Meeting Places Alberta 2016

2016

SAVOUR ALBERTA Sophistication and rugged beauty blend in Canada’s true west

MEETINGPLACESAB

MEETING AND EVENT PLANNING IN AMAZING ALBERTA LISTINGS | MORE THAN 350 VENUES AROUND ALBERTA

$25

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FUN VENUES

MEET & EAT

GUEST RANCHES

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Take Your Meeting to Higher Ground Take advantage of the serenity and natural environment to elevate your next meeting.

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Connect with our meeting specialists: 1-403-591-6248 or e-mail sales@lodgeatkananaskis.com Visit: DeltaLodgeatKananaskis.com

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CONTENTS MEET & EAT

2016

SAVOUR ALBERTA Sophistication and rugged beauty blend in Canada’s true west

The only challenge in finding a great Alberta venue is choosing your menu

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MEETINGPLACESAB

MEETING AND EVENT PLANNING IN AMAZING ALBERTA LISTINGS | MORE THAN 350 VENUES AROUND ALBERTA

$25

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10

14

FUN VENUES

MEET & EAT

GUEST RANCHES

FEATURES Fun factor Meet & eat Lessons learned Meetings to remember When the going gets tough

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PUBLISHER: Sue Belisle EDITOR : Frank O’Brien GRAPHIC DESIGN: Randy Pearsall PRODUCTION: Rob Benac WRITERS : Rob Alexander, Andrea Cox,

Pat Johnson, Geoff Kirbyson, Baila Lazarus, Anh Nguyen PROOFREADER: Meg Yamamoto ADVERTISING SALES : Lori Borden, Joan McGrogan, Corinne Tkachuk ADMINISTRATOR: Katherine Butler RESEARCHER: Anna Liczmanska, Carrie Schmidt

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ASSOCIATION MESSAGES

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PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS FOR MEETING AND EVENT PLANNERS

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MEETING PLACES AT A GLANCE

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Meeting Places Alberta 2016 is published

by BIV Magazines, a division of BIV Media Group, 303 Fifth Avenue West, Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 1J6, 604-688-2398, fax 604-688-1963, www.biv.com.

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MEETINGS TO REMEMBER

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Copyright 2015 Business in Vancouver Magazines. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or incorporated into any information retrieval system without permission of BIV Magazines. The list of services provided in this publication is not necessarily a complete list of all such services available in Vancouver, B.C. The publishers are not responsible in whole or in part for any errors or omissions in this publication.

ISSN 1205-5662

Alberta’s guest ranches provide an authentic western experience for team building or retreats

BIGGER IS BETTER Breathtaking and surprising Northern Alberta embraces the majesty of its giant landscape

HIGH IN ALBERTA 32 The western highlands welcome the world to towering retreats

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ALBERTA BY THE REGION OVERVIEW AND LISTINGS

CALGARY & AREA EDMONTON & AREA ALBERTA ROCKIES CENTRAL ALBERTA SOUTHERN ALBERTA NORTHERN ALBERTA

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Publications Mail Agreement No: 40051199. Registration No: 8876. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Department: 303 Fifth Avenue West, Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 1J6 Email: subscribe@biv.com Cover: Chateau Lake Louise Fairmont chef welcomes visitors to the Alberta Rockies.

Photo: Banff Lake Louise Tourism Association/ Chateau Lake Louise Fairmont

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Association messages

ISES | THINK GLOBAL, ACT LOCAL The International Special Events Society (ISES) has been a valued and trusted partner in the events industry for 25 years. We serve an industry that generates over $200 billion for the global economy and supports over four million jobs. ISES is the principal association representing the creative events professional, globally.

ISES members are regarded as the very best in what they do, creating a powerful and influential community of event professionals around the world, working together to find new ways to communicate through the power of live events.

Our Edmonton chapter is excited for this upcoming

year and has planned a solid educational calendar complete with networking, sponsorship and showcase opportunities with great value to our members and partners.

We remain focused on creating meaningful connections for our members and beyond.

ISES Edmonton is always seeking new ways to connect, create and inspire. We seek partnerships and find ways to work together to strengthen ourselves professionally and our industry as a whole.

For more information on ISES Edmonton, visit www.isescanada. ca/edmonton.

Milena Santoro, president, ISES Edmonton

PCMA | PCMA CONFERENCE STARTS A NEW YEAR The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) aims to deliver superior, innovative education and promote the value of professional convention management. Representing 6,500-plus meeting-industry leaders globally, our members include planner and trade show/exhibit professionals, suppliers, faculty, students and emeriti.

At the successful Canadian Innovation Conference, which was held November 22-24, 2015 in Toronto, we once again brought together meeting and event professionals and suppliers to experience educational content in an environment customized to the Canadian market. We know many of you expanded your peer network while earning continuing education units at

this exciting event.

Vancouver will be hosting the annual conference for PCMA Convening Leaders, January 10-13, 2016. This is the premier education and networking conference where leading meeting professionals gather to advance their professional development and discover new ideas, solutions and approaches, and network with peers for meeting success. Registration is now open for this exciting event.

The Canada West chapter holds numerous educational, networking and social events throughout the year. Please check www.pcma.org/cw for further details. We can’t wait to see you at our next event.

Grit Schoenherr, president, Canada West chapter, Professional Convention Management Association

Professional associations for meeting and event planners Professional associations provide a means of pooling resources and giving a unified voice to working professionals who share common interests. They may represent broad national and international interests or cover specialty niches within the event-planning industry. In addition to providing forums for like-minded meeting and event-planning professionals, associations offer a wealth of resources, including newsletters, magazines and other reference materials.

Association of Destination Management Executives www.adme.org Business Events Industry Coalition of Canada www.beicc.com Canadian Association of Exposition Management www.caem.ca Canadian Association of Professional Speakers www.canadianspeakers.org Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners www.canspep.ca Canadian University and College Conference Organizers Association www.cuccoa.org Center for Exhibition Industry Research www.ceir.org Connected International Meeting Professionals Association www.cimpa.org Convention Centres of Canada www.conventioncentrescanada.org Convention Industry Council www.conventionindustry.org Corporate Event Marketing Association www.cemaonline.com Destination Marketing Association International www.destinationmarketing.org

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Exhibit & Event Marketers Association www.e2ma.org Exhibit Designers + Producers Association www.edpa.com Exhibition Services & Contractors Association www.esca.org Event Service Professionals Association www.acomonline.org Financial & Insurance Conference Planners www.ficpnet.com Global Business Travel Association – Canada www.nbta.org/canada Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association www.hcea.org Incentive Marketing Association www.incentivemarketing.org International Association of Conference Centres www.iacconline.org International Association of Convention Centres www.aipc.org International Association of Exhibitions and Events www.iaee.com International Association of Fairs and Expositions www.fairsandexpos.com International Association of Professional Congress Organisers www.iapco.org

International Association of Venue Managers www.iavm.org International Festivals & Events Association www.ifea.com International Hotel & Restaurant Association www.ih-ra.com International Special Events Society www.ises.com Meeting Professionals International www.mpiweb.org National Association of Consumer Shows www.nacslive.com Professional Convention Management Association www.pcma.org Religious Conference Management Association www.rcmaweb.org Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) – Canada www.sitecanada.org Society of Event Organisers www.seoevent.co.uk Society of Independent Show Organizers www.siso.org Western Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus www.wacvb.com

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6 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

FUN FACTOR

Zip lines, bobsleds, cantering horses and IMAX just some of the thrills to create an unforgettable event

BY ANDREA COX

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hether it’s learning to build a roller-coaster, zooming down a zip line, immersing in IMAX or riding through mountain trails atop a friendly steed framed by jawdropping vistas, Alberta delivers it all when it comes to inspiring, interactive and fun-filled team-building retreats. Meeting Places chatted with operators of three top-tier venues that provide innovative events and unforgettable experiences.

The IMAX theatre at Edmonton’s Telus World of Science wows with Western Canada’s first and only 4K laser giantscreen technology | TELUS WORLD OF SCIENCE

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TELUS WORLD OF SCIENCE – EDMONTON Q The architecturally stunning Telus World of Science, located in the heart of Edmonton, offers a myriad of science and adventure-themed experiences from movies on the latest 4K laser IMAX screen with tiered seating for almost 200 – it’s the first theatre in Western Canada to boast the 4K laser technology – to interactive hands-on science and engineering workshops in the facility’s new Science Garage.

On any given day this Mecca of science features a host of cool collections from blockbuster travelling exhibits like Star Wars to interactive demonstrations on scientific principles like electricity and gravity.

“We are not just a rental of a room; we have so much more,” says Karin Dowling, vice-president of business services at Telus World of Science, adding that Telus World of Science offers a really unique experience.

In fact, she says that no two events are the same; functions are customized to create something different for each group.

“We can tap into any or all of the features that we offer, and we can host groups from 20 up to 4,000.”

Groups can enjoy an IMAX show, a feature at the planetarium or a lecture series (the theatre accommodates

250 people), a trip through fun exhibits, and a hands-on engineering workshop – like building roller-coasters.

Wrap up the day with a cocktail reception in the Skywalk, a glassed-in second-level walkway that spans the building, while enjoying the sounds from a fabulous band in the foyer below.

The facility is about to embark on a comprehensive renovation: The Aurora Project, which will add another 10,000 square feet of interactive space including a sparkling, expanded lobby – perfect for cocktail receptions or sit-down dinners.

“We really offer something different. Here, there is light and air, and you are not stuck in a hotel all day.”

CANADA OLYMPIC PARK – CALGARY Q Situated 20 minutes from downtown on Calgary’s west side, Canada Olympic Park (COP) features a comprehensive athletic playground and world-class Olympic athlete training facility, where on any given day over 100 Olympians can be found swooshing down the bobsleigh run, gliding across the ice in one of the four indoor ice arenas or practising a double pike on the ski jump hill.

“There are not a lot of venues in Canada where you can run into an Olympian. You really feed off of that

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high-performance atmosphere,� says Dale Oviatt, director of communications for Canada Olympic Park.

