Fairmont Announces Major New Hotel Project in Calgary's Stampede Park Area
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has unveiled plans to construct a second luxury hotel in Calgary, strategically located in the vicinity of Stampede Park. This significant announcement arrives precisely 112 years after the grand opening of the company's iconic Fairmont Palliser hotel at 9th Avenue and 1st Street S.W., marking a historic expansion for the prestigious hospitality brand in Western Canada.
Details of the New Fairmont Calgary Development
The new property, tentatively named Fairmont Calgary, will feature 225 guest rooms and is described as a mixed-use structure that will include a full-service spa, multiple meeting spaces, and approximately 100 luxury residential units. While the exact location and number of storeys remain undisclosed, company officials confirmed the hotel will be situated within Calgary's greater downtown area and will directly benefit from the ongoing Stampede Park transformation project.
"We are honoured to play a role in this incredible new property at such a pivotal moment in Calgary's development," stated Omer Acar, CEO of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, in an official press release. "Adding a second property in this flourishing city where the beloved Fairmont Palliser currently resides will be a significant achievement, and reinforces Fairmont's leadership position in Western Canada, as well as strengthens our long-term brand commitment to Calgary as a destination."
Economic Impact and Development Timeline
According to Fairmont representatives, the hotel development is expected to provide substantial economic benefits to Calgary through:
- Construction employment opportunities during the building phase
- Permanent hospitality positions once the property opens
- Enhanced tourism infrastructure supporting Calgary's convention industry
- Increased visitor spending in the surrounding Culture and Entertainment District
The regulatory approvals process and final design unveiling are scheduled to occur within the coming months, with construction slated to begin shortly thereafter. The hotel is projected to open its doors in late 2031, developed in partnership with Truman, a prominent Calgary-based development firm.
Context Within Calgary's Hotel Development Boom
This announcement comes amid a significant hotel construction surge in Calgary's downtown core. Last July, Marriott International, Louson Investments Ltd., Truman, and Calgary Municipal Land Corporation revealed renderings for two major hotel-residential towers:
- The 69-storey W Calgary tower scheduled to open in 2030
- The 62-storey JW Marriott Calgary luxury hotel expected in 2029
These properties, located across Macleod Trail from the Victoria Park-Stampede LRT station, are projected to become Calgary's tallest skyscrapers upon completion. Former mayor Jyoti Gondek noted during last summer's announcements that Calgary faced a shortage of approximately 4,500 hotel rooms, with about one-third of that deficit needing to be addressed near the BMO Centre on Stampede Park.
The $500-million expansion of the BMO Centre, completed in 2024, serves as a cornerstone of Calgary's convention infrastructure and has created increased demand for adjacent hotel accommodations. Fairmont's new property aims to capitalize on this growing market while establishing what company executives describe as "an exciting new social hub for the local community, hotel guests and residents alike, blending both tradition and modernity."
