OverviewLocated in the heart of the downtown Calgary area on Centre St. South East, which runs north-south in the middle of the city, this hotel appeals to tourists who want to be able to walk to a number of downtown attractions like the Stampede Corral (just over a 15-minute walk away) and to business travellers who want easy access to Calgary's business district.
Of the 355 rooms at this hotel, guests can choose from traditional guest rooms with king or queen beds, club rooms (which are larger, and come with access to a concierge lounge) or suites of varying sizes (some suites have full meeting facilities for up to 10 people). Suites and club rooms include free Wi-Fi, while guests in all other rooms are charged $13.95/day for Wi-Fi. In all rooms, guests can expect a coffeemaker, a hair dryer and an iron and an ironing board. Pets are permitted at this hotel for a cost of $50/stay.
There are a number of restaurants within a 5- to 10-minute walk of the hotel, but guests can dine on site at Thomsons Restaurant, open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other on-site amenities include a spa, a fitness centre, an indoor pool and a hot tub. There is a charge of $25/day for on-site parking.
This hotel is located about a 2-minute walk from the Stephen Avenue Mall (an open air, cobblestone strip of stores and restaurants) and a C-Train stop (which runs north-south through the city with several stops throughout the downtown area). There are a number of other attractions within walking distance, including the Calgary Tower and the Glenbow Museum (which are less than a 5-minute walk away). For guests travelling by air, the Calgary International Airport (YYC) is a 19-minute drive away. (Distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps.)
Confirmed with a front desk agent: Wi-Fi and parking fees (call date: August 13, 2012).
The GoodGuest reviews used in this analysis were generally very positive. Reviewers were particularly enthusiastic about the hotel's location and about the service they received from staff.
Guests said that the hotel was an excellent base for exploring the city by foot. Shops, restaurants and attractions were all easily accessible within a short (5- to 10-minute) walk. The nearby C-Train stop (a 2-minute walk) made it easy for guests without a vehicle to access other parts of the city.
A number of guests felt that the hotel was clean and well maintained. They made specific mention of the rooms and of some of the common areas, like the hallways and the lobby. Several guests also said that their rooms were comfortable and well configured.
There was frequent mention of consistently high levels of customer service delivered by staff. There were several instances in which staff went above and beyond to meet guests' needs, like accommodating special check-out requests. They even delivered a first aid kit to an injured guest.
There were a few additional positive comments about things like comfy beds and about the high quality of the fitness centre.
The Bad
While most of the reviews used for this analysis were positive, guests shared a common complaint about the high price of parking at the hotel.
Although they were willing to pay for on-site parking, many guests felt that the $25 fee was excessive. They felt that given the room rate and the parking fees at other area lots, the parking fee was not justified.
Hotels.com guest reviewers rated this hotel 4.3 out of 5, or "excellent", based on 100 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviewers ranked this hotel #10 out of 97 Calgary hotels, based on 287 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviewers rated this hotel 4.4 out of 5, based on 104 reviews.
Confirmed with a front desk agent: Wi-Fi and parking fees (call date: August 13, 2012).