Corporate groups can mingle side by side with the Olympic greats during a feast of fun-filled team-building activities offered at COP. Activities like the challenge course, where up to 40 participants billet and climb through a suspended obstacle course replete with tires and logs elevated 10 feet in the air, or the bobsled competition where groups can practise running starts in the bobsleigh used by the national team in the indoor track, one of only a handful in the world.

Groups can also rent the entire facility; spend the day skiing and snowboarding in the winter or zip-lining and mountain biking, topping off the festivities with a sitdown dinner for up to 900 people in the International Ice Arena, prepared by COP’s executive chef Liana Robberecht of Petroleum Club fame. Bring in a band and

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Canada Olympic Park in Calgary: meeting with Olympic athletes, bobsledding, zip-lining and competing in a team challenge course all part of the non-stop, all-season excitement | WINSPORT CALGARY

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8 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Fun factor

Brewster Adventures provides outstanding horseback riding adventures, winter sleigh rides on Lake Louise and dining and resting at Brewster’s Mountain Lodge deep in Kananaskis Country | BREWSTER ADVENTURES

dance the night away.

The 500,000-square-foot Markin MacPhail Centre has venue space for everything from small meetings to conferences, trade shows and concerts. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame features 40,000 square feet of event and meeting space including 11 galleries of national sport history.

“We are just starting to promote the team-building events and are finding that corporations of all sizes are looking for unique places to hold their staff get-togethers,” says Oviatt, adding that COP can go as big or as small as clients want.

BREWSTER ADVENTURES Q Saddle up and enjoy a day trip through winding mountain trails up to stunning Plain of Six Glaciers with Brewster Adventures. Or enjoy

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an overnight pack trip. Spend the afternoon cantering through wildflower-laden mountain meadows and sauntering through rushing streams while enjoying stunning vistas of snow-capped peaks. End the day at Brewster’s Mountain Lodge, a hidden collection of log cabins deep in breathtaking Kananaskis Country.

“We serve lunch and a steak dinner. It is totally isolated and really beautiful. All you have to do is bring your toothbrush,” says Kevin Stanton, owner of Brewster Adventures, a family-run, local adventure and event company that is known for outstanding experiences.

The company partners with the Chateau Lake Louise and the Post Hotel to bring horse-themed adventures to corporate groups.

The company also owns a dance hall in Lake Louise, where corporate groups can end a day of trail riding and outdoor activity with an old-fashioned cowboy-style steak dinner and barn dance.

Trail rides and overnight escapes run June through to the end of September. Come October, Brewster Adventures starts its sleigh ride extravaganzas. Trips start at the Chateau Lake Louise and wind around the lake and back.

Stanton says corporate groups from all over the world have enjoyed the Rocky Mountain adventures. “We’ve hosted the engineering department from Disneyland, Twix, Pepsi, and we have taken 100 people out on a ride from the University of Calgary,” says Stanton, noting that past riding experience is not necessary. “Most people participating have never been on a horse.” É

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10 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

MEET &

EAT

The only challenge finding a great Alberta dining venue is choosing from the menu

BY ROB ALEXANDER

F Casual, Alberta-style comfort and cuisine is the theme at Edmonton’s Craft Beer Market, with seating for 500 but plenty of private spaces for smaller meetings | CRAFT BEER MARKET

inding that right combination of a great place and great cuisine in Alberta can be daunting, not because there are so few offering that mix, but because there are so many. Alberta has no shortage of outstanding venues, which can make choosing one for your next event a delicious challenge. To make the choice a little easier, here are four venues – one in Banff and Calgary and two in Edmonton – that offer great places to meet and eat.

THE RIMROCK RESORT HOTEL (BANFF) Q The

Rimrock Resort Hotel is a spectacular venue in a spectacular setting with spectacular cuisine. Perched on the edge of a mountain overlooking the town of Banff and the Bow Valley, the Rimrock does everything under one roof.

“It is all one entity; there is no other building you need to go to for a breakout concurrent session – it is right across the hall – and those rooms have stunning views and plenty of natural light,” says director of sales Jim Leavens.

The Rimrock, which opened in 1993, offers 343 guest rooms, 18,000 square feet of meeting space, a spa, two lounges and two restaurants, including the Eden Restaurant, the only five diamond restaurant in Western Canada, based on Canadian Automobile Association rankings.

Meals in the Eden are an experience not to be missed, and the venue is available for private functions. For those in need of a larger space, such as the 6,077-square-foot ballroom with its art-deco foyer, the meals are equally impressive.

Rimrock guests can rely on fresh, local ingredients, an extensive menu and flawless service from an experienced staff, Leavens confirms.

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The Rimrock Resort Hotel above Banff offers breathtaking views and fine dining in the five diamond Eden restaurant or a choice of intimate dining spaces with spectacular vistas | RIMROCK RESORT HOTEL

THE LAKE HOUSE (CALGARY) Q Sitting alongside

Lake Bonavista in Calgary, the Lake House offers a quintessential Canadian experience in setting, cuisine and space.

“The initial appeal of the Lake House is the view,” says event co-ordinator Pamela Bigg. “You’ve got this beautiful picturesque scene, and in summer you’ve got the water and people swimming and that fun atmosphere, and in winter you’ve got that winter scene with the kids skating and the hockey rinks.”

The Lake House has a rustic yet elegant interior with hardwood floors, a grand stone fireplace, elk-antler chandeliers and a wooden bar from the 1800s.

The L-shaped dining room can seat 200 people at capacity or it can be separated into two smaller spaces.

Opened by Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts (CRMR) in 2014, the Lake House sources its ingredients from Alberta producers, including bison and elk from CRMR’s own game farm.

Just as the view changes with the seasons, so does the menu, but the service remains constant.

“The Lake House is a fine dining facility,” says Bigg.

“That level of service carries through all levels.”

SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE (EDMONTON) Q The Shaw Conference Centre (SCC) offers both big spaces and first-rate meals on an equally ambitious scale.

At 144,406 square feet spread out over three levels, the SCC is one of Alberta’s biggest venues and, with that much space, it can serve up to 6,000 guests at one time.

Despite its size, the SCC strives to ensure every guest has a memorable and personal experience.

“We really believe in creating exceptional experiences from the very first touch point anyone has at our venue,” says Imran Gill, Shaw Conference Centre’s manager of

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marketing and communications.

Every dish is approached as a work of art, whether its off the event menu or from a custom menu.

Many of the ingredients are sourced locally; 30 per cent of the ingredients the SCC used in 2014 came from Alberta producers, meaning it was fresh and flavourful.

And it doesn’t hurt that the SCC, with its remarkable glass atrium entryway, overlooks the North Saskatchewan River Valley.

“It is the most beautiful and scenic view you’ll see,” says Gill of the largest urban park in North America.

CRAFT BEER MARKET (EDMONTON) Q With 104 types of craft beer on tap, classic cuisine with a twist and a casual environment that doesn’t sacrifice quality, the Craft Beer Market is built around good beer, fine food, a welcoming atmosphere and great value.

“One of our core values is to do the right thing and make the world a better place one beer at a time,” says marketing manager Matt Salucop.

Those values underscore everything that happens at Craft, from its sustainably sourced ingredients to its environmental and community programs and its handcrafted food, such as Craft’s renowned burgers and mac and cheese.

“We do [our menu items] in a way that we keep the quality very high, but we don’t make it unapproachable.

We won’t elevate it to a level where you won’t recognize it,” says Salucop.

Craft can accommodate up to 500 guests in full buyout on its main floor, rooftop patio and mezzanine in an interior that Salucop says is a “balance between casual and comfortable.”

Craft can also welcome smaller groups for seated and mix-and-mingle events. É

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12 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

LESSONS LEARNED

First rule is to keep calm … and carry a doorstop

BY BAILA LAZARUS

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here are few industries where Murphy’s Law has such a strong relationship as with event planning. Even so, as often as things go wrong, it’s rare that planners will start looking at the force majeure clause of their contracts. Yet that’s what happened when David Clark was faced with what seemed like an impossible circumstance.

The president of BC Event Management was getting set to build Fox Sports’ innovative studio space for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in June 2015. But when the freighter carrying the building’s aluminum trusses broke down in the Panama Canal, Clark had to draw on his 30 years of industry experience to create a miracle.

“It was the impossible project where everything that could go wrong did go wrong,” says Clark of the structure, which was built in Jack Poole Plaza. “We only had two and a half weeks to do what should have taken six months.”

As unachievable as the project seemed, it was done, and on time. Clark credits these tips: 1. Plan every detail far in advance so that when key elements change, and they will, you have bandwidth to deal with the changes. Leave no room for misinterpretation.

2. Spend the money on excellent freelancers and specialists to augment your regular staff.

3. Make your very best estimate of the time difficult tasks will take – and then double it.

4. Realize that key crew will burn out on multi-day “builds” and plan for staff to work shifts rather than constant long days.

Pam McCarthy, owner of Five Star Events of Calgary, agrees that you can never be too prepared. Having been in the business 15 years, McCarthy extols the benefits of technology to manage everything from online registration to dietary restrictions. “I can do a data capture with a click of a button,” says McCarthy. “I can’t tell you the number of man-hours that has saved.”

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David Clark, president, BC Event Management, Vancouver: “It was the impossible project where everything that could go wrong did go wrong” | BC EVENT MANAGEMENT

But relying on technology also has its drawbacks. McCarthy has experienced this when a venue’s Wi-Fi signal was so weak she couldn’t share vital email messages.

McCarthy’s advice is to check the Wi-Fi hot and dead spots to properly plan the location of Internet-dependent staging.

McCarthy has also learned to anticipate problems when it comes to loading and unloading equipment.

Many venues don’t have a direct route from the garage or loading bay to the setup location, she warns. Often, you have to factor in waiting times when multiple users show up at the loading zone.

And don’t forget about heavy convention hall doors that swing shut, locking you out. “I’ve learned the hard way,” says McCarthy. “I have those wooden wedges in my car at all times to prop the doors open.”

Whatever happens in the course of an event, don’t panic.

That’s astute advice from Eventsage CEO Kimberly Rohachuk, who often finds it’s not the venue where challenges occur, but with the attendees. In what might be a once-in-a-lifetime mishap, Rohachuk was running an event in the middle of a desert when someone broke a tooth on an olive pit. But good advance planning saved the day. She had set up an emergency tent near their site and had a dune buggy ready to take people back to town as fast as possible.

