Hotel Newfoundland
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHotel Newfoundland is a historic St. John's hotel property that has operated under several owners and international hotel brands, including Fairmont and Sheraton.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Hotel Newfoundland is a landmark hotel in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Its history reflects the economic ambitions, political changes, and evolving hotel industry of Newfoundland and Labrador. The original property opened in July 1926 after local business and political leaders promoted a large hotel as a way to encourage tourism and reduce the territory's reliance on fishing. The project was undertaken by Newfoundland Historical Facilities Ltd. with government assistance, including a land grant and a guarantee of a first mortgage. Construction began in 1925, but costs substantially exceeded the original estimates and the contractor ceased operating after completing the work. The first hotel was an eight-storey building with 200 rooms, a large central lobby, mezzanines, shops, restaurants, meeting spaces, and broadcast facilities. It quickly became an important civic and communications venue. A Canadian Marconi Company radio studio and transmitter operated there in the late 1920s, and the building later hosted facilities associated with Newfoundland broadcasting. Financially, however, the hotel struggled with low occupancy and heavy debt. It defaulted on its mortgage during the Great Depression, prompting a court-ordered sale in 1931. The Newfoundland government acquired it for an amount covering the outstanding mortgage principal and operated it through the Department of Public Works. The hotel also played a role in Newfoundland's constitutional history. In February 1934, a ceremony in its ballroom marked the end of Newfoundland's period of responsible self-government and the beginning of Commission government. From 1939 to 1949, the Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland maintained its headquarters and studio on the building's sixth floor. After Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949, the federal government assumed responsibility for the loss-making property, and ownership passed to Canadian National's hotel division despite objections from Canadian National Railway. Extensive rehabilitation was required, reportedly costing approximately $1.5 million, because of construction deficiencies and poor physical conditions. The property improved commercially during the 1960s. Its cocktail lounge was enlarged, the dining room and ballroom were rearranged, and guest rooms were redecorated and refurnished. During this period, Canadian National renamed the hotel Hotel Newfoundland as part of its bilingual naming policy. The original building ultimately became difficult and expensive to modernize because of its small rooms, outdated bathrooms, and inefficient layout. It was demolished in 1983, making it the only railway hotel designed by Ross and Macdonald to be completely demolished. A replacement hotel was built immediately east of the original site. Designed by Burman, Bouchard Architects of Montreal, with technical work by Dove Whitten Associates of St. John's, the new 312-room property used a glazed atrium supported by a tetrahedron space frame. Construction began in November 1980 and the hotel opened in December 1982. Canadian National left the hotel business in 1988, after which Canadian Pacific Hotels acquired the property. It became Fairmont Newfoundland in 2001 after Canadian Pacific acquired the Fairmont brand. In 2008, Fortis Inc. purchased the hotel and rebranded it Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland. Fortis later sold its entire hotel portfolio to a private investors group in 2015. The property is identified in reference material as operating under the Marriott International banner, while the historical name Hotel Newfoundland remains central to its identity and local significance.
