Review: Renaissance Edmonton Airport

During the Winter 2022 travel chaos, my wife and I were stuck in Edmonton for two nights as we tried to navigate our way back to Vancouver Island. We spent the first night of the delay at the Four Points Edmonton Airport, which we paid for out-of-pocket.

For our second night, I asked the Concierge in the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Edmonton if we were eligible for accommodation due to the delay, and much to my surprise and delight, she informed us that we were.

To makes things better, our voucher indicated that we’d be staying at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport, which is attached to the airport. Having grown up in Edmonton, I’d driven past this hotel many times, and I was keen to check out the interior once and for all.

Renaissance Edmonton Airport – Booking

We were fortunate to have our accommodations covered by Air Canada, which is required by the Air Passenger Protection Regulations due to the cause of some flight delays. 

This became my first time being provided with a hotel during a delay, and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting my query to bear any fruit. 

Regular cash rates at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport fall around $200 (CAD) at the low end and climb upwards of $400 (CAD) at the high end. A quick glance through the calendar shows higher prices from Sunday–Thursday, and lower prices on Fridays and Saturdays.

Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points for a night will require 17,000–22,000 points throughout the year.

Compared to our target valuation of Bonvoy points at 0.9 cents per point, you can certainly get good value for your points when the cash prices skew high. Otherwise, it’s likely best to save your points for a more valuation redemption if the price is at the lower end for your stay.

It’s worth noting that my sister and her family were stranded at the airport a few years ago when WestJet cancelled one of their connecting flights back to Australia. She found out that the Renaissance Edmonton Airport has a “distressed traveller rate”, which they used to keep the kids entertained at the pool while they dealt with the delay.

The rate gave them a room and use of the facilities for a few hours, so it’s worth considering if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Renaissance Edmonton Airport – Location

The Renaissance Edmonton Airport is connected to Edmonton International Airport on the northern edge of the check-in areas.

If you have an early flight from Edmonton, you won’t have to deal with any hotel shuttles or waking up in the middle of the night to get to the airport on time. Edmonton’s airport is around half an hour from the downtown core at the best of times, and takes even longer to reach from many other parts of the city.

There isn’t a lot else close to the airport. You’ll find a large Costco nearby, as well as an outlet mall and a few stores on the drive in from the highway.

Renaissance Edmonton Airport – Check-In

The hotel has the theme of ice throughout, from the exterior to the rooms and even at the pool. Given that it was close to 40 below at the time, it couldn’t have been a more fitting place to stay.

Walking to the hotel without having to put a winter jacket on or stand outside waiting for a shuttle was great, and the short journey along a pathway to the hotel was painless. It only took a few minutes to get from the baggage area to the front desk, which I must say is heaps better than waiting for a shuttle to an offsite hotel.

There was an art exhibit in part of the pathway, which we stopped to look at before we checked in. You’ll also find an airline check-in kiosk as you approach the hotel, which is handy if you need to print off a boarding pass for your flight.

The lobby lounge is basically an extension of the nearby bar, and we passed through a colourful light display as we transitioned from one area to the next.

There are a few seats dotted around the lobby lounge, with some behind a large white structure that resembles a Connect 4 board. 

At the check-in desks, we handed the associate our voucher, and she confirmed that we had been assigned one of the last remaining rooms in the hotel that night. She also added my Marriott Bonvoy number to the booking, which allowed us to enjoy the benefits from my Platinum status.

Before long, she handed us the room keys, and we headed up to the seventh floor to relax and contemplate our next move for getting back to BC amidst all the travel chaos.

Renaissance Edmonton Airport – King Guest Room

We stayed in a base-level room, which makes up the majority of the hotel’s accommodations. There are other rooms available with two queen beds instead of a single king, rooms with runway views and Club Lounge access on higher floors, and a small number of suites.

As you enter the room, you’ll find a frosted-glass door to the bathroom on the right, in keeping with the frozen design found throughout the rest of the hotel.

The room then opens up into the bedroom, with the king bed taking centre stage. Note the wallpaper behind the bed and the bedside lights fitting in with the hotel’s theme.

Between the bed and the window is a lounge chair with an ottoman and a nearby glass coffee table.

The view from our window overlooked an industrial area and a parking lot, with possible peek-a-boo views of planes on the final approach or taking off.

On the wall opposite from the bed is a flat-screen TV, desk, and minibar area. Note the ice design above the desk.