And then there are the “party” types.

“I’ve been called in middle of the night because there was a person lying in the hallway with no pants on. ...

You are 911 for your clients so you better figure out how

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to deal with each situation.”

Rohachuk also emphasizes the need to find out what else is going on in the venue or the city. “If you don’t ask the right questions, you’re going to be hit with a surprise.”

On one occasion she had a group booked into a hotel that was hosting a direct competitor of her client.

“God forbid those two had meetings going on at the same time,” she says.

Another time, she ran into traffic problems in downtown Vancouver. “I was trying to do a transfer and the naked bike ride was going down Robson Street.”

While it may not work in every circumstance, Rohachuk always has an emergency “crash kit” with her. It contains, among other things, duct tape (for a wild attendee, she jokes), basic first aid, zap straps and tampons, which are “really hard to find in Europe.” É

Pam McCarthy, president and owner, Five Star Events, Calgary: check the venue’s Wi-Fi for weak spots | FIVE STAR EVENTS

Kimberly Rohachuk, CEO, Eventsage, Vancouver: “if you don’t ask the right questions, you’re going to be hit with a surprise” | EVENTSAGE

KIMBERLY ROHACHUK | CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, EVENTSAGE I’ve been called in the middle of the night because there was a person lying in the hallway with no pants on

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14 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

MOUNT UP

FOR MEMORIES Alberta’s guest ranches provide an authentic western experience for team building or retreats

BY PAT JOHNSON

I

t’s nearly a quarter-century since Billy Crystal and those other City Slickers took a back-to-the-land getaway Hollywood-style. For a sample of the real thing, Alberta has a wealth of guest ranches where you can get a taste for the cowboy (or cowgirl) life. And while the antics might not be quite as ludicrous as in the big-screen version, your retreat, reunion, meeting or conference guests will almost certainly remember this one better than a weekend in a cookie-cutter meeting hall. Here are a trio of Alberta’s best true west retreats.

The Outpost at Warden Rock bills itself as “the civilized way to leave civilization.” Still, you are leaving civilization. The beautifully situated lodge and guest ranch offers “turn-of-the-last-century surroundings and the facilities of western warmth and hospitality,” on the banks of the Red Deer River, less than half a kilometre from the boundary of Banff National Park. The historic feel is accentuated by the limited vehicle access – horseback, wagon or stagecoach are the only conveyances you’ll see during your stay – and don’t expect the pinging of cellphones.

There’s a satellite phone for emergencies, but that’s it. A great setting for a real retreat, the Outpost can accommodate groups of up to 30.

The 19-acre Outpost is nestled between the national park and Parks Canada’s Ya Ha Tinda Ranch, 10,000 acres of prairie grasslands that is training ground for horses used to patrol national parks in Western Canada.

A wood-burning stove heats the main lodge, and kerosene or propane is the source for lighting. Visitors can expect to see some of the local fauna – deer, elk, coyote, maybe a wolf and even possibly a grizzly.

Schedules are not on the schedule at Warden Rock.

Breakfast is whenever you want it. Lunches and dinners can be packed for the trail. The menu is always country cooking for appetites whetted by the mountain air. Guests are not expected to do anything but relax, but if pitching in to old-timey chores is your idea of fun, there’s horses to feed and water, wood to chop, fires to tend and meals to help with.

After trail riding, a stagecoach excursion, hiking or

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kicking up dust around the ranch, there’s a hot tub, and each cabin is fitted with a wood stove, though the wiseacre host Tim Barton suggests a cuddle buddy is better than fooling with the plentiful firewood. Facilities are clean outhouses and showers with plenty of hot water, so if you’re expecting the Fairmont, best stay in the city.

But the Outpost has the scenery and a sense of humour, with packages that include Chicks in the Sticks, Bed, Bale ’n’ Grub, and Crash ’n’ Dash. If you spend too long in the saddle, the Knead a Fix Cabin gives sore bones and muscles a workout through relaxation, therapeutic and hot stone massages.

Sierra West Cabins and Ranch Vacations is in Lundbreck, about 200 kilometres from Calgary and less than 100 kilometres from Waterton Lakes National Park. The ranch offers an Old West “Cowtown,” a frontier-style backdrop for events that incorporates bunkhouses with kitchenettes. A cantina is available for larger catering gigs.

Day trips to the ranch, which is situated among the rolling foothills of southwestern Alberta, can include hearty beef dinners for up to 30 guests. Overnight accommodations

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Authentic is the theme and the reality at Sierra West Cabins and Ranch Vacations in Lundbreck – 200 kilometres from Calgary but far, far from the maddening world.

Guests can relax in ‘Cowtown’ (facing page) or join in the workaday life of a cowboy or cowgirl, and then share a beef dinner with 30 friends or co-workers | SIERRA WEST CABINS AND RANCH VACATIONS

can handle about half that; more if guests bring tents or RVs. The Longhorn Saloon provides meeting space, and the recreational options include horseback riding, as well as riding lessons, roping and cattle work on the active ranch. Cattle drives, complete with cowboy-style evening entertainment, are offered a couple of times a year.

Ram River Tours and South Ram Outfitters offer cabins, tenting and RV camping and a range of backcountry recreation for families and groups of up to 30. Fishing, mountain biking, ATVs, hayrides, horseback riding, cattle driving and more are on offer in a rustic-style ranch experience in Caroline, southwest of Red Deer. Cougar, moose and deer hunting, as well as lessons in fly-fishing and horsemanship, are offered, as are multiple-day guided pack trips on “solid, experienced mountain horses” that can take you into parts of the country you never thought you’d see.

For families, corporate groups, team getaways or bonding weekends, Alberta’s got the ranch experience to suit the mood. We’re proud of the West, so why not immerse ourselves in the real thing? É

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WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH … … the tough adapt by adding value and sharpening their event management skills

BY ANH NGUYEN

I Anh Nguyen is a principal with Spark Event Management Inc., Calgary. She can be reached at 403-990-8968 or via www.eventsbyspark.com

As meeting and event professionals, it’s up to us to walk the talk

t is nearly impossible to have a conversation in Alberta today without the topic of the economy and falling oil prices arising.

Regardless of what you sell, who your clients are, what industry you work in or who you do business with, if you live and work in Alberta, you are surely feeling the impact.

Even if you don’t plan meetings or events directly for the oil and gas industry, your business needs to adapt to the current economic outlook.

It is crucial for meeting and event professionals to add more value than they ever have, sharpen their skills and think outside of the box. It is imperative that we figure out how to do more with less while continually driving home the message that face-to-face meetings are crucial to an organization’s success.

Compa n ies, projects, tea m s and organizations that survive an economic downturn have several characteristics in common. They embrace obstacles, view these challenging times as opportunities, and leverage the dynamic market to redefine their business, become more efficient and, in the end, pursue growth.

INVEST IN YOUR PEOPLE Q It may seem like a good idea to cut spend i ng i n you r professiona l development budget. Oftentimes, travel, conferences and learning opportunities for your staff get cut from the budget. As meeting and event professionals, it’s up to us to walk the talk. During times when workloads may be lighter, it is a better time than any to invest in your staff, provide them with opportunities to learn new skills or provide training that helps them improve an existing skill set. In the long run, this demonstrates to your staff that their development a nd mora le a re st i l l a priority while broadening the skills of your

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employees and, in turn, expanding the services your company can offer to current and future clients.

FOSTER AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH SUPPLIERS Q It is

always important to ensure that you invest in your relationships with your vendors, regardless of the state of the economy. Transparent communication with vendors, paying them on time, and giving them credit where credit is due are all very simple things that you can do that will pay off during tough times. People do business with people they like and trust. Work hard to earn that trust, and you can leverage these relationships during leaner times. Trusted vendors are often more open to flexible payment terms, larger discounts and extra benefits during tough times because they know you’re a loyal, honest customer who’s got their back and will continue to support them when things turn around.

RE-EXAMINE YOUR PROCESSES , PROCEDURES AND TEM PLATES Q When times are busy,

your business, your team and your processes all take a back seat to client deadlines. Working on your business always falls off the priority list.

What better time to tackle those internal projects than now? Reviewing and streamlining your processes, investing in innovation or template improvements and examining business procedures will allow you to operate more efficiently and deliver better, faster, more cost-effective results now and in the long run.

KE E PIN G YO U R B R A N D T O P OF MIND Q A knee-jerk reaction

du ri ng slow ti mes is to cut expenditures that seem superfluous.

Un fortu nately, ma rketi ng a nd advertising dollars are oftentimes at the top of this list and the first to go. Although it might be a good idea to revisit where and how you

spend you r m a rket i ng dol la rs during tough times, it’s never a good idea to cut it entirely. When things turn around, you need your business and brand to be top of mind. By keeping marketing dollars available during the recession, you allow your organization to explore new channels for building business.

Marketing does not necessarily mean large advertising campaigns.

Simple, fairly low-cost initiatives s uch a s send i n g you r sta f f to networking events, sponsoring specific events in industries in which you want more exposure or exploring cost-effective online advertising channels are methods that allow you to keep you r bra nd at t he forefront during a time when many competitors have likely reduced their marketing budgets.

STREAMLINE EXPENSES Q It is critical to understand where you spend every dime of your money during a recession. Examining your large expense line items and getting creative about how to save money can ensure that you don’t sacrifice the operations of your business but still cut costs. Can you cut employee parking from five days to three days weekly, or switch to a less costly parking lot? Can you find a cloud-based phone service to replace multiple landlines and cellphones?

Can you negotiate volume discounts on your large orders? Taking the time to truly see where money is being spent in your business allows you to creatively come up with ways to cut back.

When the going gets tough, you can’t just wait it out – those who do will fall behind the ones who use this time to invest in their people, build their business relationships and examine their operations and expenses to position themselves at the front of the pack for the comeback. When the going gets tough, the tough need to get smart. É

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

| 17

Meeting places at a glance

How to use Meeting Places’ region-by-region directories of venues and services MEETING PLACES AT A GLANCE Q If you’re looking for details of specific venues, start with “Meeting places at a glance,” below.