History
The Hotel Newfoundland site has a long institutional history predating the hotel itself. Fort William occupied the location from the late seventeenth century, and after the construction of Fort Townshend in the 1770s the site continued to serve military purposes. It later became the location of St. John's first railway station. The station was demolished after a replacement station opened in 1903. During the 1920s, local business and political leaders sought to stimulate tourism and diversify an economy heavily dependent on fishing. They formed a company to promote construction of a large hotel and raised a planned project capitalization of $1 million. The Newfoundland government contributed the land and guaranteed a $450,000 first mortgage. Newfoundland Historical Facilities Ltd. awarded the construction contract to T.E. Rousseau Ltd. of Quebec, and work began in July 1925. Construction costs were approximately twice the estimates, and the contractor ceased business after completion, leaving the project financially exposed. The original Hotel Newfoundland opened in July 1926. It had eight storeys and 200 rooms, with a prominent multi-level lobby, mezzanines, shops, restaurants, and public rooms. The hotel soon served as more than accommodation. Canadian Marconi operated a radio studio and transmitter there under the VOS call sign in 1928. Other broadcasting organizations subsequently used the premises, including the Wesley United Church's successor and, from 1932, VONF. The building's appearance on a 1928 postage stamp reflected its civic and architectural prominence. The hotel's financial position deteriorated as occupancy remained weak and debt burdens grew. Mortgage defaults led to government claims under the guarantee in 1929 and a court-ordered sale in 1931. During the Depression, the Newfoundland government was the only purchaser, acquiring the hotel for approximately $447,000, enough to cover the outstanding mortgage principal. The Department of Public Works then operated the establishment on a frugal basis. The building became associated with major political and broadcasting developments. On 16 February 1934, its ballroom hosted a ceremony marking Newfoundland's loss of responsible self-government and the establishment of Commission government. From 1939 to 1949, the Broadcasting Corporation of Newfoundland maintained a sixth-floor headquarters and studio there. When Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949, the Canadian government became responsible for the loss-making property under the terms of Confederation. Ownership subsequently moved to Canadian National's hotel division despite resistance from Canadian National Railway. The building required extensive rehabilitation, reportedly costing $1.5 million, because of construction problems and severe maintenance conditions. Commercial performance improved during the 1960s. The cocktail lounge was expanded, the dining room and ballroom exchanged locations, and guest rooms were redecorated and refurnished. Canadian National also adopted the name Hotel Newfoundland as part of its bilingualism policy. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, however, the original building was considered uneconomic to modernize. Its rooms were small, bathrooms were outdated, and the internal layout required prohibitive capital investment. The hotel was demolished in 1983. The replacement property was designed by Burman, Bouchard Architects of Montreal, with Dove Whitten Associates of St. John's contributing technical drawings. Construction had begun in November 1980, and the new 312-room hotel opened in December 1982 immediately east of the earlier site. Its principal architectural feature was a glazed atrium resting on a tetrahedron space frame. Canadian National's withdrawal from hotel operations in 1988 brought the property into Canadian Pacific Hotels' portfolio. After Canadian Pacific acquired the Fairmont brand, the hotel became Fairmont Newfoundland in 2001. Fortis Inc. purchased it in 2008 and changed the name to Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland. Fortis sold its hotel portfolio to a private investors group in 2015. Reference material identifies the operating property with the Marriott International banner.
- 2015
Fortis sells hotel portfolio
[1]The property's owner sold its entire hotel portfolio to a private investors group.
- 2008
Property is rebranded Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland
[1]Fortis Inc.'s acquisition of the property led to the Sheraton rebranding.
- 2001
Property adopts Fairmont name
[1]The hotel became Fairmont Newfoundland after Canadian Pacific acquired the Fairmont brand.
- 1983
Original railway hotel is demolished
[1]The original building was completely demolished because its outdated layout and facilities were too costly to modernize.
- 1982
New 312-room hotel opens
[1]The replacement property opened in December with a glazed atrium and a tetrahedron space-frame structure.
- 1980
Replacement hotel construction begins
[1]Construction began on a new hotel designed by Burman, Bouchard Architects.
- 1966
Major modernization of the original property
[1]The lounge, dining areas, ballroom, and guest rooms were substantially altered or refurbished.
- 1949
Ownership transfers to Canadian National's hotel division
[1]After Confederation, responsibility for the property passed through the Canadian government to Canadian National's hotel division.
- 1934
Ballroom hosts constitutional transition ceremony
[1]The ballroom hosted the ceremony marking the end of Newfoundland's responsible self-government.
- 1931
Government acquires the financially troubled hotel
[1]After mortgage default and a court-ordered sale during the Depression, the Newfoundland government acquired the property.
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Products and positioning
A full-service, historic urban hotel positioned around St. John's heritage, business travel, meetings, events, and tourism. Its identity combines local historical significance with affiliation to international hotel operators and brand systems.
Hotel rooms and suites · 1982
Hotel Newfoundland guest accommodation
The property provides full-service lodging in St. John's, including guest rooms and suites. The replacement hotel opened with 312 rooms, replacing the smaller 200-room hotel built in 1926. Accommodation is oriented toward leisure visitors, business travelers, and guests attending meetings or events in the city.
