Winnipeg is continually investing and re-investing in tourism infrastructure – and almost all of it is being led by locals.
The 340-room Fairmont Winnipeg, now owned by its original owners, the city’s prominent James Richardsons & Sons (JRSL; under the Lombard Hospitality Limited brand), will re-open in 2027 after a $120-million+ overhaul.
Another luxury hotel property, the $140-million, 352-room Sutton Place Hotel (owned by British Columbia’s Northland Property Group), is also currently in development. It will be the final piece of True North Sports + Entertainment’s (TNSE; owners of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose) True North Square, the city’s premier new gathering place for sports and special events in and around Canada Life Centre.
TNSE and JRSL are both partners in True North Square, which features four high-rise towers, Hargrave Street Market –– home to a chic food hall, craft cocktail bar, Lake of the Woods Brew Co.’s Winnipeg operation, and a public plaza that is utilized for street parties and various events throughout the year.
More than $5-million in incredible upgrades has been added to the historic Fort Garry Hotel since the pandemic, including the exclusive new Vice Regal Floor, the creation of Vida Cucina Italia and the Sunset Terrace, and new flourishes to its ballrooms and lobby. Delta Hotels by Marriott Winnipeg remains a top downtown property after expansive renovations in 2019, while downtown also welcomed Alt Hotel Winnipeg in 2015.
By 2027, Hyatt Centric Winnipeg Downtown will offer 140 stylish guest rooms replete with a spa, restaurant, and a fun contemporary design as part of its $38.6-million creation. Plus, there’s the new Sandman Signature Winnipeg Airport Hotel & Suites that opened in September 2025, featuring 215 well-appointed guest rooms; an indoor pool, one-storey waterslide, and hot tub surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows; and a state-of-the-art 24/hour fitness centre. This new pet-friendly property also contains 4,400 square feet of meeting and banquet space.
Many of the city’s top tourism draws have seen massive investments in their recent creation.
The Winnipeg Art Gallery was transformed into WAG-Quamajuq in 2021, with a $55-million addition that houses the world’s largest collection of contemporary Inuit art. It was met with rave-reviews the world over for both its mandate of supporting Inuit artists and curators and overall design that pays homage to the stark beauty of the Arctic. At Richardson International Airport, the stunning $48-million Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada was cleared for takeoff in 2022 with its flightplane of artifacts you can board and immersive galleries.
The $351-million Canadian Museum for Human Rights is the most recognizable building on the Red River, and you can also find it on the Canadian $10 note. Assiniboine Park has continued to add jewels to its tourism destination crown, including the $94.4-million Journey to Churchill exhibit at Assiniboine Park Zoo, where polar bears swim right over your head, along with the The Leaf, a $130-million horticultural attraction featuring two biomes, a butterfly garden, Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall and expansive outdoor gardens.
