The future of hospitality looks very bright for intrepid and meaningful boutique brands and hotel collections. We’ve seen this model work in European and resort regions where a local identity and true authenticity can shine through, but this is far less common in North American where the big chains dominate. Based out of Montreal, Canada, Corner Collection shows that any brand can succeed with the right vision, passion and team.
Corner Collection is a hospitality group rooted in Old Montreal. Best known for Hôtel Nelligan (105 rooms and suites) and Hôtel Place d’Armes (169 rooms and suites) – both consistently ranked among Canada’s top city hotels – the group’s vision extends well beyond accommodations. Corner Collection is also the owner and operator of several celebrated restaurants, newly launched Corner Apartments for extended stays, and a luxury spa located within Hôtel Place d’Armes, together shaping a distinctive art of living that defines the brand.
Launched only a few years ago, this may seem like an overnight success, but in speaking with CEO Dimitri Antonopoulos we discovered that this is a family affair going back many decades! Therein, it’s that born-and-bred hospitality spirit that reverberates through every operation and guest touchpoint at any place operated by Corner Collection.
What we find throughout is a dedication to preserving the local spirit of the area – Old Montreal – and bringing it forward to showcase the very best of one of Canada’s true cultural epicenters. That all said, let’s learn from a master to see how this boutique authenticity shines through in our interview with Mr. Antonopoulos!
Let’s start with the founding of Corner Collection and how it’s growing.
Corner Collection grew out of a family hospitality business founded over 50 years ago, with deep roots in Old Montréal. We’ve always believed that the best hospitality is built on a strong sense of place, real human connection and respect for heritage, but with the courage to evolve it.
In 2022, we created Corner Collection to put that vision into sharper focus. Not a reinvention, but a step forward: independent luxury hospitality where every touchpoint feels intentional, personal and genuinely welcoming.
What’s the unique sales proposition (USP) for Corner Collection?
Corner Collection’s USP is the way we blend independent luxury hospitality with real warmth – creating feel-good experiences that are personal, design-led and deeply rooted in Old Montréal.
Because we’re family-owned and independent, we can build each property with a clear point of view, without compromising for brand templates. We focus on the details that shape how people feel: intuitive service, atmosphere, food and beverage, and spaces that invite connection.
What truly sets us apart is that our hotels, restaurants and social spaces operate as one ecosystem – places where travelers and locals naturally come together. At the heart of it all is a simple belief: memorable hospitality isn’t about perfection, it’s about emotion, consistency and making people feel genuinely cared for.
What’s unique about Montreal when it comes to hospitality?
Montréal’s hospitality is shaped by its rich cultural mix, where European sensibility meets North American energy. The city has an innate warmth and creativity that translate into experiences that feel personal, expressive and alive. Here, food, design, music and culture are not separate from hospitality; they are at its core!
What truly sets Montréal apart is the genuine openness of its people. Service feels natural rather than scripted, refined yet relaxed. There’s a strong sense of community and pride in showcasing local talent, which creates experiences that feel authentic, inclusive and emotionally resonant for guests.
How is the owner-operator model reflected in the service presentation to guests and the team culture?
Being family-owned and operated shapes Corner Collection in a very direct way: we think long-term, we stay close to the details, and we protect the culture because it’s personal. We’re not managing for short-term wins. We’re building places with longevity, reputation and pride behind them.
For guests, that means a consistently high standard of hospitality where service feels intuitive, warm and human – never scripted. It also means spaces that are thoughtfully maintained and continuously refined, because we’re present and involved.
For our teams, it creates a culture of trust and belonging, but also accountability. We want people to feel supported, proud of what they do, and empowered to take ownership of the guest experience. That mindset, warmth with high standards, is what defines Corner Collection every day.
Hotel Nelligan is going under a big transformation with a reopening in May 2026 – not an easy feat for a historic property! Can you describe this process in terms of deciding on budget, area planning of key amenities and challenges to overcome?
Reimagining a historic property like Hotel Nelligan requires a delicate balance between honoring its heritage and evolving it for a new generation of guests. From the outset, our approach was to think long-term – not just in terms of design, but in how the hotel will emotionally connect with guests over the next decade.
In terms of budget and space planning, we prioritized the parts of the hotel that shape the guest journey the most: arrival, rooms, wellness, food and social spaces. We evaluated every square foot through one filter: does this meaningfully improve how the stay feels and functions – not just how it looks.
The biggest challenge is that a historic building doesn’t behave like a new build. Preserving architectural character while upgrading infrastructure, acoustics, flow, and comfort require constant trade-offs and tight coordination between design, engineering and operations. But that’s also what makes the transformation exciting; we’re not just renovating a hotel; we’re giving new life to a Montréal icon.
