Ryan Thorogood doesn’t know if Sundre currently needs 80 more hotel rooms. But he’s sure it will in the future.
His family’s business, Totem Golf Ltd., has set the wheels in motion for the west-Central Alberta town to get its first nationally branded hotel. And if all goes according to plan, Best Western Mountain View Inn & Suites will welcome its first guests next fall.
“The majority of the work will be done this winter,” said Thorogood. “We’re putting the grade beam and the piles in, I think, in the next week.”
In addition to 80 units, 24 of which will be suites, the new hotel will offer a pool, fitness area and conference facilities that should be sufficient for 30 to 40 people, he said.
Thorogood said Sundre is growing increasingly busy, with many Calgarians now using it for a weekend getaway. That’s boosted the demand for overnight accommodation.
“It’s a great recreational town, and there’s been a need for it.”
Plus, with suitable facilities the town might be able to take a small piece of the corporate meeting business from resort areas like Banff.
“We’ve done our research on it,” said Thorogood of Sundre’s ability to support a hotel like his family’s Best Western.
“Our feasibility study showed a good portion of that is required.
“I don’t know if it quite justifies 80 rooms, but it certainly will be there in the future.”
Totem Golf also owns the Sundre Golf Course. The increasing number of people coming to the course has given Thorogood and his family an appreciation of how quickly the community is growing.
Chandos Construction Ltd. is the general contractor of Best Western Mountain View Inn & Suites, which is being built to a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard.
“It’s just the right thing to do,” said Thorogood. “We see environmental responsibility as an important part of it.”
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com