First check the Alberta map on page 20 to confirm which region your event is in, then browse the listings under that region.

Welcome to the meeting planners’ resource section of Meeting Places, including directories of all the resources you’ll need for planning meetings, conferences, conventions and trade shows throughout Alberta.

Start by using the colour-coded map of Alberta on page 20 to identify the region of your intended event.

Then use the two main sections of the Meeting Places resource guide: “Meeting places at a glance,” which offers details of meeting venues in each region; and regional directories, which guide you to all the services you’ll need wherever you are holding your event.

CALGARY & AREA EDMONTON & AREA ALBERTA ROCKIES CENTRAL ALBERTA SOUTHERN ALBERTA NORTHERN ALBERTA

REGIONAL DIRECTORIES Q Refer to the Alberta map on page 20 for the page numbers of individual regional directories. The introductory pages will update you on the latest news: new conference or convention facilities that have come online in the past year or significant meeting-venue renovations. The directories that follow list the services available in each of the region’s towns and cities.

21 26 32 36 42 46

CALGARY & AREA Airdrie Comfort Inn & Suites Airdrie/403-948-3411

1

40

103

•

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Airdrie/ 403-912-1952

3

90

79

•

Nose Creek Valley Museum/403-948-6685

2

90

Woodside Golf Course/403-948-6717 Bragg Creek Bragg Creek Community Centre/403-949-4277

1

130

7

350

Wintergreen Golf and Country Club/403-949-3333 Calgary Acclaim Hotel Calgary Airport/403-291-8000

2

150

12

175

Arts Commons/403-294-7455

12

1,797

Bank and Baron Pub, The/587-293-9688

1

200

Best Western Plus Port O’ Call Hotel/403-291-4600

12

250

• • • • 225

3

115

97

Best Western Suites Downtown Calgary/ 403-209-3433

2

40

124

Calgary Stampede/403-261-0282

30

9,000

Calgary Telus Convention Centre/403-261-8500

36

4,000

Centini Restaurant & Lounge/403-269-1600

4

80

Coast Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre/ 800-661-1464

13

1,300

Deerfoot Inn & Casino/403-723-4025

14

Delta Calgary Airport/403-250-6031

15

Delta Calgary South/403-225-8620

16

•

• •

•

•

•

• • •

248

•

•

•

450

188

•

•

•

200

296

•

•

•

350

252

•

•

•

201

•

Executive Royal Hotel Calgary, The/403-291-2003

7

400

9

250

Four Points by Sheraton Calgary Airport/ 403-648-3177

5

300

159 169

14

1,000

12

1,000

Hotel Blackfoot/403-252-2253

9

300

Hy’s Steakhouse/403-663-3363

3

20

Hyatt Regency Calgary/403-717-1234

24

1,800

•

•

•

Heritage Park Historical Village/403-268-8500

•

•

•

•

Fort Calgary/403-290-1875

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 17

• •

184

Best Western Premier Freeport Inn & Suites/ 403-264-9650

Glenmore Inn & Convention Centre, The/ 403-279-8611

•

193 355

•

•

•

•

•

• •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Num

Num

ber o f me etin g ro o L arg ms es t m ro o m e eti capa ng cit y (p er Num sons ber o ) f sle epin g ro o Rest ms aura nt on p rem Walk is e s to sh ops / r e s t aur Po o l ant s /s p a /g y m Air p or t s hut t le

ber o f me etin g ro o L arg ms es t m ro o m e eti capa ng cit y (p er Num sons ber o ) f sle epin g ro o Rest ms aura nt on p rem Walk is e s to sh ops / re s t Po o l a uran /s p a ts /g y m Air p or t s hut t le

Meeting places at a glance

International Hotel Calgary/403-290-7851

7

100

248

•

Kensington Riverside Inn/403-228-4442

3

60

19

•

Magnolia Banquet Hall/403-590-9092

2

550

Manning Centre/403-255-8100

2

200

Marlborough Park Community Centre/403-248-1775

4

300

Mount Royal University Event and Theatre Services/ 403-440-8890

17

773

Ramada Hotel Downtown Calgary/403-218-3029

10

400

•

•

•

•

•

•

201

•

•

•

Rouge/403-531-2767

5

50

Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel/403-250-6300

16

400

305

•

• •

•

•

Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire/403-266-7200

13

500

323

•

•

•

•

Staybridge Suites Calgary Airport/403-204-7829

3

50

96

•

•

•

Teatro Ristorante/403-290-1012

5

120

• •

Valley Ridge Golf Club/403-221-9682

3

200

Vintage Chophouse & Tavern/403-262-7262

3

70

Westin Calgary/403-508-5206

25

2,000

525

Wingate by Wyndham Calgary South/403-514-0099

3

100

103

•

•

•

•

•

• •

Cochrane Cochrane Golf Club/403-932-5103

1

150

Crossing at Ghost River, The/403-932-3392

2

80

27

Days Inn & Suites Cochrane/403-932-5588

2

40

61

De Winton Heritage Pointe Golf Club/403-256-9192

3

150

High River Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre/ 403-652-3834

4

400

Okotoks D’Arcy Ranch Golf Club/403-938-5522

1

120

Kayben Farms/403-938-2857

1

90

Priddis Azuridge Estate Hotel/403-476-6347

4

60

13

•

103

•

•

• • •

72

•

•

•

•

•

EDMONTON & AREA

•

Acheson Nova Inn Acheson/587-336-9531

1

20

•

Edmonton Blue Quill Community Hall/780-438-3366

1

205

•

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

18 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Campus Tower Suite Hotel/780-439-6060

3

100

90

Chateau Lacombe Hotel/780-428-6611

13

1,000

307

•

•

•

•

Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre/ 780-452-7770

11

325

140

•

•

•

Chateau Nova Hotel & Suites Kingsway/ 587-336-9531

3

175

152

•

•

•

Chateau Nova Yellowhead/587-336-9531

5

250

127

•

•

•

Citadel Theatre/780-428-2119

4

680

Coliseum Inn /780-471-1231

1

75

98

•

•

Comfort Inn & Suites Edmonton/780-423-5611

1

40

108

•

•

Continental Inn & Suites/780-484-7751

5

450

100

•

•

Courtyard by Marriott Edmonton West/ 780-638-6070

6

485

136

•

Days Inn Downtown Edmonton/780-423-1925

1

25

76

•

•

•

Delta Edmonton Centre Suite Hotel/780-429-3900

17

450

169

•

•

•

Delta Edmonton South Hotel & Conference Centre/ 780-434-6415

21

800

Edmonton EXPO Centre/780-471-7210

16

4,000

Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, The/780-429-6406

8

350

Fort Edmonton Park/780-423-4069

8

600

Hilton Garden Inn West Edmonton/780-443-2233

•

•

237 199

•

•

•

•

•

•

• •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

5

200

•

•

400

160

•

•

Lodge at Snow Valley, The/780-809-2374

200

•

Matrix Hotel/780-429-2861

6

280

184

Metterra Hotel on Whyte/780-431-5318

3

100

98

•

Muttart Conservatory/780-496-8355

1

200

•

Northlands Park Racetrack & Casino/780-471-7210

5

200

•

• •

Vee Restaurant Lounge & Banquet (at Apex Casino)/ 780-460-8092

• •

•

2

150

•

ALBERTA ROCKIES Banff Banff Centre/403-762-6485

60

959

419

•

•

Banff Voyager Inn/Spruce Grove Inn/800-879-1991

5

130

208

•

•

Rimrock Resort Hotel/403-762-3356

18

600

346

3

350

2

60

3

100

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies/ 403-762-2291 Canmore Blackstone Mountain Lodge/403-609-8098 Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge/403-678-2400

•

Jubilations Dinner Theatre - Edmonton/780-484-2424 1 1

•

Num

Num

ber o

f me etin g ro o L arg ms es t m ro o m e eti n capa g cit y (p er Num sons ber o ) f sle epin g ro o Rest ms aura nt on p r e Walk mis e s to sh ops / res t Po o l aur a /s p a nts /g y m Air p or t s hut t le

ber o f me etin g ro o L arg ms est m ro o m e eti capa ng cit y (p er Num sons ber o ) f sle epin g ro o Rest ms aura nt on p rem Walk is e s to sh ops / r e s taur Po o l ant s /s p a /g y m Air p or t s hut t le

Meeting places at a glance

•

• •

• 127

•

•

•

Coast Canmore Hotel & Conference Centre/ 403-609-5438

10

450

164

•

•

•

Falcon Crest Lodge/403-678-6150

2

40

66

•

•

•

• •

•

•

•

•

•

Mount Engadine Lodge/403-678-4080

1

45

9

Ramada Inn & Suites Canmore/403-609-5408

4

250

189

StoneRidge Mountain Resort/403-961-5039 Dead Man’s Flats Copperstone Resort/403-678-0303 Hinton Black Cat Guest Ranch/780-865-3084

1

60

101

1

12

54

2

30

16

Holiday Inn Express Suites Hinton/780-865-2048

1

12

99

Holiday Inn Hinton/780-865-3321

1

100

104

•

•

• • •

• •

Lakeview Inn & Suites Hinton/780-865-2575

2

60

55

•

Nova Lodge Hinton/587-336-9531

1

30

103

•

•

Overlander Mountain Lodge/877-866-2330 Jasper Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, The/780-852-6007

2

30

41

•

19

600

441

•

•

•

7

240

152

•

•

•

3

300

Oasis Centre - Conferences, Weddings & Events, The/ 780-451-9227 4

720

Quality Inn West Edmonton/780-484-8000

5

100

159

Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre/780-468-5400

6

800

168

•

Radisson Hotel Edmonton South/780-437-6010

15

1,200

235

•

•

•

•

•

•

Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre Jasper/ 780-852-6593 Kananaskis Boundary Ranch/403-591-7171

5

450

110

•

•

Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino/403-881-2830 Lake Louise Baker Creek Mountain Resort/403-522-3761