Banquets, conferences, and social functions · 1926
Meetings and events
Public rooms, banquet facilities, and meeting spaces have been part of the property's role since the original hotel opened. The historic hotel included a ballroom and several dining rooms, while the replacement property continued the venue's function as a setting for conferences, receptions, civic events, and other gatherings.
Hotel restaurants, lounges, and banqueting · 1926
Dining and beverage service
Dining and beverage operations have been central to the hotel's full-service model. The original property contained a principal dining room, smaller dining rooms, a bar, and a cocktail lounge. These facilities were reconfigured and expanded during the 1960s, supporting the hotel's role as both visitor accommodation and a local social venue.
Brand decisions
2015
Sale of Fortis hotel portfolioM&ABackground
Fortis decided to exit its hotel portfolio.
Action taken
Fortis sold the entire portfolio, including the St. John's property, to a private investors group.
Aftermath
The transaction changed the property's ownership while preserving its role as a branded hotel.
2008
Rebranding as Sheraton Hotel NewfoundlandStrategyBackground
Fortis Inc. acquired the property as part of a hotel portfolio transaction.
Action taken
The hotel was repositioned under the Sheraton name.
Aftermath
The property continued as an internationally affiliated full-service hotel in St. John's.
2001
Rebranding as Fairmont NewfoundlandStrategyBackground
Canadian Pacific Hotels acquired the Fairmont brand and aligned the St. John's property with that international luxury-hotel identity.
Action taken
The hotel changed its operating name to Fairmont Newfoundland.
Aftermath
The property became part of the Fairmont-branded hotel network until its later Sheraton rebranding.
1983
Demolition and replacement of the original hotelGeneration changeBackground
The original building had small rooms, outdated bathrooms, and an inefficient plan requiring an unaffordable modernization program.
Action taken
The original Ross and Macdonald-designed railway hotel was demolished after a new property had been built next to it.
Aftermath
The 1982 replacement became the continuing hotel property and introduced a 312-room design with a glazed atrium.
1931
Government acquisition after mortgage defaultStrategyBackground
Low occupancy, heavy debt, and the economic conditions of the Great Depression left the original hotel unable to meet its mortgage obligations.
Action taken
Following a court-ordered sale, the Newfoundland government acquired the hotel and operated it through the Department of Public Works.
Aftermath
The acquisition prevented the property from being liquidated during the Depression but left government responsible for an economically weak hotel.
Acquisition price. 447000 (1931)
Recent events
- 2015
Fortis sells its hotel portfolio[1]
M&A
Fortis sold its entire hotel portfolio to a private investors group, changing the ownership context of the property.
- 2008
Fortis acquisition leads to Sheraton rebranding[1]
M&A · Other
Fortis Inc.'s purchase of the property led to its rebranding as the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland.
- 2001
Hotel becomes Fairmont Newfoundland[1]
M&A · Other
Following Canadian Pacific's acquisition of the Fairmont brand, the property adopted the Fairmont Newfoundland name.
- 1988
Canadian National exits the hotel business[1]
M&A
Canadian Pacific Hotels acquired the property after Canadian National withdrew from hotel operations.
- 1982
Replacement Hotel Newfoundland opens[1]
Product launch · Other
A new 312-room hotel with a glazed atrium opened beside the site of the demolished original building.
- 1949
Canadian National takes over hotel ownership[1]
M&A · Other
Following Newfoundland's Confederation with Canada, ownership transferred to Canadian National's hotel division, which undertook substantial rehabilitation.
- 1934
Hotel Newfoundland becomes the site of Commission government ceremony[1]
Other
A ceremony in the hotel's ballroom marked Newfoundland's transition from responsible self-government to Commission government.
- 1926
Hotel Newfoundland opens in St. John's[1]
Other
The original eight-storey, 200-room Hotel Newfoundland opened in July after a locally promoted tourism and economic-development project.
Sources1 sources
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