Besides hotel properties, Corner Collection is also a trendsetter in restaurant concepts with the recent launch of Mama C a year ago and Lovebird opening this year. Can you describe both concepts and how you determine what will be a hit for both hotel guests as well as locals?
Mama C was one of the first major projects launched by Corner Collection a year ago, and it holds a special place in the hearts of the owners. Celebrating Greek cuisine with a modern twist, each dish is carefully crafted to bring the warmth and vibrancy of the Mediterranean to Montréal’s culinary scene. Designed by Atelier Zebulon Perron and awarded the 2025 Grand Prix du Design for Best Restaurant Design, Mama C’s décor perfectly balances warmth, contemporary style, and respect for the building’s heritage.
Lovebird will open its doors at the beginning of 2026, introducing a refined cocktail bar concept paired with a carefully curated music program, located under Hotel Nelligan. Also designed by Zébulon Perron, Lovebird’s interior showcases deep textures, warm earth tones and modern accents, creating an inviting and intimate atmosphere. With Lovebird, we aim to celebrate the best of Montréal’s vibrant scene through expertly crafted cocktails and thoughtfully and delicious small bites. It’s the perfect place to spark lasting conversations and share feel-good moments with friends, locals and visitors alike.
When determining new concepts, we focus on what resonates deeply with our community and complements our hotels’ spirit. It’s about finding the right balance between originality, quality, and accessibility – creating places where guests and locals alike feel at home and eager to return.
One concern of every restaurateur is the fickleness of diners. An exciting concept launches to fanfare then patronage trickles by the third or fourth year. How do you create restaurant concepts that stand the test of time?
Longevity comes from building concepts that go beyond trends. We don’t start with what’s fashionable; we start with what feels emotionally true and culturally relevant. The restaurants that endure are those that form a genuine relationship with their community.
At Corner Collection, we focus on timeless fundamentals: warmth, consistency, quality and atmosphere. That requires strong leadership on the floor, disciplined training, and the humility to refine details constantly, even when a restaurant is already successful. A space has to feel good to return to again and again – whether for a weekday coffee, a family dinner or a special celebration. That sense of emotional comfort is what keeps people coming back long after the opening buzz fades.
We also believe in evolving without losing identity. Menus, music and service can adapt over time, but the soul of the place must remain intact. When guests feel a real connection to a restaurant – to its energy, its people, its story – it becomes part of their routine, not just a moment.
As a third pillar to Corner Collection, you’re entering the branded residence market with Corner Apartments. How did you determine what in-unit features will be most appealing to residents and short-term guests? How do you stay cost-effective while building these products?
With Corner Apartments, our goal was to create a true ‘home within the city’ – a place that offers the privacy, comfort and independence of an apartment, paired with the design and attention to detail of a boutique hotel.
We carefully designed each apartment to be both beautiful and highly functional. This includes fully equipped kitchens, smart layouts, generous storage, high-quality finishes, thoughtful lighting and details that make everyday living effortless – whether someone is staying for a few nights or several months. The emphasis is on spaces that feel calm, intuitive, and welcoming, allowing guests to truly settle in.
Staying cost-effective comes from this clarity of purpose. By concentrating investment where it has the most impact – comfort, functionality, and the everyday details that guests notice and remember – we avoid unnecessary complexity while delivering a premium experience. The result is a product that feels refined, practical and emotionally resonant, without excess or wasted square footage.
What’s next for Corner Collection? Are you able to describe the expansion plan or any markets where you’re keen to develop?
Our focus moving forward is thoughtful growth rather than rapid expansion. We’re deeply rooted in Montréal, and we see enormous potential in continuing to elevate Old Montreal as a destination for boutique hospitality, culture and lifestyle.
That said, we’re actively exploring opportunities beyond Montreal. We’re interested in markets that share similar ingredients: strong heritage, a vibrant local scene and a demand for independent, design-driven hospitality. We won’t expand just to expand; it must be the right project, in the right location, with the right partners.
The next chapter for Corner Collection is about refinement, storytelling and deepening the emotional bond between our brands and our guests – while staying true to what has made the group successful from the start.
What other hospitality trends are you excited about for the coming years? How do you see them working for Corner Collection?
We’re excited by a few trends that reflect how guests are traveling today. First, the demand for authentic, locally rooted experiences continues to grow. People want to feel connected to the culture, food and energy of the city they’re visiting. And for us that means hospitality that feels genuinely Montréal, not copy-pasted.
We also see wellness becoming more integrated into the stay, not as a standalone ‘spa trend’, but through better rest, calmer design and spaces that naturally support balance and connection. Sustainability is also becoming non-negotiable, and we’re focused on practical progress that’s consistent across operations without compromising comfort or quality.
Finally, we’re excited by technology that improves convenience and personalization while preserving human connection. For Corner Collection, it’s not about replacing hospitality with automation; it’s about freeing our teams to spend more time doing what matters most: taking care of people.
