Residence Inn Calgary Downtown/Beltline District

BACKGROUND

Residence Inn is an extended-stay brand by Marriott, and it has more than 800 properties. Most are in North America, although there are nine in European cities including London, Frankfurt, Munich and Amsterdam, with 20 more in the pipeline. Calgary Downtown opened in March this year and is the biggest yet, with 390 suites.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?

The 33-floor newbuild has a smart exterior of shaded glass panels. The reception is welcoming, with a long glass-fronted fire providing both warmth and a stylish wall feature, and a cosy lounge area with comfy sofas, a desk and two computers. There is free wifi throughout. My stay coincided with the Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo that sees tens of thousands of visitors descend on the city, and while the hotel was running at full occupancy, it never felt too crowded. Staff were friendly and helpful, and I never had to wait too long to be served. From reception you can access the all-day coffee and wine bar next door.

WHERE IS IT?

In the Beltline area of Downtown. This area was home to notorious nightlife hotspot Electric Avenue in the 1980s, until authorities cracked down on the debauchery. It’s now a mix of offices, familyfriendly restaurants and boutiques. The hotel is on the former site of the Alberta Boot Company, a cowboy footwear manufacturer still in operation nearby.

ROOMS

There is a mix of studios (from 40 sqm) and 47 sqm one-bedroom suites, all with living, sleeping and dining areas plus kitchens. There are also larger 50 sqm studios with two double beds, and accessible rooms. My studio had an L-shaped sofa from which you could look out of the floor-to-ceiling windows or face the TV, and a large dining room table that could double as a desk, with two chairs. The kitchen was spacious and well equipped, with a huge fridge, a hob, kettle, microwave, coffee machine, toaster and dishwasher. Coffee, salt and pepper, popcorn and washing-up liquid were provided. The bathroom had plenty of towels, a large well-lit mirror and full-sized toiletries.

Splashes of colour including a yellow feature wall and bright blue sofa gave the room a homely feel. A nice touch was the bed’s leather headboard, which had cowboy boot-style stitching. I found the room well thought-out during my threenight stay; there was a user-friendly alarm clock by the bed, ample storage and lights could be easily controlled.

FOOD AND DRINK

An extensive hot and cold breakfast buffet is complimentary with all rooms, and you can help yourself to Starbucks coffee in mugs or takeaway cups. While there are no lunch or dinner options, a bar is located on the outdoor terrace by the breakfast room. A shop by reception sells snacks and frozen ready meals.

BUSINESS

There are six meeting rooms and five break-out spaces totalling 590 sqm. Most have floor-to-ceiling windows. A large café caters for event participants.

LEISURE

There is a good-sized 24-hour bi-level gym on the ground floor that has weights and cardiovascular equipment. It is opposite the laundry room, so you could put a wash on and do a workout while you wait. The hotel also encourages you to download the MapMyFitness app, which has running routes from the hotel that show you sights in the local area.

A nice touch was the bed’s headboard, which had cowboy boot-style stitching

VERDICT

A nicely designed and well-situated hotel. The property feels spacious and has lots of natural light, and the catering facilities are good.