The Keurig coffee maker sits on a glass shelf to the right of the TV, and came stocked with caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee pods, as well as some tea.

Between the bedroom and the bathroom is a small closet, which is revealed as you slide the frosted bathroom door closed. Inside, there were a few coat hangers and an ironing board.

The bathroom takes a bit of a departure from the frozen theme, with wallpaper showcasing a number of jean-clad behinds.

The setup of the bathroom is simple, with a a single sink, toilet, and a walk-in shower.

Overall, the room was entirely functional for our needs, which were really just a place to stay while we were stuck in transit. The bed was comfortable and the room was quiet, and I actually found the ice theme to be a bit amusing.

Renaissance Edmonton Airport – Executive Lounge

The Executive Lounge is located on the main floor of the hotel, just to the left of the elevators.

We enjoyed access to the lounge through my Platinum status, as would anyone with Titanium or Ambassador Elite status. Guests who don’t have status but who are staying on specific floors can also enjoy access to the Executive Lounge.

I popped by in the evening to check out the space. It appears to be more modern than the rest of the hotel, and noticeably absent from the lounge was any vestige of an ice-related decoration.

There are a few different seating options available in the lounge. You’ll find a bench that runs along the back of the buffet area, which faces a table with chairs for up to three more people.

Along the back edge of the lounge are high-top chairs, and in the middle, you’ll find circular wooden tables with three or four chairs set up. There’s also a comfortable seating area around a TV tucked into the corner of the lounge.

In the evening, you’ll find some soft drinks and hot beverages available in the lounge. There’s also a light offering of snacks in the form of chocolate bars, granola bars, potato chips, fruit, and a single tray of finger foods.

In the morning, a breakfast buffet is put on for eligible guests. The selection was more substantial than the evening service, which isn’t unusual for a North American hotel lounge.

Hot items available during our stay included bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, and waffles. There was also a selection of pastries, baked goods, fresh fruit, yogurt, and berries.

The automatic Nespresso coffee maker was getting quite a workout that morning, as many guests popped in to whip up a coffee to take with them. I appreciated that this machine had an automatic milk frothing function, too, which is something that I don’t typically see.

The hot breakfast hit the spot before we headed back to the airport to figure out a way to get home. It was a nice departure from the airline lounge food we’d been eating for the majority of the two days before.

Renaissance Edmonton Airport – Dining

Halo Bar and Bistro is the hotel’s main dining facility. It’s located near the lobby, and is split into two sections.

The bar area is open to the rest of the hotel, and has more comfortable seating options. There are couches and chairs scattered throughout the space, with plenty of TV screens playing live sports.

The bistro part of Halo Bar and Bistro is to the left of the bar, and has more private seating areas behind a closed door.

We wound up ordering a burger, fries, and some olives to tide us over for the evening, and brought it back up to our room.

The meal hit the spot, and the order of olives was much larger than we had expected it to be.

Renaissance Edmonton Airport – Other Facilities

On the bottom floor of the hotel is the fitness centre and pool. 

The fitness centre is open around the clock, and features a modest selection of standard equipment.

The nearby pool is open from 6am–10pm daily, with an adults-only hour from 10–11pm. Again, note the ice-themed design reflected in the chairs, lighting, and beluga whales on the wall.

Unfortunately, the whirlpool was lukewarm at best when I came down for a soak. I’m not sure if that was due to the weather outside and everything else being cold, or if there was some sort of ongoing issue.

Behind the bar section of Halo Bar and Bistro is a library-like area. It appeared to be a comfortable spot to get some work done or to converse with friends.

Just before entering the pathway to get back into the airport, you’ll find a small automated Starbucks store, where you can purchase a coffee to go if you’d like.

Conclusion

The Renaissance Edmonton Airport is a conveniently located hotel with an Executive Lounge, a bustling bar, and direct access to the airport. If you have an early departure or are stuck in transit, you won’t have to worry about travelling far to catch your flight.

The rooms are quiet and the hotel has enough amenities to make for a comfortable stay. Hopefully, the issue with the whirlpool during our visit was temporary.

The ice-themed design throughout the hotel was interesting, and with the appearance of a renovated lounge, it looks like the rest of the hotel may be due for an update.

I don’t hope to be stuck in transit for two days again, but if it happens in Edmonton, I’ll be looking to stay at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport for the convenience of not having to catch a shuttle bus.