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MBO Calgary :: Calgary Hotels

Hotel Alma, Calgary

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Last Updated: October 20,2009 4:43:04 pm

The lack of decent hotels in Northwest Calgary has been obvious for years, but we would have thought that void would be filled by a well-known hospitality chain like Hilton or Holiday Inn, not by an educational institution. The brand-new Hotel Alma is the first hotel owned and operated by University of Calgary, and although it's named for the term alma mater, it's actually accessible and open to the public.

Opening the hotel was an astute move for U of C. Not only does it provide valuable residence space for students (floors two through four act as dorm rooms), but it also fills the Northwest Hotel void and adds new source of income for the school. The hotel is on campus, yes, but it's also ideally situated for visitors in town for business retreats, cultural events, or – yes – football games. Some more "serious minded" travelers are sure to be put off by all the hacky sack and sit-ins (man, it's been a while since I've been in university), but others are sure to be sold on the location, affordability, and the full access to the ever-coveted university fitness facilities.

The hotel itself stretches over the top three floors of the building and includes 85 rooms and 15 suites. Décor is economical, but bright, retro and sleek, while accoutrements like 32-inch flat-screen televisions, high thread-count linens, wi-fi, and decorations by local artists are more than sufficient (not to mention much better than you'll get in any dorm room). Add the onsite Bistro Alma and wine bar, and you have yourself a legitimate hotel in an incongruous location. Who knew academics were such entrepreneurs? -R.T.