Over the past 365 days, Alberta’s hotel real estate market has seen diverse activity across a range of rural and urban communities. At least 158 hotel properties were recorded, with 58 active, 58 sold, 37 expired, and 5 terminated listings.

Hotel prices spanned from as low as $7,000 to nearly $9.5 million, with the average listing priced around $1.5 million. Most properties fell within the $500,000 to $1.5 million range, with budget-friendly opportunities still available under $500,000, particularly in smaller towns like Hardisty, Delia, and Innisfree.

Active listings averaged 210 days on the market (DOM), while sold properties averaged 197 days, suggesting a moderately paced market. Notably, expired listings had a much higher average DOM of 288 days, indicating that overpricing or limited buyer interest remains a challenge in some regions.

Cities like Red Deer, Medicine Hat, and Stettler stood out for having multiple transactions across all listing categories. High-value sales were observed in Lethbridge, Red Deer, and Taber, with several properties exceeding $3 million. Meanwhile, opportunities under $1 million remain strong in smaller rural areas, often featuring older yet functional buildings.

Buyers seeking quicker returns may benefit from focusing on active listings with low DOM and mid-range prices, while sellers should remain cautious about overpricing, especially in slower rural markets.

🔹 1. Overview by Hotel Listing Status

🔹 2. Price Distribution (All Listings)

• Under $500K: 33 properties

• $500K–$999K: 44 properties

• $1M–$2.99M: 36 properties

• $3M–$5.99M: 21 properties

• $6M and above: 6 properties

🔹 3. Market Activity Insights

Top 3 Most Expensive Active Listings

1. Lethbridge – $7,850,000 | 41,084 sqft

2. Fort McMurray – $4,900,000 | 33,957 sqft

3. Banff – $3,350,000 | 5,221 sqft (historic building, 1908)

Top 3 Sold Listings

1. Taber – $3,700,000 | 20,396 sqft

2. Red Deer – $3,340,000 | 27,803 sqft

3. Lethbridge – $2,500,000 | 37,200 sqft

🔹 4. Average Metrics by Status

🔹 5. Notable Trends

• Red Deer, Medicine Hat, and Stettler were high-activity hubs with multiple listings across all status types.

• Older buildings (pre-1950) are still active in rural areas and often priced under $1M.

• Larger and newer hotels (post-1990, 20,000+ sqft) often occupy the $2M+ range, especially in cities like Lethbridge and Slave Lake.

• Long DOM listings (over 500 days) tend to be in small rural markets or require substantial renovation.

🔹 6. Recommendations for Investors

• Quick sales (<100 DOM) are clustered around $300K–$1.3M, ideal for budget-conscious investors.

• Look out for expired listings with long DOM—they may offer negotiation leverage if re-listed.

• Active properties with low DOM (under 50 days) include Hardisty, Delia, and St. Paul – potential hot spots.

Overall, Alberta’s hotel sector offers a wide range of investment options—from entry-level motels to high-capacity urban properties—positioning the province as a strong yet balanced market for commercial real estate investors in 2025.

✅ 1. Mobile Car Detailing Service

• Why It Works: Calgary’s long winters and busy commuters create strong demand for mobile services.

• Startup Costs: $10,000–$25,000

• Needs: Van or car, pressure washer, cleaning supplies, marketing

• Bonus: Can operate year-round with heated garages or enclosed tents.

✅ 2. Home Cleaning or Airbnb Turnover Service

• Why It Works: High rental turnover and busy professionals in the city.

• Startup Costs: $5,000–$10,000

• Needs: Cleaning supplies, liability insurance, website or booking system

• Target: Residential homes, condos, short-term rentals

✅ 3. Niche Food Stall or Ghost Kitchen

• Why It Works: Calgary’s growing interest in diverse food options and delivery.

• Startup Costs: $20,000–$40,000

• Examples: Bubble tea, ethnic snacks, keto meals, hot dog stand

• Bonus: Operate from commercial shared kitchens to avoid high rent.

✅ 4. Pet Services (Grooming, Walking, Sitting)

• Why It Works: Pet ownership in Calgary is high, and many services are underserved.

• Startup Costs: $3,000–$15,000

• Options: Mobile grooming, dog walking, in-home sitting, pet taxi

• Flexibility: Home-based and scalable

✅ 5. Landscaping and Snow Removal

• Why It Works: Seasonal demand is high, especially in residential suburbs.

• Startup Costs: $10,000–$30,000

• Equipment: Lawn mowers, snow blowers, trailer, shovels

• Clients: Homeowners, townhouses, and small business buildings

✅ 6. Digital Marketing or Social Media Agency

• Why It Works: Many small businesses in Calgary lack in-house digital marketing expertise.

• Startup Costs: $2,000–$8,000

• Skills: SEO, Facebook/Google Ads, branding, content creation

• Work from: Home or coworking spaces

✅ 7. Personal Fitness Trainer or Yoga Coach

• Why It Works: Increasing wellness trend and flexible, low-cost operations.

