Maybe it's selective bias but I think of all north American metropolises Montreal would be particularly difficult to implement hotels in residential areas. Renters here have very strong rights, albeit backed by an understaffed authority. Tourism provides a substantial bulk to the local economy but it's not nearly enough that the local population will accept having fly-by-night partiers in otherwise quiet neighbourhoods. The article says downtown but I strongly suspect they mean neighbourhoods adjacent to downtown which have long been home to local workers and students, key to providing vibrancy and life which attracts the tourists to begin with (and the festivals).
Maybe it's selective bias but I think of all north American metropolises Montreal would be particularly difficult to implement hotels in residential areas. Renters here have very strong rights, albeit backed by an understaffed authority. Tourism provides a substantial bulk to the local economy but it's not nearly enough that the local population will accept having fly-by-night partiers in otherwise quiet neighbourhoods. The article says downtown but I strongly suspect they mean neighbourhoods adjacent to downtown which have long been home to local workers and students, key to providing vibrancy and life which attracts the tourists to begin with (and the festivals).