Around Town: 'On top of the world' at opening of new ByWard Market hotel

The grand opening bash for a new luxury boutique hotel in the ByWard Market pretty well blew the roof off the joint, and if you don’t believe me then go check out Andaz Ottawa’s top-floor. It’s an outdoor lounge, with views so incredible you’ll never want to come back down.

Hundreds of invited partygoers did the red-carpet thing Wednesday and flocked over to the hotel at 325 Dalhousie Street, at York Street, for the multi-floor mixer. The evening was light on speeches and heavy on food, drink, art and socializing. The general excitement over the new 200-room hotel in one of Ottawa’s most historic ‘hoods was heard loud and clear — particularly from the celebratory honking of a passing car during hotel general manager Matt Graham‘s official welcome.

Janet Wilson, editor of the Ottawa Citizen’s Style Magazine, with Matt Graham, general manager of the Andaz luxury boutique hotel, which threw its grand opening party in the ByWard Market on Wednesday, September 7, 2016.

“I’m feeling absolutely on top of the world,” the unfailingly dapper and bon vivant businessman Bill Malhotra, president and founder of Claridge Homes, told Around Town. “When do you get a chance to open a hotel in the ByWard Market?”

Bill Malhotra, president and founder of Claridge Homes, with his wife, Romina, on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at the grand opening party of the Andaz luxury boutique hotel in the ByWard Market.

Mayor Jim Watson and members of city council were on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Malhotra, his wife Romina, and their sons, Neil and Shawn, from the family-owned business. The contemporary hotel, built on the site of a former office building, features a rooftop bar and lounge, a restaurant and meeting facilities. It’s the first Andaz-branded hotel by Hyatt in Canada (other locations include London, New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai and Tokyo).

From left, Romina Malhotra, Louise Malhotra, Bill Malhotra, Neil Malhotra and Shawn Malhotra from family-owned Claridge Homes with Mayor Jim Watson and Rideau-Vanier Ward Coun. Mathieu Fleury at the ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening party for the new Andaz luxury boutique hotel in the ByWard Market, held Wednesday, September 7, 2016.

The mayor congratulated the Malhotras for investing tens of millions of dollars and creating 100 news jobs in the city. He also presented the family with a framed certificate, joking that it was worth one hour of free parking in the ByWard Market. Only until midnight that evening, though.

Attendees included Attorney General and Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi, recently retired Liberal MPP Madeleine Meilleur and Liberal Orléans MP Andrew Leslie.

From left, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson with Chief Government Whip Andrew Leslie, Liberal MP for Orleans, at the grand opening party for the new Andaz luxury hotel in the ByWard Market, held Wednesday, September 7, 2016.

Also present in the packed crowd were some of Malhotra’s peers, from Kris Singhal (Richcraft) to Lyon Sachs (Urbandale) to Jim Taggart (Taggart Group).

From left, Jim Taggart (Taggart Group) and prominent project manager Graham Bird with Bill Malhotra (Claridge Homes) and Kris Singhal (Richcraft Homes) at the grand opening party hosted by Malhotra for the new Andaz luxury boutique hotel in the ByWard Market.

As well, there were folks from the tourism and hospitality industry and ByWard Market businesses, and about 80 guests of Malhotra’s who travelled far and wide to attend. Clearly, they knew better than to miss a good party.

carolyn001@sympatico.ca