The University of Calgary has opened a hotel on campus to help cut the cost of hosting guests of the university off-campus and to act as a hands-on training experience for students enrolled in the hotel and resort management program.
The Hotel Alma, housed in U of C’s new Dr. Fok Ying Tung International House, is one of the first on-campus, university-owned and operated hotels in Canada. The building also houses several floors that act as dedicated residence facilities for students.
The Global Village, which occupies three floors in the building, is an effort to promote multicultural experiences.
“It’s a new apartment-style residence facility where a Canadian student is paired with an international student and then all of the programming around the residence is based on cultural diversity,” said Tarah Blum, marketing and sales manager for the hotel.
The decision to build a hotel on campus was made three years ago.
“We have a lot of guests who come as guest speakers and to use the university, and now they can just stay on campus and have easier access to those facilities,” said Blum.
Housing guests on the campus instead of at other local hotels is expected to save U of C as much as $1.5 million a year.
The construction of the hotel was paid for by private donations and provincial loans, and any profit generated will be invested in the residence facilities and other student programs.
Voula Cocolakis, associate vice-provost (residence and ancillary services) at U of C, said that while the hotel is aimed at housing guests of the university, other guests will come to stay so they can appreciate the area surrounding campus.
“Northwest Calgary is an expanding area and offering hotel services on campus really allows us to take advantage of that,” she said.
The university is also developing a co-op program for students enrolled in the hotel and resort management and tourism programs at the university’s Haskayne School of Business that will allow students to have hands-on experience working in the industry.
The hotel features 100 rooms and suites, conference facilities and a bistro. Guests are treated to a continental breakfast and have access to U of C’s fitness facilities, as well as daily maid service and Wi-Fi Internet.