• Startup Costs: $2,000–$10,000

• Setup: Rent studio hours or offer in-home/online classes

• Certifications: Preferred but not always mandatory

✅ 8. Custom Printing & Embroidery (Apparel or Promo Items)

• Why It Works: Demand from local schools, sports teams, businesses

• Startup Costs: $15,000–$40,000

• Tools: Heat press, vinyl cutter, DTG or embroidery machine (basic)

• Sales: Online store, event booths, or business contracts

✅ 9. Tutoring or Educational Services

• Why It Works: High demand for academic and language support for children and immigrants.

• Startup Costs: $1,000–$5,000

• Subjects: Math, science, ESL, university prep

• Mode: Home-based or virtual

✅ 10. Specialty Reselling or Thrift Flipping

• Why It Works: Low barrier to entry, trendy among younger buyers

• Startup Costs: $500–$5,000

• Platforms: Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, eBay

• Items: Vintage clothing, collectibles, electronics, refurbished furniture

Alberta could run out of federally funded for-profit child-care spaces by this summer and, in anticipation, says it is limiting which new spaces receive the remaining dollars.

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Industry members were told this on Thursday via a letter signed by Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones, who would be switched in a cabinet shuffle the next day.

Under the Canada-Alberta Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement (CACWELCC), which the province signed in November 2021 and is set to expire on March 31, 2026, a cap of 26,200 child-care spaces are eligible for federal funding.

In the letter, Jones said Alberta’s requests for more flexibility have been denied, leaving the provincial government with the “difficult” decision about how to “best use” the remaining funding.

Effective May 15, affordability funding will be given first to existing for-profit programs that are creating space to meet a proven demand, as well as new private spaces in Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray and Canmore/Banff, where there are long waitlists. The operators must be in the final stage of the licensing process and open on or before Sept. 30, unless they have a different timeline outlined in a Space Creation Grant Agreement with the province.

The change is necessary “to address the immediate pressure caused by the federal cap,” Jones’ letter read.

But an operator who planned to open a second daycare this fall says it jeopardizes quality care for families who have been waiting and the livelihoods of those who invested in starting a new business.

“What can you say to parents who are expecting affordable care, but now we can’t provide it?” asked Rhesa Palaypay, one of the founders of Trinity Early Learning Academy.

Palaypay plans to still open the new location in St. Albert, but isn’t yet sure how she is going to make that happen. She estimated she has invested $750,000 since January 2024 into the new business, which she said she started because her first facility, Klarvatten Daycare, couldn’t keep up with demand.

“It is quite an investment and a lot of risk for us – and not only me. To all child-care operators.”

The chair of the Alberta chapter of the Association of Childcare Entrepreneurs says this latest development only makes the rollout of the provincial-federal program a larger mess.

She called the program’s design around space quotas and targets, rather than program quality and operator support, a fatal flaw.

“It makes it really hard to even want to be in this space. It’s expensive, it’s risky, and your partner in it … the federal government, the provincial government, nobody communicates with each other,” Krystal Churcher told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday.

“I think that we’re going to see a disaster in our child-care system over the next few years, where if we don’t correct it now, we’re going to have child care that is really declining in quality (and) we’re going to have children that are put in situations where there’s risk because the operators are brand new to this the field, and there’s not enough support.”

Alberta’s new education and childcare minister, Demetrios Nicolaides, on Wednesday reiterated the province needs to address the pressure caused by the federal cap, but said he’d be gathering feedback.

“I’ve been minister of childcare for maybe about three, four days, so one of the first things that I’ll be doing very shortly here is reaching out to many of those operators, advocacy organizations, umbrella groups, and chatting with them in a little more detail to try and get the best possible understanding of the pain points, challenges, concerns that we can work together to address them,” Nicolaides told reporters.

The province says licensed for-profit programs that don’t receive affordability funding can apply for wage top-up, professional development, and other kinds of funding for certified early childhood educators from the Alberta government.

New for-profit spaces that don’t meet this criteria won’t be eligible and parents who choose an ineligible program won’t see their fees reduced.

The change does not affect the non-profit program stream, nor the process and criteria for licensing. It also does not affect existing programs with an Affordability Grant or Space Creation Grant.

Alberta has not yet signed onto an extension of the CACWELCC.

Nicolaides said he wanted to have more robust discussions about Alberta’s needs during the renegotiation.

“I would suggest to operators, to parents, to the ministry, let’s not worry necessarily about reworking the program we’re in right now. We’re stuck here until March. Let’s make sure that we’re actually engaging with stakeholders and creating a really solid program and plan for April 1, because people are making business decisions right now,” Churcher said.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Chelan Skulski

By Alex Antoneshyn, CTV News, May 21, 2025