Adedokun Waliyu 
A $55-million hotel will be built at the Ottawa International Airport even though city council voted against a tax break for the project earlier this year.
A spokesperson for Germain Hotels said in an email Friday that the airport hotel was expected to open in 2025.
“We believe in Ottawa and are invested in the region as this is our third establishment in the city,” France Savard said via email, adding the hotel would employ 40 people.
It is to have 178 rooms along with a full-service restaurant, gym and meeting rooms and will connect directly to the airport terminal via a pedway.
Germain Hotels initially proposed a 180-room Alt Hotel that would connect directly to an airport terminal.
The company and the Ottawa International Airport Authority applied for a community improvement plan grant and met the technical criteria for a $13.1-million discount over 25 years on the estimated $17.4-million property tax increase that would follow, but needed council approval for that break. Facing pushback from council, Germain Hotels amended its request to seek $3.7 million in tax breaks over 10 years, but that only seemed to sour councillors further.
Seventeen councillors and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe voted against the request, with just seven in favour.
“The fact that they reduced the number, reduced the years … It’s like coupons at a grocery store now: They’re just looking for anything at this point. And, frankly, they can afford to do it on their own,” Beacon Hill-Cyrville Coun. Tim Tierney said at the time.
