Industry gets ready to host staycations
Exhilarated by the reality of finally reopening, Calgary’s hospitality industry is creating innovative ways to help customers rediscover the city, but still feel safe in a world that hasn’t yet escaped the looming threat of COVID-19.
Dozens of Calgary hotels have opened in the past few weeks, with more expected over the Canada Day holiday as businesses settle in to the UCP government’s second stage of reopening announced at the end of May.
Local restaurants are also flipping the reopen switch, transitioning from closure — or pickup and take-away — to sit-down dining, eager to give customers the unique atmosphere of eating out again.
With air travel and international tourism still slow, leaders in the industry are reinventing themselves, aiming their business at a regional customer base even as they enter the prime summer months.
Knowing most southern Albertans will plan “staycations,” many hospitality businesses are advertising unique opportunities to enjoy local entertainment, culture and recreation in their own backyard.
“We want Calgarians to explore their cities again, in a safe and fun way,” said Fraser Abbott, director of business development with the Hotel Arts Group. “We want people to get out there, support local businesses and see things where they’ll say, ‘Hey, I didn’t even realize this was here.’ ”
Hotel Arts in Kensington opened its doors two weeks ago, while the downtownlocationopenedjune18, both in a completely reinvented environment with physical distancing stickers in lobby areas, extra disinfection of rooms and fun reminders in restrooms to wash hands for at least 20 seconds while singing to the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive.
While business won’t be as booming as it normally would be this time of year with international visitors arriving by the thousands to take in Calgary Stampede, reopening comes with much more hope than earlier this spring when COVID shut down much of the city.
“It was an avalanche of despair, really,” said Abbott, adding that more than 250 staff were temporarily laid off, leaving only six core employees in place.
“There was just no traffic coming in, even the aircrews that normally book with us were gone, so it just didn’t make sense to stay open.”
But now, as hopes for regional customers rise, Abbott says Hotel Arts Guest Services is specifically geared to offer local experiences to rediscover the city.
Cruiser bikes, for instance, will be available for guests, complete with picnic lunches in bike baskets and information on tours to explore local pathways or mural art along the Beltline.
Hotel Arts downtown, Abbot says, is working closely with Alberta Health Services to try to launch a concert series at its pool deck.
The plan would invite local musicians, dance or theatre artists to perform in the pool’s courtyard while guests take in the entertainment from individual balconies above.
There are plans for walking tours of Calgary’s heritage buildings or an exploration of favourites such as Heritage Park or the Calgary Zoo, which have reopened sections of their parks in recent weeks.
Restaurants are partnering with hospitality industry leaders to be part of their offerings through guest services. Many cafes, pubs and licensed restaurants are coinciding their reopening from takeaway or delivery with the reopening of local hotels.
The Coup, a vegetarian restaurant along 17th Avenue S.W., recently opened its quaint cafe to sit-down dining, and staff have been surprised by the increased pedestrian traffic and high interest.
“We were lucky, even during COVID we had a strong customer base that continued to support us through take-away dining,” said Jill Hoban, manager at The Coup.
“But now, with dining in, we’ve seen a lot of our regulars come back quickly. I think the majority are just happy to be back and really excited to sit in a restaurant and feel that atmosphere once again.”
Sol Zia, executive director of the Calgary Hotel Association, says the hotel business has seen an encouraging uptick over the past few weeks as hotels across the city reopen doors, rooms, swimming pools and fitness centres.
“We’ve seen some of the hotels enjoy up to 60 per cent occupancy last weekend. And it’s because regional travel is really picking up.
“People are planning family getaways, family reunions, or they just want to jump into a pool.”
Zia said hotels are being exceptionally careful about customer safety, ensuring no-touch check in, physical distancing in public areas and front counters, installing Plexiglas and ensuring hotel restaurants follow health guidelines around distancing and limited numbers.
Cassandra Mcauley, vice-president of communications and stakeholder engagement for Tourism Calgary, is thrilled to see the city’s hospitality industry finally reopening after such a tough spring.
“The industry was decimated by this pandemic. It was really hard on them,” she said. “But many have completely revamped their businesses, not just because of closing but also reinvented themselves for reopening, too.”
Tourism Calgary is working with local businesses to launch a new awareness campaign entitled “That’s the Spirit”, using social media, local advertisers and their website to encourage Calgarians to support local businesses.
“We hope to see a renewed spirit of supporting local, to be excited about getting back out, getting to know your city again, but also feeling safe to do so.”
We want people to get out there, support local businesses and see things where they’ll say, ‘Hey, I didn’t even realize this was here.’
FRASER ABBOTT, director of business development, Hotel Arts Group