A Weekend At The Westin Downtown

The Westin has a been a staple in downtown Edmonton for decades. Soaring high amoungst the city towers, it is steps away from some of Edmonton’s greatest attractions including the dynamic Arts District, Rogers Place, ICE District ( which we got to experience first hand!) and the scenic River Valley.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner; we did a 3 generation girls night at the Westin this past weekend. My mom came in from Kelowna and my two girls; Kennedy and Lilly joined us for the sweetest night.

With over 50 hotels to choose from, The Westin is one of the wonderful hotels included in the Edmonton’s Best Hotels group. When you book a hotel through Edmonton’s Best Hotels ; you get extra incentives like gas cards, gift certificates to restaurants or prepaid mastercards, even tickets to exciting events! No catch - you just gotta book through the Edmonton’s Best Hotels website. Why not boost your next vacation to the next level? It’s EASY with Edmonton’s Best Hotels!

WHERE WE STAYED

The Westin prides itself on “Wellness”. They invite you to “Sleep Well, Eat Well, and Move Well” with every stay. You see it throughout the entire hotel. You can scan codes in the elevators to find great trails nearby to “move well”, the menu in the restaurant has an “eat well” section with more health conscious choices and the lavender balm….oh the lavender balm… to ensure you “sleep well”.

With 416 thoughtfully designed guest rooms and suites; every room features their signature Westin Heavenly® Bed.

The Edmonton location has Share Restaurant, which showcases locally sourced ingredients and offers upscale dining with innovative cuisine and warm hospitality. They also have an incredible Mother’s Day Brunch coming up ( More on that below!)

A pool and fitness centre are also onsite. The hotel is just steps away from Edmonton’s iconic river valley and it’s over 160 kms in trails throughout.

Check in time is 3pm and check out time is 12pm. There is a business centre available and art throughout the lobby.

With approximately 28,000 square feet of flexible event space the hotel is the ideal destination for meetings, weddings, and special events. Their ballrooms and meeting rooms are very impressive.

The Westin has played host to many famous guests and events. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip stayed there when they attended the Commonwealth Games in 1978, as did Prince Charles and the Princess of Wales in 1983. The hotel has hosted major events such as Wayne Gretzky’s 1988 wedding reception.

Something REALLY special about the Westin (and I am a history nerd haha) is that it stands on the site of the former Edmonton Post Office which opened back in 1910 and closed in 1974. The clock that once was a part of the main post office now stands on the corner as a nod to the former building.

OUR ROOM

We stayed in two connecting rooms and that offered more than enough space for us. One side was a beautiful two queen deluxe room while the other side was a gorgeous one bedroom suite. It offered a living area and a separate bedroom along with a GIANT bathroom. Both my mom and I said this would be a perfect bridal suite. It was so spacious and glamourous.

The Westin has something for everyone. They offer standard accommodations with 2 double beds , 2 queen beds or 1 king. As mentioned before, if you need a bit more space they have suites which offer separate living and sleeping areas.

All rooms have flat screen TVs, sleek bathrooms ( GREAT lighting!), WiFi, a fridge and a coffee / tea maker. Worth mentioning- Blackout Blinds in every room! Thank you for that!

Every TV screen had my name; which I thought was a really nice touch.

OUR ITINERARY

We always seem to get VERY lucky when it comes to hotel stays and NHL Playoffs. This hotel stay had been booked for a few weeks already when we found out that The Edmonton Oilers would be playing the LA Kings in the first round of the playoffs the night we were downtown! So off to the ICE District we went; which was very conveniently just a few steps away from The Westin.

3pm: Arrive at the hotel, check in and get settled.

4:00pm: We snuck in a quick visit to the Alberta Art Gallery! It’s just steps away from The Westin and offers art and installations for ALL ages. Best of all under 18 are free! *The AGA is pleased to offer free admission from 4 to 7pm on the last Thursday of every month.

6pm: Dinner reservations at the Westin Restaurant Share. The restaurant is right in the lobby of the hotel and offers local fare and a kids menu. See the menu HERE

7:30pm: Head on over to ICE district to watch the hockey game! It’s about a 10 minute walk from the hotel.

**Because The Westin is in such a great location; there are MANY things you could do. Some ALTERNATIVES: Head to The Citadel to catch a performance, head to The Winspear to experience the latest in musical art or enjoy a stroll in Sir Winston Churchill Square right outside City Hall.

10:30pm: Settle back in at the hotel. Order a night cap to the room and enjoy the downtown view!

ALTERNATIVE: Stay out and enjoy the night! There are literally hundreds of restaurants and bars within walking distance of The Westin. Including the famed Jasper Ave and 104th Street Neon Sign Museum and bars. You choose when and where the nights ends!

