When hotels want to publicize their surroundings, the first inclination is to hype the amenities of the city or any tourist attractions that might draw visitors to the municipality. Then there’s the Metterra Hotel on Whyte, which chooses instead to spotlight its neighbourhood. Unusual? Perhaps, save for the fact that Metterra’s surroundings that comprise Old Strathcona is no ordinary neighbourhood.
“The neighbourhood is what entices them,” says Jane Jess, Director of Demand and Reputation Management for the hotel division of Westcorp, which owns Metterra.
“So, from a marketing perspective, we always want to make sure that we are talking about it, showcasing a number of businesses that are unique to the area, attractions like the Farmers' Market, Arts Barn, Varscona Theatre and, of course, the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival.”
