Town council and the Chamber of Commerce will fund a study into the feasibility of a brand name hotel building in Fort Macleod.
Council voted to contribute $6,000 or 50 per cent of the funding for the feasibility study, with the Chamber covering the remainder of the cost.
The proposal was on the agenda of council’s June 26 meeting at the G.R. Davis Administration Building.
Director of community and protective services Liisa Gillingham told council the Chamber of Commerce and many residents have expressed a desire to have a brand name, larger hotel built in Fort Macleod.
“Some people think there’s enough business and traffic that it would be valuable,” Gillingham said.
Gillingham added that people have expressed the concern that existing motels are aging and it is time for a new, brand name hotel.
The Chamber of Commerce suggested to the Town of Fort Macleod that a feasibility study be done regarding a hotel.
“We could partner with the Chamber and have that feasibility study ready for developers,” Gillingham told council.
Administration presented a motion to council to approve a consultation and appraisal proposal from Cushman and Wakefield for a hotel market study.
Gillingham told council the Fort Macleod Chamber of Commerce will provide 50 per cent of the funding for the study.
Mayor Brent Feyter said there could be funding available from Travel Alberta and economic development organizations to help fund the study.
Gillingham confirmed that funding sources are being investigated.
Chamber president Mike Bourassa said in an interview Friday that his board was unanimous in its support of the study.
“We need to have a hotel that is going to allow people to stay in town,” Bourassa said.
Bourassa pointed to the U13 provincial hockey tournament in March as an example.
All seven out-of-town teams stayed at hotels outside of Fort Macleod, which meant the community lost out on revenue opportunities for meals, gasoline and shopping.
Bourassa said with many motels converting to monthly rentals in response to Fort Macleod’s housing crisis, a hotel is needed.
“We need a quality hotel where families can stay,” Bourassa said.
The study will look at traffic flow through Fort Macleod and other factors that determine a hotel’s viability.
Bourassa said a hotel would position Fort Macleod to host more events, including tournaments, and improve the town’s standing as a hub for tourism.
“We are at the crossroads,” Bourassa said of the town’s position as a junction of Highway 2 and Highway 3.
