Hyatt Hotels Corporation is positioned to more than double its brand footprint in Canada, with 23 new locations expected to be operating by the end of 2026.

“We continue to see strong momentum in the Canada market,” Hyatt vice-president of development and owner relations for Canada Scott Richer wrote in an email exchange with RENX. “This year, RevPAR (revenue per available room) in Canada for Hyatt has grown beyond 2019 levels.

"Occupancy has returned to pre-pandemic levels with some segmentation shifting since COVID. Group and corporate travel have been behind pre-pandemic levels, but strong leisure demand has more than offset this.”

The anticipated new Hyatt properties are primarily purpose-built construction projects, but Richer said there are some other building uses and repositionings of existing hotels within the pipeline.

The expansion includes newly announced deals for luxury and lifestyle hotels, including the second hotel in Canada within The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand. The hotel will be located in Ontario wine country and follow Spirit Ridge in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. 

Richer said details about the Ontario property will be announced in early 2024 in collaboration with the property owners.

Victoria, Whitehorse, Port Elgin to be new markets

Hyatt Centric Winnipeg Downtown will join Hyatt Centric Montreal, which opened in March, as Canada’s second Hyatt Centric hotel when it opens in 2025.

The lifestyle hotel, which is owned and will be operated by Kothari Group, will offer 140 guest rooms, approximately 1,200 square feet of meeting space, a restaurant and bar, and an open concept lobby.

Hyatt will enter three new markets in the next three years.

Hyatt Centric Victoria – Old Town will be the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Victoria when it opens in 2026. The Chard Development-owned property will offer 135 guest rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a lounge and a coffee shop.

The Northern Vision Development LP-owned Hyatt Place Whitehorse will open in Yukon’s capital in 2025 and is expected to have 85 guest rooms. 

Hyatt House Port Elgin will open in 2026 in close proximity to a Lake Huron beach and Bruce Power’s operations.

The Maruti Port Elgin Inc.-owned property is expected to have 116 guest rooms catering to both short- and long-term guests and will offer free breakfasts, H Bar and indoor and outdoor communal spaces.

“Hyatt’s distinct portfolio of brands features properties across the globe, each unique to its destination and offering innovative design and signature experiences for every stay occasion,” Richer wrote. 

“We partner with owners to decide what brand best fits each destination and this strategic decision is always centred on the creation of a unique and ownable guest experience delivered at the highest standards.”

New airport hotels coming

Hyatt will also open seven new purpose-built hotels within close proximity of the major airports in Canada’s three largest cities:

• the 196-guest room Hyatt Place Toronto International Airport (2025);
• the 180-guest room Hyatt House Toronto International Airport (2026);
• Hyatt Place Mississauga – Airport Corporate Centre (2024);
• Hyatt House Mississauga – Airport Corporate Centre (2024);
• the 150-guest room Hyatt Place Montreal - Trudeau International Airport (2025);
• the 148-guest room Hyatt Place Vancouver International Airport (2026); and
• the 94-guest room Hyatt House Vancouver International Airport (2026).

“Hyatt’s approach to development has always been to grow with intent and listen to the needs of our guests and members,” Richer wrote. 

“Canada is a vast country with multiple distinct regions, all of which have varying economic factors and demand generators that define them.

"Hyatt is constantly looking closely at all markets, both established and growing, to ensure we are as well represented as possible.”

Recently opened hotels in Canada

Hyatt is headquartered in Chicago. Its portfolio included over 1,250 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 76 countries across six continents as of June 30.

The firm established a corporate team dedicated to Canada in 2022, focused on growing its presence across the country with new and existing owners.

In addition to Hyatt Centric Montreal, the other Hyatt-affiliated hotels to have opened in Canada over the past few years are: Hyatt Place Toronto/Brampton (August 2022); Hyatt Place Montreal - Downtown (June 2022); The Walper Hotel in Kitchener, Ont., part of the JdV by Hyatt brand (May 2022); and The Anndore House in Toronto, also part of the JdV by Hyatt brand (April 2021).

Longer-term Canadian growth plans

The company launched Hyatt Studios, its first upper-mid-scale brand in the Americas, earlier this year in California and Alabama. It hopes to introduce the extended-stay brand to Canada at some point as it looks beyond current expansion plans.

“One of Hyatt’s competitive advantages is that we have room to grow in Canadian markets, meaning ample territory for developers who don’t have to worry about intra-brand competition,” Richer explained. 

“Fuelled by Hyatt’s industry-leading net rooms growth, we plan to continue our transformative growth into additional markets and segments to best serve our guests, World of Hyatt members and customers.”