New 27-storey luxury hotel to be part of Calgary Rising initiative
Calgary is getting a new luxury hotel.
Inspired by hotels in London and New York, PBA Land and Development chief executive Patricia Phillips said The Dorian will combine a local feel with British flair.
Construction of the hotel at 525 5th Avenue S.W. will begin in June. The 27-storey hotel will have 300 rooms with a main-floor restaurant, conference facilities, fitness facility and a top-floor restaurant lounge with an outdoor patio.
“We can help do more than get this city back on its feet, we can help it rise to even greater heights,” said Phillips at a downtown press conference Thursday.
The $100-million hotel is to open in the fall of 2020 and will employ more than 150 people.
The hotel will cater to two distinct markets, said PBA senior vice-president Andrew Boblin. The Marriott Courtyard in the lower portion will appeal to “discerning business and leisure travellers” who are price-conscious, while the upper-level Marriott Autograph Collection is for travellers expecting “experiential luxury.”
The Dorian is the first project in the local initiative Calgary Rising, which is working to stimulate Calgary’s economy through private infrastructure projects. According to Phillips, the hotel will also support local businesses by using local soaps, linens and food.
“We’ll be buying and displaying works by local artists, photographers and sculptures. We’ll be playing music from local musicians and DJs,” Phillips added.
Arjun Channa, director with the Calgary Hotel Association, said numbers have been improving as the city emerges from the economic downturn of 2014.
“There is definitely an uptick … With the exception of a couple of months this year, overall the year is looking very promising,” said Channa.
Calgary Economic Development CEO Mary Moran said the hotel is a perfect match for the city’s aspiring, young demographic, while Calgary Tourism CEO Cindy Ady said the project will boost tourism.
“One in 10 Calgarians make their living in tourism … This is a shining new example of where Calgary is heading as it goes into the future.”