Red Deer is poised to become a Marriott community.
The developer behind a hotel proposed for the north end of Oriole Park has confirmed that it will operate under Marriott’s TownPlace Suites banner.
Toby Lampard, who is president of L-7 Inc. — the company that owns the 6822 66th St. lot where the hotel is to be built — spoke to Red Deer’s municipal planning commission on Wednesday during an application related to the project. The hotel had received development approval from the commission in August, but Lampard was seeking to make several changes to the plan. These included the addition of a swimming pool.
Estimated to cost $12.8 million, the four-storey hotel will consist of 92 suites, with the possibility of 71 more in the future. They will all have full kitchens, with other amenities to include a breakfast room, an exercise and spa room, a small boardroom and laundry facilities.
Lampard said the hotel is designed for extended-stay guests who require accommodation for weeks or even months. TownPlace Suites is one of Marriott’s long-stay brands.
Although common in the United States, there are currently only two TownPlace Suites in Canada — both in Ontario, said Lampard. He said Marriott’s reputation for quality and its loyal customer following made it a desirable choice for his project.
The municipal planning commission approved the proposed changes unanimously, although Coun. Buck Buchanan wondered if the concentration of hotels in the area was cause for concern — particularly given the number of large trucks that park there.
Administration pointed out that this problem could be addressed by restricting the size of vehicles allowed to park on the street.
Lampard said the site has already been graded and deep services installed. He hopes to begin construction as soon as possible, with completion tentatively scheduled for next February.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com