Small Big Hotels in a Small Big City

Calgary likes to call itself a "small big city". It's the fifth largest municipality in Canada, covering an area of 722 square kilometers (vs. Toronto's 644 sq. km.), but manages to retain a small city feel, and if your group doesn't require the massive space of the Calgary Telus Convention Centre or Stampede grounds, there are a number of right-sized options.

ELAN
New kid on (a very trendy) block, the 43-guestroom Elan hotel opened in June of last year. The building was originally an apartment building, closed in 2011 and now repurposed as a ultra-modern boutique hotel. Spare and functional, with red accents throughout, all nine room-types have walk-out balconies - and get this: internet FREE, long-distance calling to just about anywhere in the world FREE, breakfast served in a bright main floor space with patio access and built-in business centre - FREE! 

There's also a small meeting room - The Summit - fully wired for video conferencing. Located adjacent to 17th Avenue, Calgary's Retail and Entertainment District for an effortless mix of business with pleasure.

 

HOTEL ARTS
It seems a bit of an oxymoron to talk about a boutique hotel having a 9,500 sq. ft. ballroom, but that's how the 185-room Hotel Arts rolls. Unrecognizable from its roots as a Holiday Inn, complete with old-school outdoor pool and patio - oh, the childhood memories! - now a retro-chic event space available for corporate barbecues, evening receptions....

The best meal I had while in Calgary was at the hotel's restaurant, The Yellow Door Bistro, perhaps not coincidentally named Best New Restaurant in Calgary for 2013.  Popular with the entertainment industry, I can imagine running into a well-known band in the Yellow Door or the hotel's recently re-launched Raw Bar.

Another "Like" for me were the Brooklin Cruiser bicycles, available FREE to guests for city-exploring.

HOTEL LE GERMAIN CALGARY
The western-most member of the Canadian Luxury Boutique Le Germain "collection", Hotel Le Germain Calgary is just one minute away from the Telus Convention Centre, so its luxurious guestrooms provide a true sanctuary experience for convention attendees. For smaller meetings, the hotel has six (6) highly-functional meeting rooms (sound-proofed, with acoustic ceilings, advanced lighting and state-of-the-art A/V systems) able to accommodate from 10-100 people.

Hotel amenities include CHARCUT Restaurant (which made MacLean's Best New Restaurants list when it opened in 2010), a roof-top 24-hour fitness centre and Santé Spa, high-speed wireless internet throughout the hotel, and even lap-tops available for guests.