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9am: Wake up and head to the Share for a scrumptious breakfast…or experience a little extra luxury & treat yourself to breakfast in your room.

If you are staying more than just one night it would be a great idea to experience The Royal Alberta Museum or the The 100st Funicular! Again, just steps away from the hotel.

The brand new Stanley A Milner Public Library offering tons of programs for children and adults is also now open to the public. ALTERNATIVE: Relax by the pool or sneak in a workout in the fitness facility.

12pm: Check out!

THE POOL & FITNESS CENTRE

The Westin has a beautiful pool located on the 3rd floor. Right beside that is a fitness centre. Both are open 24/7. The girls had A LOT of fun in that pool; I even joined in haha!

Something that is really neat is the WestinWORKOUT® Gear Lending Program. As mentioned before they encourage everyone to “Move Well”. Guests can borrow New Balance gear. There is also RunWESTIN®, a program connected with Strava offering curated running routes through the city.

WHERE WE ATE

We had dinner and breakfast at Share. It's a contemporary Canadian restaurant, with a farm to table concept.

We found LOTS on the menu that we loved. For dinner; I enjoyed a golden beet salad with chicken, my mom had the chicken club while the girls enjoyed macaroni and cheese (with REAL cheese sauce!) and chicken fingers of course haha.

For breakfast there were lots of options available. You could choose from the buffet or order right off the menu. The girls LOVED the waffles on the kids menu. I snuck a bite too and they were delicious! I had avocado toast while my mom had the Westin breakfast. I have not seen my girls eat that much in a long time. Everything was fresh and the service was so friendly.

There is also a coffee station (with Starbucks Coffee!) in the lobby so you can help yourself whenever you need. Also throughout the lobby are water bottles and during the playoffs when we arrived there was also blue and orange lemonade available!

If you need a snack to go; they have chips and treats ready for purchase as well as to go sandwiches.

MOTHER’S DAY AT THE WESTIN

They have an incredible Mothers Day Brunch planned at Share!! You and the special mom in your life can enjoy a thoughtfully curated buffet featuring chef-attended stations, high tea favorites, and comforting seasonal dishes.

With creative activities like card-making, button crafting, and take-home lavender gifts, this family-friendly event is designed to uplift and inspire. Set against a backdrop of warm lighting and soft music, it’s a meaningful way to connect and celebrate together. You can view the menu HERE.

Brunch seating will be available from 10am to 1pm. You can book your spot HERE.

PETS

Pets are welcome at The Westin!! There is a non-refundable pet fee per night of $30. The maximum number of pets per room is 2 with a max pet weight of 36 lbs.

PARKING

The Westin currently has a parking promotion where the rate includes complimentary self-parking for one car per night, ensuring stress-free stays for guests.

Otherwise, there is on site parking at the following rates:

Hourly: $7.00

Daily: $38.00

Valet

Daily: $50.00

WHY BOOK WITH EDMONTON’S BEST HOTELS?

I absolutely love my partnership with Edmonton’s Best Hotels. It’s a website where you can book a hotel, get the BEST available rates and receive additional perks at no extra cost! You know I love a good deal and this website is awesome. Why not get something extra for something you were going to book anyways?

You get to pick your reward based on how many nights you stay!! You choose what is best for your lifestyle and your ideal vacation.

Book One Night & Choose From $50 in Rewards:

• One Night Reward 1: $50 Gas Card

• One Night Reward 2: $50 Prepaid Mastercard

• One Night Reward 3: $50 Ultimate Dining Card

(That’s $50 in FREE rewards!)

OR

Book Two Nights & Choose From $150 In Rewards:

• Two Night Reward 1: $150 Prepaid Mastercard

• Two Night Reward 2: $75 Prepaid Mastercard + $75 Gas Card

• Two Night Reward 3: $75 Gas Card + $75 Ultimate Dining Card

(That’s $150 in FREE rewards!)

OR

Book Three Nights and Choose From $225 in Rewards:

• Three Night Reward 1: $225 Prepaid Mastercard

• Three Night Reward 2: $75 Ultimate Dining Card + $75 Prepaid Mastercard + $75 Gas Card

(That’s $225 in FREE rewards!)

*Included rewards will be emailed to guests within 48 hours after checking in to their hotel. Rewards are not provided by the hotel’s front desk. While supplies last.

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Mother’s Day will be here before we know it. If you’re looking for a great hotel to treat YOURSELF as a mom (helllloooo to a full nights sleep in the comfiest bed!) or to treat the mom in your life; I cannot recommend the Westin Hotel enough.

Even just as a family; staying at this hotel was so convenient. There is something to do and something to see at every turn. This was by far one of the best hotels for truly being in the “heart of it all”.

xoxox Jacks