocolates.

I found some of the prairie touches somewhat clichéd (not convinced I want to sleep beside a canola field mural), but I loved the pops of bright colour and the clever ways they used wood as wall finishes.

The hotel chain prides itself on showcasing local products so the snack bar in the lobby stocks Three Farmers roasted chickpeas and pea pops and there’s a display of photographs by Saskatchewan photographer, Herry Himanshu. 9 Mile Brewing beer was on offer in the lounge and Dale McKay from Ayden Kitchen and Bar was catering the opening. I absolutely loved his make-your-own pavlova bar with an assortment of fruit, sauces, and whipped cream.

Groupe Germain is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. At 24 years old, Christiane and Jean-Yves Germain were running 4 restaurants and a disco. In the late ‘80s they switched from restaurants to hotels. They now have 16 active hotels and 3 brands (Alt, Alt+, Le Germain) spread across Canada. This is the first Alt hotel in Saskatchewan.