Canadian Grand Prix marks return to normal for Montreal

MONTREAL — For racing fans in downtown Montreal checking out luxury cars and enjoying the celebrationsaround the return of the Canadian Grand Prix, this weekend could not come soon enough.

"It feels like 2019, coming back to normal," said Alfredo Monsivais, a Montreal resident who was admiring a green Alfa Romeo on Peel Street Thursday afternoon.

The race on Sunday will be the first Grand Prix in Montreal in three years after two pandemic-related cancellations.

The days around the race weekend have always been special, said Benoit Dessureault, co-owner of the Old Montreal restaurant Chez Delmo. After Montreal's long winters, the race marks the return of summer activities.

"It's almost like waking up after hibernation," he said Thursday. "In comes this festive crowd, well-dressed, in a party mood, with money to spend saying, 'Wake up Montreal, it's time to party.'"

The race is also good for business, he said. On a typical night, his 60-seat restaurant will serve around 70 customers; on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the Grand Prix, he serves around 150 people a night.

"The average per-plate is higher, there's more champagne, there's more alcohol consumption, there's more pricey products, wine, etc. It's the second-biggest sales night after New Year's Eve," he said.

The return of the race, the only Canadian stop on the Formula One circuit, has the city's hotel owners "very excited" after two very difficult years, said Jean-Sébastien Boudreault, head of the Hotel Association of Greater Montreal.

"There were months where we had occupancy rates around five per cent," he said Thursday. "It was extremely difficult for our hoteliers."

This weekend, he said, hotel occupancy rates are around 96 per cent — with prices