Hotel venture aspires to be part of something so much bigger
Calgary Rising aims to support local businesses, Patricia Phillips says
Earlier this week, construction of a new downtown hotel, The Dorian, was officially announced.
The hotel is great news for Calgary. It offers an immediate $100-million-dollar boost to our economy, an important lift to hospitality and tourism, and further proof of our growing reputation as an international destination with something special to offer.
But it’s also part of a much bigger idea called Calgary Rising.
Growing up as part of a family business, I watched my father and uncles do well, and then do good — quietly funding philanthropic projects that were separate from their business, but important to the community.
When my sister and I bought the family business, we wanted to do well by doing good — to integrate the needs of the larger community within the business. The Dorian is an example of that approach.
Our success strategy is built on collaboration. We will work with local businesses to showcase the best Calgary has to offer — locally sourcing everything from soaps and linens to great food and beverages — as much as possible.
Making sure that local businesses succeed and grow along with us is a central component of our business strategy. Showcasing the best of Calgary — including a design-forward esthetic and tailored hospitality — is one of the main reasons we believe guests will be attracted to the hotel.
But the Dorian will be more than an economic engine for Calgary. It will also build partnerships with artists and support arts development in tandem with hospitality and tourism. The hotel will purchase, curate and display works by local artists, photographers and sculptors.
Rotating digital art will feature aspiring local artists active on social channels. We will even look at ways to engage the community in procuring public art through a commissioned public sculpture, pending city approval. And we will explore other ways to support the arts in partnership with Calgary Arts Development.
By showcasing the best of Calgary, this hotel promises to be as smart and as sharp as the city it’s soon to call home.
The Dorian is the first step in this larger movement we are calling Calgary Rising. This initiative provides like-minded partners, with capital, the chance to invest in community-inspired infrastructure projects like The Dorian.
Our fundamental belief is that companies drive progress and prosperity by ensuring that economic returns flow not only to business, but also to the wider community. That’s what Calgary Rising is all about: inviting capital partners to invest in private infrastructure that stimulates economic growth and promotes the good of the wider community — not as a philanthropic afterthought, but built into the business strategy from the earliest stages.
Calgary is full of bright, talented and passionate people with capital and connections. But, from my perspective, too much capital is sitting on the sidelines — or going elsewhere — waiting for more welcoming economic news.
To inspire investment requires vision, collaboration and longterm commitment — along with a bit of courage. We believe local investors can help drive this city’s evolution with a progressive approach to infrastructure development.
Calgary has a long tradition of everyday people working together to help our city prosper. And we are building on that tradition. Despite lingering challenges, we believe in this city for the long term. We want to help it do more than get back on its feet. We want to see it rise to even greater heights.
The Dorian is a small step, but it’s a step in that direction. And as this fledgling movement evolves, we hope to engage other bright, talented and passionate people — from the business and social sectors — to step up and invest locally at a time when creativity, courage and collaboration matter most of all.