Hotel rooms are scarce for NHL Heritage Classic weekend

Hotel rooms in the Queen City for the weekend of the NHL Heritage Classic are a hot commodity.

Fans who plan to travel to Regina for the game between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 26 may find it difficult to secure a hotel room right now, a full six months ahead of the event.

Searches on many hotel websites show little or no vacancy for the weekend of the game.

“The majority of rooms have been booked at this point,” said Erin Stankewich, the director of marketing and sponsorship investments with the Regina Hotel Association.

Stankewich said most rooms were snatched up by fans amid the excitement of the initial announcement, before tickets to the Heritage Classic actually went on sale.

According to Stankewich, hotel rooms are often scooped up ahead of large events, especially ones with such prestige as the Heritage Classic. However, she said there is hope for fans who don’t have a room booked yet, as the hotel association is anticipating turnover closer to the game.

“Sometimes (guests) change their plans or don’t need as many rooms as they first thought and rooms become available,” said Stankewich.

The hotel association also works with the Heritage Classic event organizer to provide enough rooms for those putting on the event. Stankewich didn’t say how many rooms are being held but explained any rooms that aren’t being used by the organizers would go back onto the market.

Hockey fans who are still searching for a place to stay in Regina are told to remain persistent in checking with the hotels closer to the event. Stankewich recommends checking directly with each hotel as they would have the most up-to-date information on available rooms.