It’s safe to say that Rogers Place and the Edmonton Arena District (EAD) offered a tantalizing opportunity for Delta Hotels and Resorts, who were announced as the hotel partner for the project on Monday.
“It’s exciting to be a part of the transformation of Edmonton’s downtown core,” Delta President and CEO Ken Greene said. “As you’ve heard, this is an exciting project. The Edmonton Arena District is a project that really promises to energize and shape downtown Edmonton. It’s a unique undertaking. It’s one that will provide convenient and exceptional opportunities for all of us to work, live and play. And we are really, truly honoured to be a part of this project, from a Delta perspective, and be a part of the new exciting landscape.”
The EAD has continued its growing list of acquisitions by securing Delta as its next tenant. The 50-plus storey tower will be comprised of 362 rooms in the new four-star hotel and over 200 luxury condominiums, right in the heart of downtown Edmonton
“Like Edmonton, Delta has been undergoing a tremendous transformation ourselves,” Greene said. “We’ve been serving guests throughout the Canadian marketplace and giving Canadian hospitality for over 50 years in every single province. Our guests have come to expect even more from Delta and we continue to work extremely hard in delivering and exceeding guests’ expectations.”
Those expectations will surely be met by this new hotel. The property will include 24,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including a 9500 sq. ft. ballroom, unlike any currently in Edmonton. Greene says the hotel will boast upscale amenities like an outdoor terrace, a luxury pool, expansive fitness facilities, modern room designs and high-end food and beverage options.
“I know this will be the best property in Edmonton,” Greene said. “I think Edmonton is looking for a product of this nature. This will be far superior than anything that’s in the marketplace. The design is fabulous, there will be new construction and new construction is always a big benefit to a hotel and the financial commitment in terms of the quality of the product and amenities is absolutely there. We expect to be the best hotel in the marketplace by far.”
The EAD is excited to have Delta become downtown Edmonton’s first newly constructed four-star, full-service hotel in three decades.
“The Edmonton Arena District is proud to be playing an important role in downtown Edmonton’s transformation into a more vibrant and dynamic place that will draw visitors from across the region, the country and the world. We couldn’t think of a better partner here to welcome them when they arrive,” said Daryl Katz, the visionary of the arena district and chairman of the Katz Group of Companies.
Katz says the fact that it has been over 30 years since a property such as this has come to the downtown area says a lot about where the city has been. He also says Delta’s commitment to Edmonton says a lot about where the city is headed.
In coming to Edmonton with such eagerness and commitment, Delta is further proof that the EAD project is drawing attention to itself on a national and global scale. According to Mayor Don Iveson, this announcement is further evidence of another business having confidence in the resurgence of the city’s downtown and the confidence to come to this market.
“People are talking about Edmonton,” Iveson said. “They’re talking about Edmonton in a different light for the first time in maybe a generation, maybe longer. There is a real palpable excitement out there.”
Greene and Delta Hotels and Resorts couldn’t agree more.
“When we heard about the whole master plan, and this is one of the biggest master plans in all of North America, we were excited about being a part of it,” Greene said.
The hotel is scheduled to open in early 2018, with construction on the hotel parkade set to begin in 2014 and the tower getting underway in the fall of 2015.