Senators owner Andlauer bids for iconic Château Montebello with local group
Michael Andlauer and fellow entrepreneurs are seeking to acquire the historic hotel on the Ottawa River's north shore.
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Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer is part of an "all-star" group of entrepreneurs bidding to purchase the Fairmont Château Montebello, the world's largest log cabin and one of Canada's most storied hotels, located on the north shore of the Ottawa River in Montebello, Quebec.
The group includes Devcore Group CEO Jean-Pierre Poulin, Le Nordik spa founder and CEO Martin Paquette, and two unnamed real estate entrepreneurs. Château Montebello was put up for sale in 2024 after Hong Kong-based real estate conglomerate China Evergrande was ordered to liquidate $245 billion in worldwide assets. Evergrande had purchased the 211-room hotel in 2014 as its first major Canadian investment.
The hotel opened on July 1, 1930, and was constructed in just over four months under the guidance of Finnish-born architect and master log builder Victor Nymark. Its historic importance to the region makes the acquisition meaningful to the bidding group.
Andlauer purchased the Ottawa Senators in 2023 for $950 million USD along with several partners, including Poulin's Devcore Group as a minority owner. The group's motivation centres on regional investment and keeping the property in local hands. "Part of (Andlauer's) mission is to invest and increase the fanbase here in the Outaouais and in Gatineau, so this makes perfect sense to make sure that we step up and we don't let this beautiful asset go to a U.S. potential buyer or another Chinese buyer," Poulin said.
Poulin, who visits the property 10 to 15 times annually, emphasized the group's commitment to preserving history while investing in the future. "Château Montebello 2.0 sounds great, but it requires a lot of love, understanding of the history, but also some serious investment," he said.