It’s no secret that downtown Calgary is going through changes — many office buildings sit empty, and fewer people are spending time in the area outside of the 9-to-5 working hours.
In an effort to revitalize the city’s core, Calgary’s Greater Downtown Plan includes a number of office building conversion projects. One of those projects is the new Element Hotel by Westin. The Calgary Downtown Development Incentive Program’s first office-to-hotel conversion, the project will save 572,000 kilograms of waste from ending up in landfills. Construction has already begun on converting the Canadian Centre, a vacant, 12-storey office building, which will remove 170,000 square feet of unused office space and turn it into functional property. The hotel is currently slated to open in spring 2025.
Here are a few things you should know about this upcoming project.
The project partners also worked on another local hotel
Element Hotel will be constructed by Calgary-based PBA Group of Companies and its partner, Concord Hospitality. Both companies also worked on The Dorian hotel, a boutique hotel that opened in downtown Calgary in 2022.
It will have 226 suites equipped with amenities for extended stays
Element Hotel will offer options to stay comfortably for longer periods. Guests can expect studio suites and 37 one-bedroom suites, both complete with fully equipped kitchenettes.
Those traveling in bigger groups can book Studio Commons, a communal space with a fully equipped kitchen and lounge centered around four guest rooms, creating a sense of community while still providing personal space.
Guests will also be able to rent bikes through the hotel, allowing them to access the nearby bike paths and get around the city easily during their stay.
The hotel will feature a modern lobby café and an upscale rooftop restaurant
Nowadays, many hotels also have their own restaurant, and The Element is no exception. The new restaurant will take advantage of the hotel’s location, sitting on the hotel’s rooftop and offering views of the Bow River. The restaurant will showcase Alberta ingredients, with dry-aged meats and shareable plates as the focus.
The new hotel will also have a lobby lounge and specialty café. Other amenities include meeting rooms, a modern fitness centre, electric vehicle charging stations and more.
