| Hotel Arts, the newest addition to Calgary’s hospitality scene, is opening its doors to an increasingly sophisticated local clientele while aiming to attract travellers with a keen cultural eye. In addition, the hotel is aiming to bolster the city’s arts community by showcasing local talent alongside artists from across Canada.
No longer the Holiday Inn, the kitschy home of buffet dinners and discount rates, the hotel is now open, but still undergoing its transformation. The end result will be a high-end property that zealously supports the arts.
The hotel has purchased an eclectic mix of work to display, ranging from non-representational abstract pieces to one-of-a-kind handmade lamps. The lobby gallery features a cross-section of artists at different stages of their careers – Cathy Daley of Toronto, Saskatchewan-based Marie Lannoo, and prairie sculptor Vic Cicansky are currently on view.
John Torode of Torode Realty purchased the land with an eye towards creating an innovative hotel to complement future condominium towers planned for the east side of the block. He says Europe has a bounty of designer hotels and Calgary is ready to embrace new concepts.
"It’s going to be a great amenity in the area to stop in and have a drink," he says. "I think people are looking for a unique stay experience. They’re tired of staying in hotels and not knowing what city they’re in."
When considering galleries, Torode chose to begin the hotel’s collection with NewZones and Trepanier Baer, where he had previously purchased art for his private collection.
"I really like the contemporary work they carry. Of course, as we get going, we’ll be adding more galleries."
General manager Douglas Peterson says the concept is one that has proven successful in cities such as Miami and Vancouver, and Calgary is ready to embrace an arts-driven and -supported hotel.
"This is his (Torode’s) vision. He purchased the Holiday Inn with the intention of creating a boutique hotel in Calgary. Other than the Kensington Riverside Inn with 19 rooms, Calgary is way behind the boutique market."
Designed by Walker McKinley of McKinley Burquart and Dang, the lobby is spare, with minimalist espresso leather ottomans and crisp grey sofas. Soft jazz oozes from a hidden stereo system and the front desk staff are fresh-faced and hospitable. Serenity is the theme in the pool area, with handwoven wicker chairs and chaise longues imported from Denmark. Enormous clay planters are lit from beneath at night, creating a warm glow. The rooms aren’t spacious, but are well appointed, with 1,000-thread-count sheets and pristine white marble in the washrooms. A notable difference from other hotels is the lack of wall art in the rooms. Instead, the focus is on wall-mounted plasma televisions.
Peterson is quick to point out the hotel is still evolving. The restaurant is currently closed for renovations and will reopen as an upscale eatery in the coming months. Meanwhile, the well-stocked wine bar adjacent to the pool is offering a full menu. Once the restaurant is completed, the lounge is also slated for a new look and sliding doors will be installed for direct pool access.
"We’re fine tuning and detailing right now. We don’t look exactly how we’re going to look when we grow up, but we’re definitely close," he says.
Even though it’s located a stone’s throw from First Street S.W., which is known for its nightclubs and late night revelry, Eileen Stan of the Victoria Crossing BRZ says the eclectic nature of the neighbourhood is part of the appeal.
"This is a vibrant, dynamic area," she says. "I think sometimes people are slow to recognize the potential of an area that’s under transformation. It’s really encouraging to see development of this nature taking place. It’s filling a niche that hasn’t been filled before."
In addition to displaying the work of various local and national talent, management at the hotel are working closely with local performance groups.
"I think it will have a positive impact in that it’s going to encourage and support local arts groups," says Stan, noting that Hotel Arts is hosting the Grave Gala on October 29, a posh fundraiser for Calgary Opera and Alberta Ballet.
Torode says Calgary is in need of places to stage fundraisers for various arts organizations. "There’s a shortage of that kind of space," he says.
Helen Zenith, director of NewZones gallery, who along with Trépanier Baer has been supplying the hotel with work from their stable of artists, says the timing is ideal for a boutique hotel in Calgary. She also notes the city is coming into its own culturally.
"I think it’s very smart," she says of the concept. "We’re coming of age. Calgary is really becoming quite a cosmopolitan city…. There’s nothing you can’t see in Calgary if you put your mind to it. It’s all here." |
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