edmontons best hotels

Edmonton Winter Festivals, Part 1

It wouldn’t be winter in Edmonton without winter festivals!  Well known as the festival city, events during the colder months truly embrace our winter city status.  Over two parts, we’ll profile some of our most beloved events and share a couple extra tidbits to help you round out your visit to each.  While both events are family-friendly, parents looking for a day of learning and fun will love our ideas for a day in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood. 

Ice on Whyte

Started in 2003, Ice on Whyte has become a staple event brightening up the gloomy dark days that follow the holidays.  Located in the vibrant Old Strathcona neighbourhood, this year’s event will be held in Dr. Wilbert McIntyre Park.  The festival features extraordinary ice sculptures from some of Canada’s best ice carving artists.  Look at some previous years’ carvings to get an idea of the amazing work you’ll get to see!  

Tickets are available to purchase online for the event which runs from January 27 to February 6 but be sure to note that hours are different for weekdays vs. weekends.  All the info you need can be found here.

When you’re ready for a bit of a break to get toasty warm again, nestled in the back alley of 82nd street just a few steps from the festival is Sugared and Spiced Baked Goods.  Have a hot coffee or tea paired with one of the delightful sweets prepared from scratch – one bite and you’ll be hooked.

Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Fete

For 15 years, Deep Freeze has been invigorating the community in and around 118 Avenue, also known as Alberta Avenue.  The theme for 2022 is Under the Ancient Arctic Sky and visitors will experience “light installations, ice sculptures, cultural stories and winter artistic panache” at three different locations:  Pipon Village, Borden Park and The Carrot Community Arts Coffee Shop.

Deep Freeze is on from January 14 to the 23 and each location has different days, hours, and events to see.  Be sure to check the website in advance of your visit to make sure you don’t miss any of the elements you’re hoping to see.  This amazing event is free of charge and run by the dedicated volunteers associated with Arts on the Ave.  Arts on the Ave has been devoted to developing the Alberta Avenue area into a community arts district since 2005.

The Alberta Avenue neighbourhood is also one of Edmonton’s oldest!  Post-festival, you can take a short walk to see three of the city’s celebrated historical buildings:  the John McNeill Residence, McTaggart Residence and Norwood School.  The buildings represent two eras in architectural design in Edmonton, Urban Growth from 1905 – 1913 and the War Years from 1914 – 1945.

Have you attended either of these events?  What was your favourite experience?  Tell us in the comments!  

Possibly the best part about your winter visit to Edmonton will be our 1, 2, 3 Pick Your Rewards Deal.  

The deal includes your hotel booking at the best available rate PLUS high-value inclusions that you pick yourself, but that’s not all.  Stay more nights, get more value with various options including gas cards, Ultimate Dining Cards and prepaid MasterCards.  

Learn more and book soon because this one’s only available while supplies last!

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Terms and Conditions

The “1,2, 3 Pick Your Rewards”, Terms and Conditions and Blackout Dates 

Rewards Program campaign dates

Reward package available to book from January 5, 2022 for stays to December 31, 2024 for rewards except for possible blackout dates. At present there are no blackout dates scheduled.

Rewards are subject to while supplies last.  Substitutions of equivalent kind, value may be made as necessary.  Rewards are non-transferable, no cash value, no cash back.

  • Rewards are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, have no cash value, no cash back.
  • Rewards cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.
  • Reward deal is net non-commissionable.

Blackout dates

At present there are no blackout dates scheduled. 

In the event blackout dates are scheduled, any guest who makes a booking for a hotel stay during the blackout period prior to the blackout period being named will receive the rewards they are booked for. 

Rewards Program offerings

Book one night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of three $50 rewards excluding blackout dates:

  • $50 Gas Card or
  • $50 Prepaid Mastercard, or
  • $50 Ultimate Dining Card

Book two night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of five reward packages excluding blackout dates:

  • $150 prepaid MasterCard, or
  • $75 Gas card and $75 MasterCard, or
  • $75 Gas card and $75 Ultimate Dining Card, or

Book three night’s stay with Edmonton’s Best Hotels and receive your choice of one of four reward packages excluding blackout dates:

  • Three Night Reward 1: $225 Prepaid Mastercard
  • Three Night Reward 3: $75 Ultimate Dining Card + $75 Prepaid Mastercard + $75 Gas Card

One choice of reward per stay. 

Guest must be 18 years of age or older at time of redemption. 

Prepaid Mastercard’s can be used for online purchases only. In Canada, prepaid Mastercard’s cannot be used at any retail outlet (including your hotel) with point-of-sale systems.

Rewards distribution

Rewards will be emailed directly to guests within 48 hours of Edmonton’s Best Hotels confirming their check-in.  Rewards are not provided by the hotel’s front desk.   All rewards are sent electronically. 

Reservations

Guest must reserve a minimum of 24 hours prior to arrival.

Rewards are NOT available for reservations made less than 24 hours in advance of arrival.

Reservations made directly with hotels and not through Edmonton’s Best Hotels are not eligible for rewards. No exceptions. Rewards are only provided to guests who book through Edmonton’s Best Hotels online booking platform.  Booking reservation confirmations will have Edmonton’s Best Hotels branding on them. Rewards not provided for hotel reservations during specified blackout dates.

Reservations cannot be extended by hotels for additional rewards.

Guests may add a night to an existing one-night deal reservation and receive additional rewards if the request is made a minimum of 24 hours in advance of arrival.

Booking terms and conditions

Rewards provided for more than one night, must be for consecutive nights under one registration under one name at one property. In addition, no more than up to three consecutive nights will be honoured. If a guest checks in for three days and then checks out and re-checks in for the next day, this is considered a consecutive night booking even if the second booking is made at different hotel.  

There must be a minimum of three days between bookings.

Multiple reservations for the same person for the same night(s) is considered a double booking and only one of those bookings will be eligible for rewards. For example, if a guest books two nights on x and y date and then makes another two-night booking for the same dates at the same hotel or another hotel, EBH considers this a double booking and will honour rewards for only one of those bookings. 

Is there a limit on the number of bookings I make on different dates?  Edmonton Best Hotels welcomes repeat business.  Some of our guests visit Edmonton every month.  Please note as stated earlier there must be a minimum of three days between bookings. Please also note stated blackout dates.

Cancelling and date changes to reservations

If a guest wants to cancel or change the dates of their booking.

What if I want to cancel my booking?  Edmonton Best Hotels must cancel your booking (not the hotel).  If you want to cancel, contact info@edmh.ca and let us know.  We will cancel your booking and send you a cancellation number for your records.  Please do not cancel directly with the hotel.

What if I want to change the dates of my booking?  You must contact Edmonton Best Hotels at info@edmh.ca and let us know you want to make a date change.  Your original booking must be cancelled first.  You will receive a cancellation number for your records.  Then, you must rebook for your new dates.  The hotel nor Edmonton’s Best Hotels cannot make date changes to the original booking.  Please note this does not guarantee you will receive the same hotel rate when you rebook for different dates.

Any questions, please contact Edmonton Best Hotels at info@edmh.ca 

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