Development partner chosen for new hotel at Stampede Park

The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) announced plans Tuesday for the construction of a hotelat the north entrance to Stampede Park, close to the expanded BMO Centre.

The hotel will be built on a 31,000-square-footlot at the southwest corner of Stampede Trail and 12th Avenue S.E., said CMLC president and CEO Kate Thompson in a release.

She said it will be builtunder a development agreement with the Calgary Stampede and Matthews Southwest Hospitality.

CMLC is the city-owned developer behind the development of Calgary's East Village and the redevelopment of Stampede Park and east Victoria Park as Calgary's culture and entertainment district.

"With the expansive construction on the BMO Centre moving along, we have been focused on securing a development partner to support the evolving needs of conventions and events in this area," Thompsonsaid.

"Matthews Southwest Hospitality brings deep experience in hotel development befitting of the world-class convention venue it will sit adjacent to."

Construction of the $500-million expansion of the BMO Centre is underway and is scheduled to be completed in 2024.

The hotel is being planned as a 4-4.5 diamond boutique property with a minimum of 220 rooms, 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a direct interior connection tothe BMO Centre. A brand for the hotel has not yet been selected.

Construction of the $80-million project is anticipated to begin in 2024.

The hotel is intended to anchor a redeveloped Stampede Trail, which is being planned as a pedestrian-only retail and commercial corridor through the Stampede grounds, linking to a new extended section of 17th Avenue S.E. into the park.

"The vision for this area grabbed our attention from the very beginning, and we look forward to applying our experience and expertise in convention hotel developments to this exciting and evolving district in Calgary," said Mike Garcia, president of Matthews Southwest Hospitality.

The Texas company was behind the Omni Dallas Convention Center Hotel and the W and Element Convention Center Hotel in Philadelphia.