DIDSBURY - Town of Didsbury's council has decided not to pursue a proposed hotel feasibility study, which would have looked at such things as market demand, financial feasibility, and community and economic impacts.
The move came by way of motion at the March 11 council meeting.
The town’s economic development officer recently attended an International Council for Shopping Centres convention in B.C. and determined that a hotel feasibility study could be useful in attracting potential hotel investors.
“A hotel would accommodate visitors coming to see family and friends including those staying at the seniors’ facility or hospital, as well as guests attending events in Didsbury and surrounding region,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“Additionally, discussion with the film industry and related organizations highlighted the necessity of a hotel with at least 80 rooms to attract more productions to the area.
According to the administration briefing note, the feasibility study would have cost between $10,000 and $25,000 to complete and would have looked at things such as market demand, development costs, revenue potential and associated risks.
During the March 11 council meeting, councillors commented on the proposed study.
Coun. Dorothy Moore said, “I do think that the hotels make their own assessments and they usually decide that on the general appetite for the economic development and what is happening in the town and what is coming. Right now I think it might be a bit early to do this (feasibility study). I would like to do this at some point but it is too soon.”
Coun. John Baswick said, “I would assume that somebody coming into the area and wanting to build a hotel would do their study to see if it is even feasible to do that.”
Deputy mayor Curt Engel said, “I would be in favour of this.”
Coun. Bill Windsor said, “I believe that if a hotel chain was going to come in or investors were going to come in and consider putting a hotel in in this community they are going to do their own feasibility study. I’m not in favour of this. I think this needs to be put off.”
Mayor Rhonda Hunter said, “I can’t support it at this time.”
Council carried a motion to accept the hotel feasibility study proposal as information, with deputy mayor Engel voting against.