1

30

35

•

•

Deer Lodge/403-781-8131

4

120

71

•

•

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, The/403-522-3511

21

750

554

•

•

•

Lake Louise Inn/403-522-3791

3

100

247

•

•

•

•

•

Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre/587-336-9531

26

750

260

Sands Inn & Suites/780-474-5476

3

450

53

Shaw Conference Centre/780-917-7610

23

5,000

Sutton Place Hotel Edmonton/780-428-7111

9

600

308

•

Union Bank Inn/780-401-2209

4

130

34

•

Varscona Hotel on Whyte/780-431-5338

7

120

89

•

Winspear Centre/780-401-2522 Leduc Best Western Plus Denham Inn & Suites/ 780-986-2241

6

1,716

4

200

95

•

Days Inn & Conference Centre Edmonton Airport/ 780-986-6550

2

120

120

•

Executive Royal Hotel Leduc-Nisku/780-986-1840

9

400

255

•

1

130

111

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Edmonton International Airport/780-980-9775 Nisku Holiday Inn Express Edmonton International Airport/ 780-955-1000

• • • • •

1

40

120

8

500

156

Nisku Inn & Conference Centre Edmonton Airport/ 780-955-7744 Sherwood Park Festival Place/780-410-8567

9

500

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sherwood Park/ 780-417-3388

1

40

90

Holiday Inn Sherwood Park - Conference Centre/ 780-464-4900

17

650

258

Millennium Place/780-464-8244

5

90

Strathcona Wilderness Centre/780-922-3939 3 St Albert Best Western Plus The Inn at St Albert/780-470-3800 2

50

7

40

90

Servus Credit Union Place/780-418-6081

4

50

St Albert Inn & Suites/780-459-5551

7

400

148

Star of the North Retreat Centre/780-459-5511

6

100

56

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 18

•

•

•

•

•

• •

2

60

97

2

50

16

Blackfalds Blackfalds Multi-Plex/403-885-4039

2

300

Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Blackfalds Red Deer North/403-885-9797

1

40

•

63

• •

•

6

300

6

500

Comfort Inn & Suites/780-826-2020

1

80

85

•

Holiday Inn Express & Suites/780-687-8888 Camrose Best Western Plus Camrose Resort Casino/ 780-679-4956

2

50

108

•

4

600

113

•

Camrose Regional Exhibition/780-672-3640

9

2,280

•

Norsemen Inn/780-672-9171

5

300

75

•

1

55

74

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

1

40

96

•

•

Lakeview Inns & Suites Black Gold Inn/780-542-3200

2

100

91

Ramada Drayton Valley/780-514-7861

1

30

82

•

• •

•

Ramada Inn & Suites Camrose/780-672-5220 Drayton Valley Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Drayton Valley/ 780-515-9888

•

• •

Town of Blackfalds/403-885-4039 Bonnyville Bonnyville & District Centennial Centre/ 780-812-3400

• •

Post Hotel & Spa/403-522-3989 Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge/403-522-2167

•

CENTRAL ALBERTA

•

•

•

•

• •

•

•

•

• • •

•

• •

• •

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

Service Plus Inns & Suites Drayton Valley/ 888-875-4667 Edson Best Western High Road Inn/780-712-2378

1

12

89

2

350

114

Edson & District Recreation Complex/780-723-3311

5

500

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Edson/ 780-723-4011

1

12

1

Nova Inn Edson/587-336-9531 Olds Olds College Conference Services/403-556-4762 Red Deer Best Western Plus Inn & Suites/403-346-3555

•

•

•

•

•

Num

Num

ber o

f me etin g ro o L arg ms es t m ro o m e eti n capa g cit y (p er Num sons ber o ) f sle epin g ro o Rest ms aura nt on p r e Walk mis e s to sh ops / res t Po o l aur a /s p a nts /g y m Air p or t s hut t le

ber o f me etin g ro o L arg ms est m ro o m e eti capa ng cit y (p er Num sons ber o ) f sle epin g ro o Rest ms aura nt on p rem Walk is e s to sh ops / r e s taur Po o l ant s /s p a /g y m Air p or t s hut t le

| 19

Quality Inn & Suites Lethbridge/403-331-6440

1

20

60

Ramada Lethbridge/403-329-0555

2

25

66

•

•

•

•

•

Ric’s Grill in the Watertower/403-317-7427

1

Rocky Mountain Turf Club/403-380-1905

6

35

•

•

1,000

•

Rogue Restaurant, The/403-328-4384

•

2

30

•

•

8

350

139

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

79

•

•

Sandman Hotel Lethbridge/403-328-1111

30

144

•

•

•

75

350

99

20

400

700

•

•

University of Lethbridge Conference & Event Services/403-329-2244 Medicine Hat Best Western Plus Sun Country/403-527-3700

1

40

122

1

12

228

•

City of Medicine Hat - Arenas/403-502-8745

3

120

98

Black Knight Inn/403-343-6666

8

900

Collicutt Centre/403-358-7524

5

80

• •

•

•

Clarion Hotel & Conference Centre/403-527-8844

1

600

65

•

•

Coast Hotel Medicine Hat/403-526-7487

2

100

42

•

100

Comfort Inn & Suites Red Deer/403-348-0025

4

175

88

•

•

Comfort Inn & Suites Medicine Hat/403-504-1700

1

40

Days Inn Red Deer/403-340-3297

1

100

76

•

•

Desert Blume Golf Club/403-581-4653

3

160

Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre/403-343-6074

4

150

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Red Deer/ 403-967-1002

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Medicine Hat/ 403-504-5151

3

100

1

60

110

•

Holiday Inn & Suites Red Deer South/403-348-8485

1

500

114

•

Quality Inn North Hill/800-662-7152

5

350

114

•

Ramada Red Deer Hotel & Suites/403-342-4445

2

70

90

Red Deer College Summer Conference Services/ 403-356-4900

5

500

•

Red Deer Lodge Hotel & Conference Centre/ 800-661-1657

11

120

223

•

Sandman Hotel Red Deer/403-343-7400

2

50

143

•

Sheraton Red Deer Hotel/403-755-1150

14

2,500

241

•

TownePlace Suites by Marriott/403-341-3589

2

30

92

Westerner Park/403-343-7800 Rimbey Best Western Rimstone Ridge Hotel/403-843-2999 Sylvan Lake Best Western Plus Chateau Inn/403-887-7788 Three Hills Super 8 Three Hills/403-443-8888 Wetaskiwin Reynolds-Alberta Museum/780-312-2065

16

1,200

1

80

60

2

112

72

2

80

82

4

•

300

Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre/ 403-362-6666 Coleman Country Encounters/403-563-5299 Drumheller Badlands Community Facility/403-823-1333 Canalta Jurassic Inn & Cretaceous Conference Centre/403-823-7700 Lethbridge CASA Arts Centre/403-327-2272 Coast Lethbridge Hotel & Conference Centre/ 403-327-5701

200 1,500

•

•

Medicine Hat Lodge Resort/403-502-8190

9

500

2

455

•

Southside Events Centre/403-528-9997 Pincher Creek Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre Pincher Creek/403-627-5000

3

260

Pincher Creek Golf Club, The/403-627-2126 Taber Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre/ 403-223-4424 Waterton Park Bayshore Inn at Waterton Lake/403-859-2211

2

100

4

300

74

•

•

4

300

96

•

•

Athabasca Anne’s Fine Dining/780-675-3040

1

170

Athabasca Super 8/780-675-8888

1

15

47

•

Days Inn Athabasca/780-675-7020 Fort McMurray Ace Inn Hotel/780-715-2219

2

35

69

•

2

25

48

Chateau Nova Fort McMurray/587-336-9531

2

175

163

Franklin Suite Hotel/780-788-2199

1

12

75

•

• •

• •

•

•

106

•

•

2

60

10

•

•

2

600

1

170

•

•

•

• • • •

•

Days Inn Lethbridge/403-327-6000

1

15

70

•

•

Econo Lodge Inn & Suites/403-328-5591

1

10

75

•

•

Fort Whoop Up National Historic Site/403-329-0444

5

40

Galt Museum & Archives/403-320-4247

4

200

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Lethbridge/ 403-394-9292

1

35

102

Holiday Inn Lethbridge/403-359-5612

6

150

124

Lethbridge Centre Conference Facility/403-327-6211

3

6,070

Lethbridge College /403-329-7218

2

500

Lethbridge Exhibition Park/403-317-3213

6

34,000

Lethbridge Lodge Hotel & Conference Centre / 403-328-1123

10

850

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 19

• •

•

•

•

•

•

•

• • 190

•

•

•

•

•

•

70

•

•

•

•

•

NORTHERN ALBERTA

•

•

• 222

• •

600

103

•

2

6

550

•

7

53

6

93

Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede/403-527-1234

50

200

•

•

1

2

• •

•

•

48

• •

•

SOUTHERN ALBERTA Brooks Heritage Inn & Suites/403-362-8688

•

Medalta - Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District/403-529-1070

• •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Merit Hotel & Suites/780-714-9444

3

150

260

•

•

•

Nomad Hotel & Suites/780-791-4770

2

40

165

•

•

•

Podollan Inn & Rez-idence Fort McMurray/ 780-790-2000

1

40

121

•

Radisson Hotel & Suites Fort McMurray/ 780-743-2400

6

100

134

•

• •

Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre Fort McMurray/ 780-799-7410

8

850

188

•

Stonebridge Hotel Fort McMurray/780-743-3301

4

360

135

•

•

•

Super 8 Fort McMurray/780-799-8450 Grande Prairie Centre 2000 Tourism & Trade/780-513-0240

2

50

140

•

•

•

3

50

•

Holiday Inn & Suites Grande Prairie Conference Centre/780-357-2624

7

800

145

•

•

•

Podollan Inn & Spa Grande Prairie/780-830-4244

4

250

168

•

•

•

Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre/780-832-2440 High Level Best Western Plus Mirage Hotel & Resort/ 780-821-1000

8

700

196

•

•

•

92

•

•

Quality Inn & Suites/780-926-4222 High Prairie Peavine Inn & Suites/780-523-2398 Peace River Chateau Nova Peace River/587-336-9531

4

500

2

120

5

300

2

425

•

•

•

88

•

•

119

•

•

•

•

•

•

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

20 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Regional map of Alberta N.W.T .

