Review: JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District

What We Loved: This is a property that consistently executes. Over the years, its become my go-to spot in Edmonton when I’m in town, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

What We Didn’t Love: While this is a rather minor gripe, the Executive Lounge staff could be more transparent about the pricing of evening cocktails. 

How to Book: When redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points, expect to pay 35,000–55,000 points per night. In some cases, you can use a Free Night Award. Cash prices range from $250–600+. Expect to pay more during Oilers games and events.

If you’re booking a cash rate, be sure to get in touch with our in-house luxury travel agency, Prince Collection, for a quote. We’re able to offer extra benefits through the Marriott STARS program, such as daily breakfast for two, a property credit, and more, all at the same price as a flexible rate.

Ever since it opened in Summer 2019, the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District has become a hub of activity in Edmonton’s revitalized downtown core. 

I’ve stayed here a number of times over the years, and I consider it to be one of the best Marriott properties in Canada.

If you’re planning a trip to Alberta’s capital, be sure to give the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District a look, for all the reasons we’ll explore in this review.

JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District – About the Property

The JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District opened its doors on August 1, 2019 as a key part of the ICE District in Edmonton’s downtown core.

At the time, it became the third JW Marriott property in Canada, following the JW Marriott Parq in Vancouver and JW Marriott The Rousseau Muskoka Resort & Spa.

The hotel is connected to Rogers Place, a hub for hockey games and live events, and also to Edmonton’s pedway system to make for a more comfortable walk around town in the cold winter months.

JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District – Location

The JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District is located in the heart of Edmonton’s revitalized downtown, in an area that is bustling with activity.

The main entrance to the hotel has a covered passenger drop-off area, valet, and taxi stand, with the JW Marriott griffin standing guard nearby. I particularly enjoy the look of the main entrance at night, when the pillars are lit up and everything is nicely illuminated.

Upon entering the hotel, you’ll be greeted by a large lobby lounge area complete with a fireplace and several TVs. There is also a bar and two restaurants on the main level of the hotel.

The check-in area is designed with large wooden desks with artwork made from Edmonton Oilers memorabilia. Indeed, hockey is a very common theme throughout this hotel, which is great news if you’re a sports fan or there to catch a game.

While I’d booked into a base-level room, I was very pleased to see that I’d been upgraded to a One-Bedroom Suite on this occasion. Over the years, I’ve had good luck with confirming upgrades through Nightly Upgrade Awards, and by way of “suite-talking“. 

After a brief rundown of the services and amenities I could access as a Platinum Elite member, I was given the key and headed up to our room.

JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District – One-Bedroom Suite

My wife, infant son, and I headed up to the top floor of the hotel and entered our suite. This happened to be our first trip by air since becoming parents, and we were grateful for the extra space to use while our son enjoyed his early bedtime.

The suite is spacious, and came with a huge bathroom with a soaker tub and a separate shower, a large living area with a separate bar, and a cozy king bed in the bedroom.

In the bathroom, you’ll find amenities from Aromatherapy Associates and comfy bath robes, and in the living room you’ll find an Illy coffee maker and a unique ice menu.

I was also very happy to see the thoughtful arrangements the staff had made for our son, including a play area and a variety of toys and bath amenities. I’ve come to appreciate hotels that go out of their way for families, and if I didn’t already have enough reasons to come back to this hotel, I now have more.

There is definitely an Albertan motif in the decorations in the room. Above the headboard, there are portraits of oil derricks pumping in a field, and in the living room is a piece depicting the North Saskatchewan River which runs through Edmonton’s river valley. Plus, the alarm clocks look like hockey pucks.

Our room looked out over Rogers Place and Edmonton’s downtown, and the ample amount of windows let in a lot of natural daylight.

JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District – Executive Lounge

Just down the hallway from our room on the 22nd floor is the hotel’s Executive Lounge, which is available to guests with Platinum Elite status or above, or who book onto eligible floors.

The lounge is situated in the corner of the hotel, with views of the downtown core. 

The larger room has a variety of seating areas, a big-screen TV, and uniquely, a functional record player. Closer to the buffet is a dining area, though you can also enjoy your snacks at other spots in the lounge.

A small breakfast buffet is served here in the morning, while in the evening you’ll find a selection of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, as well as a bartender on site for drinks.

There are pretzels, chips, popcorn, nuts, and cookies available throughout the day, as well as a coffee machine, drip coffee, a nice selection of tea, non-alcoholic drinks, and still/sparkling water on tap.

During our stay, we popped in for evening hors d’oeuvres and a quick breakfast in the mornings. 

When we entered, a staff member asked if we’d like anything to drink, and suggested an old fashioned. That sounded tasty to me, and since I was planning on enjoying a drink at the hotel while watching the hockey game on TV, I decided to take him up on the offer.

As we got ready to leave the lounge, we were handed a cheque for the drink which I was happy to pay. However, I think the lounge staff could make it transparent that these aren’t complimentary drinks, but rather paid drinks (as is the case in North American hotel lounges, but not in other parts of the world). 

My cocktail was very tasty, and we also enjoyed some macarons and chocolates for something sweet.

JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District – Food & Drink

There’s no shortage of food and drink venues at the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District. Despite having stayed here a handful of times over the years, I haven’t had the chance to enjoy the facilities as my visits to the city are always busy with friends and family.

Braven is the hotel’s primary dining venue, serving steak, seafood, wood-fired delights, and more. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the main floor of the hotel.

Also on the main floor of the hotel is Kindred,  which serves lighter fare, barista-made coffee, salads, pasta, and more.

If you’re thirsty, be sure to check out Alchemy Bar, the hotel’s in-house cocktail bar. It gets busy here during hockey games, and you’ll have to keep an eye on the opening dates and hours since it’s not open seven days a week.

JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District – Other Facilities

At check-in, the associate mentioned that the gym, Archetype, was definitely worth checking out. She wasn’t joking.

This was by far the biggest and most elaborate gym I’ve come across at a hotel. It spans across an entire floor and has several studios, a boxing room, a spinning room, and a host of cardiovascular and weight training equipment.

Alas, although I felt inspired after taking a walk through the gym, I resigned to soaking in the hot tub and sitting in the steam room instead. The pool and hot tub area overlook Rogers Place, and the room has a lot of natural light coming in.

As it happens, when I was in the steam room I noticed a few members of the visiting NHL team that was in town having a steam, too.

The hotel connects with Edmonton’s Pedway system, which is a network of indoor walkways that connect various shopping centres, office buildings, and Rogers Place.

Lastly, this is a fun hotel to walk around and explore. There are plenty of little nooks to find a quiet place to work or have a chat, and there’s also some fun gems like a table hockey game that you might come across.

Conclusion

I’ve enjoyed my stays at the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District over the past six years, and I look forward to returning here whenever my travels bring me back to Edmonton.

I appreciate the hotel’s many facilities, location, and rooms, and I look forward to trying the restaurants and bar in the future.

If you’re visiting Edmonton and want an elevated stay, look no further than the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District.