The Delta Kananaskis has been undergoing a major renovation thanks to new owners that have put $34 million toward upgrades, including a 50,000 square foot Nordic spa.
Glenn Iles, director of sales and marketing for the hotel, said the Pomeroy Lodging Group has invested the money into interior renovations for all rooms and common areas, including renovated restaurants and the entirely brand new spa amenity.
“We have gone through a tremendous transition and the Pomeroy Group has invested $34 million into the hotel over the last couple of years,” Iles said at a recent sneak peek event at the Kananaskis Golf Course. “In that transformation we have essentially gone through everything in the hotel.”
The transformation includes an $8.5 million Nordic spa, which is currently under construction and expected to open before Christmas.
A Nordic spa, he explained, is a series of pools, varying in temperature, along with other water-based amenities like steam rooms and saunas, as well as relaxation areas.
“We are excited to have this at the hotel and it will really be the key feature we have,” Iles said. “The big focus of the redevelopment is creating connection … not just providing a place to stay after you play, but also adding activities and connection in the offerings we have directly at the hotel.”
The aquatic renovations don’t stop there, with expectations in 2018 that a water park including waterslides and splash pads will be added to the existing pool and hot tub area in the spring of 2018.
“The whole focus on the redevelopment effort has been in creating modern mountain style and taking the hotel from its legacy roots as a Canadian Pacific authentic heritage style hotel and moving it into more modern with clean lines, but maintaining a mountain lodge rustic feel throughout the hotel,” Iles said.
The resort in the middle of Kananaskis Country opened in 1987 just before the Winter Olympics, with alpine events held at nearby Nakiska ski area. While CP owned the hotel, it also owned Delta Hotels as a brand and the hotel was branded under that name.
In 2002, the Delta Kananaskis hosted the G8 summit and throughout the years it has hosted many movie, TV and commercial productions. In 2014, the Delta hotel brand was purchased by Marriott and in 2015 the Pomeroy group bought the Kananaskis location.
“It was fantastic for us,” Iles said, “because now we are part of a world-wide international brand with Marriott Hotels and at the same time we have a committed ownership and management with Pomeroy Lodging.”
He said the multi-million investment into the hotel facilities brought up the question of whether it should remain a Delta.
Iles wouldn’t say what change is coming, but told the crowd gathered at the restored golf course after it was destroyed in the 2013 floods that it was coming soon.
“Stay tuned,” he said. “We will likely have a name change.
“The redesign and reconstruction is positioning this as a unique location and creating a hotel that has unique offerings and décor. It is not the same as any other hotel.”
The Kananaskis Improvement District is the development authority for the entire region. The Outlook contacted development officer Leah Schmidek on Oct. 10 for a copy of the permit approved for the re-development, including the 50,000 square foot Nordic spa.
As of Oct. 18, spokesperson for Alberta Environment and Parks Tim Chamberlin had yet to provide any documents related to the permit approval. The improvement district has a Subdivision and Development Authority, established by a ministerial order.