CALGARY & AREA—21 Airdrie—23 Bragg Creek—23 Calgary—23 Cochrane — 24 De Winton—24 High River—24 Okotoks—24 Priddis–24

High Level

EDMONTON & AREA—26 Acheson—30 Beaumont—30 Edmonton—30 Leduc—31 Nisku—31 Sherwood Park—31 St Albert—31

Northern Alberta—P46

ALBERTA ROCKIES—32 Banff—35 Canmore—35 Dead Man’s Flats—35 Hinton—35 Jasper—35 Kananaskis—35 Lake Louise—35

Fort McMurray

Peace River

S AS K A T C H E W A N

CENTRAL ALBERTA—36 Blackfalds—38 Bonnyville—38 Camrose—38 Drayton Valley—38 Edson—38 Lloydminster—38 Olds—38 Red Deer—38 Rimbey—40 Sylvan Lake—40 Three Hills—40 Wetaskiwin—40

High Prairie

Clairmont

Slave Lake Grande Prairie

Bonnyville

SOUTHERN ALBERTA—42 Brooks—43 Coleman—43 Drumheller—43 Lethbridge—43 Medicine Hat—44 Pincher Creek—44 Rosebud–44 Taber—44 Waterton Park—44

Lac La Biche Edmonton Cold Lake & area—P26

Athabasca

Westlock

Whitecourt

St. Paul

Grande Cache

Bruderhelm

St. Albert Edmonton Fallis Acheson Sherwood Park Spruce Grove Stony Plain Enoch Beaumont Devon Nisku Drayton Valley Leduc Camrose Westerose Wetaskiwin New Norway Evansburg

Edson Hinton

Jasper

NORTHERN ALBERTA—46 Athabasca—47 Fort McMurray—47 Grande Prairie—47 High Level—47 High Prairie—47 Peace River—47

Central Alberta—P36

Rocky Mountain House Nordegg

Lake Louise

Kitscoty Lloydminster

Wainwright

Rimbey Blackfalds

Sylvan Lake

Provost

Stettler Red Deer

Innisfail Olds

Alberta Rockies—P32

Heinsburg

Lamont Fort Saskatchewan

Three Hills

Carstairs

Drumheller

Airdrie Banff Morley Cochrane Rosebud Canmore Dead Man’s Flats Kananaskis Calgary Rocky View Langdon Bragg Creek De Winton Priddis Okotoks Turner Valley High River

Southern Alberta—P42 Patricia Brooks

Calgary & area—P21

Medicine Hat Claresholm

BRITISH C OL U MB I A

Picture Butte

Fort Macleod Coleman

Taber

Bow Island

Lethbridge

Pincher Creek

Waterton Park

WASHINGTON

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 20

I DAH O

MONT ANA

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

| 21

Calgary & area

CLASSY CALGARY Alberta’s biggest city has evolved into a world-class conference destination

BY ANDREA COX

M

uch like its chinook-induced weather, Calgary is undergoing constant change, spurred on by innovation, sustainability and necessity. A current downtown building frenzy will contribute close to five million square feet of office and meeting room space, adding extra zing to an already dancing district, grounded by the Telus Convention Centre, a meeting and conference area of grand proportion that spills onto Stephen Avenue walk and its eclectic assortment of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and shopping.

Just steps away, the Arts Commons offers several distinctive and elegant meeting spaces from the grand Jack Singer Concert Hall lobby to the concert hall itself where groups of up to 1,800 can enjoy an intimate space for presentations, cocktail receptions and dinners. A few blocks over on 11th Avenue SW, the bright and spacious Kahanoff Conference Centre offers space for up to 250 delegates.

Calgary is the perfect venue for events, year-round. It’s the sunniest city in the country, boasting 330 days per year of brilliant sunshine; it’s the gateway to the Rocky Mountains with their stunning scenery and outdoor activities; and with the highest concentration of head offices in the West, Calgary is a global intellectual, entrepreneurial and economic force.

It’s easy to get to with an airport that offers non-stop service to both Europe and Asia, and, once here, it’s a snap to get around. The Plus 15 level walkway system, offers a 16-kilometre, elevated, pedestrian pathway throughout the downtown core, linking 100 office buildings, hotels, meeting facilities and shopping centres.

Bicycle lanes, increased walkability and greater downtown density are all in the plans.

Currently this friendly and dynamic city boasts more than 1.2 million square feet of meeting space, and, like

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 21

the city, that number is quickly expanding.

Take a look at Calgary’s East Village, an area sprouting a myriad of highrise condominiums, funky coffee shops, restaurants and farmers markets. The village core is the site for the new 240,000-square-foot, light-filled Calgary Public Library, an architectural masterpiece that will boast several meeting spaces and a theatre, alongside the new National Music Centre. And it’s all within walking distance of historic Fort Calgary, a venue known for its boot-stomping barbecues, events and concerts.

Other meeting venues that offer a twist on the ordinary include Heritage Park, where guests can walk through a turn-of-the-20th-century historical village, the Calgary Zoo with theatre and banquet capacity for 250 guests, and Telus Spark, the city’s glass-sheathed science centre,

New hotels are being built at quick clip in Alberta’s largest city. More than 1,700 rooms were added in the last year alone | TOURISM CALGARY

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

22 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Calgary & area

A pedestrian bridge spans the Bow river, part of a 16-kilometre pedway that offers year-round strolling comfort in one of Canada’s most vibrant cities | TOURISM CALGARY A young city, Calgary embraces a healthy outdoor lifestyle | TOURISM CALGARY The Calgary Hyatt hotel, popular for larger conferences, is steps from an inner-city water feature | HYATT HOTELS

a venue that will hold upwards of 800 people. In the downtown core, smaller groups (up to 80) can enjoy a peaceful indoor tropical setting in Devonian Gardens surrounded by trickling streams and towering greenery.

The city’s continual growth as well as its economic and socioeconomic milieu has attracted a spectrum of Toronto and Vancouver based developers. Much of the interest focuses on the coveted Beltline and East Village areas.

Calgary’s hotel supply grew 4.7 per cent or 1,703 rooms in 2015 from a year earlier, with the lion’s share of rooms situated close to the Calgary International Airport.

That is good news for a city that often has a shortage of rooms, especially during major events. In addition to the approximately 900 rooms going up near the airport, another 444 rooms are being added downtown. The Marriott group is building a 33-storey, 360-room Residence Inn at 10th Avenue and 6th Street SW. The project will also feature a 10,000-square-foot conference space.

It’s scheduled to open this year.

In Seton, a community in Calgary’s far southeast quadrant, a new Courtyard Marriott and Residence Inn Marriott opened in December 2015, adding 225 rooms and ample meeting spaces.

Calgary’s West Village, meanwhile, is on the brink of great things.

This former site of the Calgary Science Centre may soon be home to Calgary’s newest gallery and collection of meeting spaces, Contemporary Calgary. The Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corp. recently unveiled plans for a new sports complex, CalgaryNEXT, including a 20,000-seat hockey arena that would replace the outdated Scotiabank Saddledome, a sports field house and a 30,000-seat indoor football stadium for the Calgary Stampeders. If funding is approved, the new $890 million stadium is to grace the banks of the Bow River in the West Village. É

HISTORIC EVENTS HAPPEN HERE Heritage Park Historical Village is Calgary’s most distinctive venue with facilities to suit any event, year-round.

Let us create the perfect menu for your culinary needs.

BANQUETS • SEMINARS • WEDDINGS • BUSINESS LUNCHEONS • BARBEQUES

For details and booking: 403.268.8526 or HeritagePark.ca

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2015-10-14 10:07 AM

| 23

Calgary & area Airdrie Golf Courses & Country Clubs Woodside Golf Course 525 Woodside Dr, Airdrie T4B 2C6 .............p403-948-6717 f403-948-0106 einfo@woodsidegc.com wwww.woodsidegc.com Hotels and Motels Comfort Inn & Suites Airdrie 133 Sierra Springs Dr SE, Airdrie T4B 3G7 ..............p403-948-3411 f403-948-0021 ereservations@comfortinnairdrie.com wwww.choicehotels.com Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Airdrie 64 East Lake Ave NE, Airdrie T4A 2G8 ..............p403-912-1952 f403-945-0253 egm@hieairdrie.com wwww.hieairdrie.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Nose Creek Valley Museum 1701 Main St SW, Airdrie T4B 1C5 ..........................................p403-948-6685 encvm@telus.net wwww.nosecreekvalleymuseum.com

Bragg Creek Golf Courses & Country Clubs Wintergreen Golf and Country Club PO Bag 2, Bragg Creek T0L 0K0 ...............p403-949-3333 f403-949-4090 efunctions@wintergreengolf.com wwww.wintergreengolf.com Resorts/Retreats Riverside Chateau 104 White Ave Box 1319, Bragg Creek T0L 0K0 Marek.............................................p403-835-6032 einfo@riversidechateau.com wwww.riversidechateau.com Restaurants Bavarian Inn Restaurant 75 White Ave Box 808, Bragg Creek T0L 0K0 ..........................................p403-949-3611 erestaurant@thebavarianinn.com wwww.thebavarianinn.com

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 23

Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Bragg Creek Community Centre 23 White Ave Box 39, Bragg Creek T0L 0K0 Shaye Radford ...............................p403-949-4277 especialevents@braggcreekca.com wwww.braggcreekca.com

Calgary Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Meeting Professionals International Greater Calgary Chapter Box 61203 Kensington RPO, Calgary T2N 4S6 ..............p403-835-1601 f403-266-6709 einfo@mpi-gcc.org wwww.mpi-gcc.org Audiovisual Services FrischkornMediaco 3036 15 St NE, Calgary T2E 7A3 Peter Cornforth ..p403-278-1200 f403-278-1232 ecalgary@fmav.ca wwww.fmav.ca Westin Calgary 320 4 Ave SW, Calgary T2P 2S6 Andrea Fernandop403-508-5206 f403-265-7908 eandrea.fernando@westin.com wwww.westincalgary.com Banquet Facilities Bank and Baron Pub, The 125 8 Ave SW, Calgary T2P 1B4...........................................p587-293-9688 einfo@bankandbaronpub.com wwww.bankandbaronpub.com Hy’s Steakhouse 751 3 St SW, Calgary T2P 4K8...............p403-663-3363 f403-663-5963 ecalgary@hyssteakhouse.com wwww.hyssteakhouse.com/calgary Magnolia Banquet Hall 5075 Falconridge Blvd NE Unit 900, Calgary T3J 3K9...........................................p403-590-9092 emagnoliabanquet@gmail.com wwww.themagnolia.ca

