Review: Renaissance Edmonton Airport | Prince of Travel

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.