The front entrance of Fairmont Le Château Montebello is seen in Montebello, Quebec, in 2025.Keito Newman/The Globe and Mail
Westmont Hospitality Group has won control of Quebec’s famed Château Montebello after the hotel’s Chinese owners racked up debt that plunged the resort into bankruptcy.
Quebec Superior Court Judge Martin Castonguay approved the sale to Westmont in a decision released Thursday, rejecting a last-minute challenge by another bidder. That group had argued it submitted a superior offer that was spurned because it didn’t want to keep Accor’s Fairmont Hotels and Resorts as the property manager.
Financial details were not disclosed. The transaction is currently expected to close no later than Nov. 15.
2025: Château Montebello forced into receivership, triggering new ownership mystery
Launched as a private club on the grounds of what was once a 17th century Seignorial estate, the Château Montebello hotel opened to the general public in 1970. Styling itself as “the world’s largest log cabin,” it holds a special place in Canada’s national psyche and history. The rustic and scenic venue by the Ottawa River has hosted G7 and NATO leader summits, as well as prime ministers, presidents, movie stars and even royalty.
People walk on the trails along the Ottawa River behind the Château Montebello, in 2025.Keito Newman/The Globe and Mail
A federal Liberal cabinet retreat took place at the hotel in January of last year as U.S. President Donald Trump was sworn into office. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau chaired the meeting, which aimed to engineer Canada’s response to the White House’s tariff threats and protectionist trade agenda.
The iconic resort was forced into receivership 10 months later after its owners, Millennium Golden Jiachen Hotel Holdings Ltd. and 4345118 Canada Inc., failed to make debt payments. China Evergrande Group, a giant property developer now in liquidation, controls those two companies together with Chinese billionaire Bin Zhang, according to court filings.
PricewaterhouseCoopers, the court-appointed receiver, ran a sales process for the château this year. Among the 30-some bids that were considered was an offer by a group of local entrepreneurs that included Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer, which promised an extensive redevelopment and update of the site.
The stone fireplace is seen inside hotel, in 2025.Keito Newman/The Globe and Mail
Evergrande bought the resort in 2014 from Oxford Properties Group for $14.5-million. The deal cast a spotlight on corporate China’s new financial power and influence on the world stage, but Evergrande collapsed several years later under US$340-billion in debt and its stock was delisted.
Westmont is a well-known owner and operator in the industry, with a current portfolio of more than 500 hotels in a dozen countries ranging from budget accommodations to high-end luxury resorts. It has been present in Canada since the mid-1970s, owning and running properties affiliated with brands such as Hilton, Marriott and Wyndham.
The new owner’s plans for Château Montebello have not been made public. Westmont officials did not respond to a request for comment.
The 21-hectare property, which offers guests amenities such as an 18-hole golf course, 100-slip marina, spa, and skating and curling rinks, has reportedly suffered somewhat from underinvestment in recent years.
A Global News report in 2023 said the deteriorating condition of the central hotel lodge and its affiliated support buildings had begun to attract negative attention in online reviews. How much renovation has been done since was unclear Friday.
With reports from freelancer Andrew McIntosh