JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District

The JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District, a Michelin Key Selected property, is widely regarded as a premier luxury destination in Edmonton, praised for its exceptional location, sophisticated design, and outstanding service. It consistently garners positive guest feedback, making it a top choice for both leisure and business travelers.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District is overwhelmingly positive, with an average rating around 4.6 out of 5 across various review platforms. Guests frequently describe their stays as "fantastic" and consider it among the best hotels in Edmonton.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District:

• Location: Its prime position within the ICE District, directly connected to Rogers Place via a "plus 15" covered walkway, is a significant draw, especially for those attending events or sports games, allowing them to avoid cold weather.
• Service: The staff consistently receives high praise for being exceptionally friendly, professional, accommodating, and welcoming. Many reviews highlight personalized touches for special occasions like anniversaries or birthdays.
• Design & Ambiance: The hotel boasts a modern, sophisticated design with custom furnishings and artwork inspired by Alberta's natural landscape and local motifs, such as oil derricks and the North Saskatchewan River. Unique touches like hockey puck-shaped alarm clocks add to its character.
• Amenities: The property offers a range of high-end amenities, including the luxurious Spa by JW, a large and well-equipped Archetype fitness club (13,000 sq ft) with various classes, an indoor pool, and a whirlpool. The Executive Lounge is also a valued amenity for eligible guests.

3. Room Quality

Rooms are generally described as clean, spacious, and comfortable, featuring modern decor, marble bathrooms, custom artwork, and high-tech connectivity. Suites often provide expansive city views and can include thoughtful arrangements for families, such as play areas and special bath amenities for children. However, a common criticism relates to the pillows, which many guests find too soft and lacking support, sometimes recommending guests bring their own. Some guests also felt standard rooms were smaller than expected for the price or lacked bathtubs. While suites are noted for higher-quality toiletries (Aromatherapy Associates), one guest expressed disappointment over generic soap in a suite.

4. Dining Experience

The JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District offers diverse dining options:

• Braven: The hotel's high-end chophouse, serving steak, seafood, and wood-fired dishes, is frequently lauded for its "fantastic" food, particularly for dinner.
• Kindred Food + Drink: This venue offers lighter fare, barista-made coffee, salads, and Italian-American cuisine, with the truffle pasta receiving specific praise.
• The Lobby Bar & Alchemy Bar: Both provide urban glamour, with Alchemy known for its well-made cocktails, though it can get busy during hockey games.
• Breakfast: Cooked-to-order breakfast is available for a fee. While some reviews indicate breakfast quality can be "ok," others have enjoyed waffles and coffee at Braven. The Executive Lounge also serves a small breakfast buffet.
• Room Service: Guests report delicious and hot room service options. The hotel also offers a unique "ice menu" for specialty ice cubes.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff are consistently highlighted as a major strength of the hotel. Guests frequently use words like "friendly," "professional," "accommodating," "helpful," "welcoming," and "engaging" to describe their interactions. Many appreciate how staff go "above and beyond" to make stays special, including personalized touches for anniversaries and welcome packages for children.

6. Location & Accessibility

Located in the vibrant heart of Edmonton's ICE District, the hotel offers exceptional accessibility. It's directly connected to Rogers Place, home of the Edmonton Oilers, via an enclosed pedway, which is a major advantage during colder months. The hotel is also steps away from downtown events, the Arts District, the River Valley trail system, and numerous other restaurants and attractions. Underground and valet parking are available, though valet services come with a higher fee.

7. Value & Pricing

As a luxury property, the JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District's pricing reflects its high-end offerings. Cash rates typically range from $220 to over $600 per night, with prices often increasing significantly during major events like Oilers games. Marriott Bonvoy points can be redeemed, often around 35,000 points per night. While many guests feel the overall experience, convenience, and quality justify the cost, the "value for money" rating is slightly lower than other categories (around 4.2 out of 5), suggesting some guests perceive it as expensive, especially if rooms are smaller than anticipated.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, recurring criticisms include:

• Pillows: A frequent complaint is that the pillows are too soft and lack adequate support.
• Room Size/Amenities: Some guests find standard rooms to be smaller than expected for the price, and some note the absence of bathtubs in certain rooms, offering only showers.
• Maintenance Issues: Isolated reports mention issues such as non-functional TVs, loud draining bathtubs, a strong perfume smell in one suite, or a non-functional fridge.
• Dining Cost/Selection: One guest noted that the lunch menu at Braven had limited choices and was quite expensive.
• Executive Lounge Drink Clarity: A minor point of confusion arose for one guest regarding whether drinks in the Executive Lounge were complimentary or paid.
• Parking Fees: Valet parking, while convenient, is considered pricey by some.

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