Valley Ridge Golf Club 11618 Valley Ridge Park NW, Calgary T3B 5L4 Kaitlyn Bruce..................................p403-221-9682 wwww.valleyridgegolf.com Westin Calgary 320 4 Ave SW, Calgary T2P 2S6 Andrea Fernandop403-508-5206 f403-265-7908 eandrea.fernando@westin.com wwww.westincalgary.com Bus Services Airport Shuttle Express Ltd - Calgary 2536 7 Ave NE, Calgary T2A 2L7 Jim/Joanne Townshend.................p403-509-4799 f403-272-4799 einfo@airportshuttleexpress.com wwww.airportshuttleexpress.com Caterers Distinctive Catering 2828 18 St NE Suite 1, Calgary T2E 7B1 Connie Quinton ..............................p403-256-4380 einfo@distinctivecatering.ca wwww.distinctivecatering.ca Conference Organizers/Planners/ Trade Show Consultants Delisle Marketing & Events Inc 1120 44 Ave SE Suite A, Calgary T2G 4W6 Charlene Delisle p403-203-9243 f403-236-0524 ecdelisle@dmeinc.ca wwww.dmeinc.ca POP Kollaborative Inc 237 8 Ave SE Suite 250, Calgary T2G 5C3 Kenneth Kristoffersen....................p403-264-9801 einfo@pophasemail.com wwww.pophasawebsite.com Decor and Design Services Flagworks Inc 5622 Burleigh Cres SE Bay 1, Calgary T2H 1Z8 Marion Hurley ....p403-265-5595 f403-265-5612 eflagworks@flagworks.com wwww.flagworks.com

Employment Agencies/Event Staffing

BBW International Inc Calgary ..........................................p866-984-0352 esales@bbwinternational.com wwww.bbwinternational.com Local Calgary and Edmonton event staff for conference registration, cashiers, booth hostesses and experiential marketing brand ambassadors.

Event Planners Event Group, The 1235 17 Ave SW Suite 210, Calgary T2T 0C2 David Howard ....p403-543-1509 f403-543-1516 edave@eventgroup.ca wwww.eventgroup.ca Hotels and Motels Best Western Premier Freeport Inn & Suites 86 Freeport Blvd NE, Calgary T3J 5J9 Elise Shorting.....p403-264-9650 f403-264-9651 einfo@bestwesterncalgary.com wwww.bestwesterncalgary.com Best Western Suites Downtown Calgary 1330 8 St SW, Calgary T2R 1B6 Jason Hewitt ......p403-209-3433 f403-209-3438 esales.bwsuites@shaw.ca wwww.bestwesternsuitescalgary.com Coast Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre 1316 33 St NE, Calgary T2A 6B6 ..............p800-661-1464 f403-248-0749 einfo@calgaryplaza.com wwww.calgaryplaza.com

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

24 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Calgary & area

Deerfoot Inn & Casino 11500 35 St SE Suite 1000, Calgary T2Z 3W4 Michael Seguin..p403-723-4025 f403-252-4767 emseguin@dfic.ca wwww.deerfootinn.com Delta Calgary Airport 2001 Airport Rd NE, Calgary T2E 6Z8 Lisa Kiehl ...........p403-250-6031 f403-250-8722 edca.sales.sm@deltahotels.com wwww.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yycca-deltacalgary-airport Delta Calgary South 135 Southland Dr SE, Calgary T2J 5X5...............p403-225-8620 f403-225-5813 eservice@deltacalgarysouth.com wwww.deltacalgarysouth.com Executive Royal Hotel Calgary, The 2828 23 St NE, Calgary T2E 8T4 ..............p403-291-2003 f403-291-2019 enorthcalgary@royalinn.com wwww.executivehotels.net/calgary Four Points by Sheraton Calgary Airport 2875 Sunridge Way NE, Calgary T1Y 7K7 ..............p403-648-3177 f403-648-3179 ecatering@fourpointscalgaryairport.com wwww.fourpointscalgaryairport.ca Glenmore Inn & Convention Centre, The 2720 Glenmore Trail SE, Calgary T2C 2E6 Rick Dickison......p403-279-8611 f403-236-8035 ereservations@glenmoreinn.com wwww.glenmoreinn.com Hotel Blackfoot 5940 Blackfoot Trail SE, Calgary T2H 2B5 Jennifer Johnston ..........................p403-252-2253 f403-252-3574 esales@hotelblackfoot.com wwww.hotelblackfoot.com Hyatt Regency Calgary 700 Centre St SE, Calgary T2G 5P6 Danielle Durand .p403-717-1234 f403-537-4487 esalescalrc@hyatt.com wwww.calgary.hyatt.com International Hotel Calgary 220 4 Ave SW, Calgary T2P 0H5 Portia Manyimbiri ..........................p403-290-7851 f403-290-7885 ecatering@internationalhotel.ca wwww.internationalhotel.ca Kensington Riverside Inn 1126 Memorial Dr NW, Calgary T2N 3E3 ..............p403-228-4442 f403-228-9608 einfo@kensingtonriversideinn.com wwww.kensingtonriversideinn.com Sheraton Suites Calgary Eau Claire 255 Barclay Parade SW, Calgary T2P 5C2 Colleen Morley ..p403-266-7200 f403-266-1300 ehotelinfo@sheratonsuites.com wwww.sheratonsuites.com

Westin Calgary 320 4 Ave SW, Calgary T2P 2S6 Andrea Fernandop403-508-5206 f403-265-7908 eandrea.fernando@westin.com wwww.westincalgary.com Meeting Planners Impact Events Ltd 2033 46 Ave SW , Calgary T2T 2S1 Laurel Deplaedt .p403-243-3220 f403-243-3273 elaureld@impacteventsltd.ca

Regional Convention Spaces

Calgary Stampede 1410 Olympic Way SE, Calgary T2G 2W1 Greg Newton .....p403-261-0282 f403-261-0421 egnewton@calgarystampede.com wwww.calgarystampede.com/venues Calgary Telus Convention Centre 120 9 Ave SE, Calgary T2G OP3 ..............p403-261-8500 f403-261-8510 esales@calgary-convention.com wwww.calgary-convention.com Restaurants Charbar 618 Confluence Way SE, Calgary T2G 0G1 ..........................................p403-452-3115 einfo@charbar.ca wwww.charbar.ca Teatro Ristorante 200 8 Ave SE, Calgary T2G 0K7 .............p403-290-1012 f403-290-1082 einfo@teatro.ca wwww.teatro.ca Westin Calgary 320 4 Ave SW, Calgary T2P 2S6 Andrea Fernandop403-508-5206 f403-265-7908 eandrea.fernando@westin.com wwww.westincalgary.com Tourist Attractions - Major

Centini Restaurant & Lounge 160 8 Ave SE , Calgary T2G 0K6 .............p403-269-1600 f403-261-2874 eevents@centini.com wwww.centini.com

Heritage Park Historical Village 1900 Heritage Dr SW, Calgary T2V 2X3 Jeff Hodgson ......p403-268-8500 f403-268-8501 ejhodgson@heritagepark.ab.ca wwww.heritagepark.ca Manning Centre 514 11 Ave SW, Calgary T2R 0C8 Meaghan Carrier p403-255-8100 f403-265-8855 wwww.manningcentre.ca Marlborough Park Community Centre 6021 Madigan Dr NE, Calgary T2A 5G9 Doug Caswell.....p403-248-1775 f403-273-9194 emarlpark@shaw.ca wwww.marlpark.ca Vintage Chophouse & Tavern 320 11 Ave SW, Calgary T2R 0C5 .............p403-262-7262 f403-262-7263 eadmin@vintagechophouse.com wwww.vintagechophouse.com Westin Calgary 320 4 Ave SW, Calgary T2P 2S6 Andrea Fernandop403-508-5206 f403-265-7908 eandrea.fernando@westin.com wwww.westincalgary.com Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor

Golf Courses & Country Clubs Cochrane Golf Club 240 Riverview Dr, Cochrane T4C 1K6 ..........................................p403-932-5103 einfo@cochranegolfclub.com wwww.cochranegolfclub.com Hotels and Motels Days Inn & Suites Cochrane 5 Westside Dr, Cochrane T4C 1M1 ............p403-932-5588 f403-932-9541 wwww.daysinn.ca Resorts/Retreats Crossing at Ghost River, The PO Box 879 Stn Main, Cochrane T4C 1A9 Zach Bragg .........p403-932-3392 f403-932-2582 einfo@crossingexperience.ca wwww.crossingexperience.ca Speakers/Facilitators Kevin Burns - Safety Speaker 14-312 5 Ave W Suite 150, Cochrane T4C 2E3...........................................p403-770-2928 ekevin@kevburns.com wwww.kevburns.com Team Building Delta Synergy Group PO Box 1588, Cochrane T4C 1B5 ..........................................p403-932-4004 wwww.deltasynergy.com

De Winton Golf Courses & Country Clubs Heritage Pointe Golf Club 1 Heritage Pointe Dr RR 1, De Winton T0L 0X0 Narjes Rivers .....p403-256-9192 f403-256-4494 enarjes.rivers@heritagepointe.com wwww.heritagepointe.com

High River Hotels and Motels Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre 1104 11 Ave SE, High River T1V 1M4 Rick Bart.............p403-652-3834 f403-652-4432 einfo.highriver@heritageinn.net wwww.heritageinn.net

Okotoks

Calgary Zoo 1300 Zoo Rd NE, Calgary T2E 7V6 Maria Martiniello ..........................p403-232-7770 f403-232-7582 esalesinfo@calgaryzoo.com wwww.calgaryzoo.com Universities and Colleges Mount Royal University Event and Theatre Services 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary T3E 6K6 Andrea Hennel ...p403-440-8890 f403-440-5650 emrevents@mtroyal.ca wwww.mtroyal.ca/mrevents Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Acclaim Hotel Calgary Airport 123 Freeport Blvd NE, Calgary T3N 0A3 Francisco Alves ..p403-291-8000 f403-532-9400 einfo@acclaimhotel.ca wwww.acclaimhotel.ca Arts Commons 205 8 Ave SE, Calgary T2G 0K9 Alen Chaudhry....p403-294-7455 f403-294-7457 ebooking@artscommons.ca wwww.artscommons.ca

Calgary Stampede 1410 Olympic Way SE, Calgary T2G 2W1 Greg Newton .....p403-261-0282 f403-261-0421 egnewton@calgarystampede.com wwww.calgarystampede.com/venues Fort Calgary 750 9 Ave SE, Calgary T2P 2M5 JP Potters ...........p403-290-1875 f403-265-6534 einfo@fortcalgary.com wwww.fortcalgary.com

Heritage Park Historical Village 1900 Heritage Dr SW, Calgary T2V 2X3 Jeff Hodgson ......p403-268-8500 f403-268-8501 ejhodgson@heritagepark.ab.ca wwww.heritagepark.ca Rouge 1240 8 Ave SE, Calgary T2G 0M7 .............p403-531-2767 f403-531-2768 wwww.rougecalgary.com

Golf Courses & Country Clubs D’Arcy Ranch Golf Club PO Box 279, Okotoks T1S 1A5 Barb Binkley .......p403-938-5522 f403-938-6352 ebbinkley@darcyranchgolf.com wwww.darcyranchgolf.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Kayben Farms 316034 32 St E, Okotoks T1S 1A2 Judy Kolk ............p403-938-2857 f403-938-2647 ejudy@kayben.com wwww.kayben.com

Priddis Hotels and Motels

Azuridge Estate Hotel PO Box 10 Site 9 RR 1, Priddis T0L 1W0 Donna Young......p403-476-6347 f403-931-0100 edonna@azuridge.ca wwww.azuridgehotel.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities

Cochrane Calgary Stampede 1410 Olympic Way SE, Calgary T2G 2W1 Greg Newton .....p403-261-0282 f403-261-0421 egnewton@calgarystampede.com wwww.calgarystampede.com/venues

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 24

Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Cochrane Tourism Association c/o Cochrane RancheHouse 101 RancheHouse Rd, Cochrane T4C 2K8 Hillary Richardson..........................p403-981-6716 ecochranetourism@gmail.com wwww.cochrane-tourism.ca

Azuridge Estate Hotel PO Box 10 Site 9 RR 1, Priddis T0L 1W0 Donna Young......p403-476-6347 f403-931-0100 edonna@azuridge.ca wwww.azuridgehotel.com

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

The T

GLENMORE INN & Convention Centre

PLANNING A MEETING OR EVENT IN CALGARY? The Glenmore Inn has over 30 years of experience in providing outstanding KRVSLWDOLW\ 2XU VWDƪ ZLOO DOZD\V SURYLGH D SURIHVVLRQDO DQG IULHQGO\ service and assist you with catering, event planning and accommodation. Ǟ 15,000 sq. ft. of Adaptable Banquet Space • 14 Banquet Rooms – up to 1,200 Guests • On-Site Catering Specialists • 169 Guestrooms & Suites • All Inclusive Meeting Packages Available • Situated in a Great Location with Easy Access • Complimentary Parking & WI-FI Internet

CALL TO DAY TO BOO K YOUR NEXT M EETING OR EVE NT!

2720 Glenmore Trail SE Calgary, AB. T2C 2E6 Phone: (403) 279-8611 | Toll Free: 1-800-661-3163 | Fax: (403) 236-8035 E-mail: cindythomas@glenmoreinn.com | www.glenmoreinn.com

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 25

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

26 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Edmonton & area

ICING IT Delegates will cheer when they hear Edmonton is the next meeting place

BY GEOFF KIRBYSON

D

on’t ask Edmontonians about the fledgling oil and gas sector taking a bite out of the Alberta economy: they won’t know what you’re talking about.

There are 27 cranes ringing the downtown skyline, pushing along $6 billion worth of development.

This includes the Ice District, which opens this year in a $2.5 billion downtown entertainment zone that includes a casino, VIP cinemas, a four-star hotel, conference space and a winter garden.

City hotels are joining the action. Eight of the 13 current downtown hotel properties are spending a total of

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 26

Opening this year: Edmonton’s Ice District creates a whole level of downtown excitement: a new hotel, new hockey arena and fabulous meeting places in the heart of Alberta’s capital | WAM DEVELOPMENT

$45 million on renovations.

The occupancy rate in downtown Edmonton was 73.4 per cent last year while in the city as a whole it was 69.2 per cent and in Alberta it was 67.8 per cent. Popular downtown conference hotels include the Westin Hotel and Sutton Place. In the south end of town, the Sawridge, owned and operated by the Sawridge First Nation and the Marriott at River Cree Resort, even sports a casino.

Two new hotels are being built. The largest, a Marriott International, with 360 rooms over 26 storeys will also have about half an acre of meeting space when it opens next year.

The second, Hyatt Place, will have 250 rooms and 8,000 square feet of meeting space and will have cost $55 million when it welcomes guests this year on Jasper

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

| 27

Pan Am gold-medal sprinter Andre De Grasse will be among Canadian track and field stars competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games trials in Edmonton, July 7-10. Tens of thousands of spectators are expected | ATHLETICS CANADA

Inspiration.

Add exceptional service to an outstanding location and you have Edmonton’s Shaw Conference Centre – a convention and exhibition space that inspires planners and delegates alike. Located at the heart of downtown and foot of North America’s largest urban park.

Learn more at shawconferencecentre.com or call us at 780-917-7610.

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 27

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

28 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Edmonton & area

The Shaw Conference Centre hosts a wide variety of conferences, banquets, trade shows and large concerts, all within walking distance to more than 2,000 hotel rooms. Great dining is assured with the attention of an award-winning culinary team | SHAW CONFERENCE CENTRE

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 28

Avenue. Together, the two hotels are expected to add 730,000 room-night bookings annually.

The Shaw Conference Centre hosts a wide variety of conferences, banquets, trade shows and large concerts, all within walking distance to more than 2,000 hotel rooms.

Even more hospitality investment is required, according to a new report on hotels from Edmonton’s Downtown Business Association.

Khedija Hentati, the author of the report, says Edmonton lags behind other major cities hotel-wise and needs to increase both the capacity and quality.

The more development that takes place downtown, the greater the need for more hotel rooms, she says.

The city has had no shortage of major events lately.

Edmonton was one of six Canadian host cities for the FIFA Women’s World Cup last summer; it hosted the Red Bull Crashed Ice event in March as well as the annual Tour of Alberta cycling race.

This year, the capital will host the Canadian national gymnastics competition in June, the Canadian track and field trials for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in July, and the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics championships in August, among a score of confirmed events.

Carrie Russell, Vancouver-based managing director of hotel market consultancy company HVS International, says Edmonton is a natural conference destination.

“Edmonton is a diversified economy. It has a lot of leisure demand generators,” she says. É

2015-10-14 10:07 AM

Online Event Registration Software How To Ensure That The System You Choose Helps Your Event Succeed And Makes You Look Good.

2 Tips For A Smooth Registration Process And Happy Attendees.

Tip #1 Be Careful With Ultra Low Priced Systems

Tip #2 Use Your System In The Right Way

With so many systems on the market promising great things it can be hard to tell them apart. This means that decisions are often based on the upfront cost which is rarely the whole cost of using the system. Even if the software is good, if it’s not quite right for your needs it will cost you in terms of time, frustration and maybe lost registrations. Avoid getting into the wrong software by asking a lot of questions upfront, exploring the system with a free account and testing out the support before you really need it.

Even the best software can give you a headache if it’s not used in the right way.

For example, if you don’t give careful consideration to the types of fields you put on the form, you may not be able to pull the reports you need. Plus, advanced features might sound great but may cause more work than they save if not deployed in the right way. Good registration support staff will answer your questions while great ones will review your form and offer advice and suggestions to make your event registration a smooth and easy experience for all.

2 Free Offers #1 Start A Free Account - Get access to the entire system and support from online registration experts to help you explore and fully evaluate the system. No contract or credit card required and no obligation. Get started now at www.eply.com.

#2 Free Download - 5 Tough Questions to Help Pick the Perfect Online Registration System - A Special Report for Event planners. Helpful if you are researching systems or if you have one and are wondering if it’s what you really need. Go to www.eply.com to get this report.

1-800-507-3759 A Canadian Company

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www.eply.com sales@eply.com

2015-10-14 10:08 AM

30 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Edmonton & area

Acheson Hotels and Motels Nova Inn Acheson 26302 Township Rd 531A Suite 1, Acheson T7X 5A3 Mindy Smythe....p587-336-9531 f780-732-5719 emindy_s@novahotels.ca wwww.novahotels.ca

Beaumont Team Building Powerful Play Experiences 4103 46 St, Beaumont T4X 1G1 Robert Manolson ...........................p780-929-5949 erobert@powerfulplay.ca wwww.powerfulplay.ca

Edmonton Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Meeting Professionals International Greater Edmonton Chapter 11215 Jasper Ave NW Unit 93, Edmonton T5K 0L5 ...........................................p780-999-5799 empiedmonton@gmail.com wwww.mpiedmonton.org Banquet Facilities Oasis Centre - Conferences, Weddings & Events, The 10930 177 St NW, Edmonton T5S 2X7 Christine Dimler .p780-451-9227 f780-486-7870 einfo@oasiscentre.com wwww.oasiscentre.com

Sands Inn & Suites 12340 Fort Rd NW, Edmonton T5B 4H5 Christee Reda ....p780-474-5476 f780-477-2714 echristee@sandshotel.com wwww.sandshoteledmonton.com Shaw Conference Centre 9797 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton T5J 1N9 Cheryl Rose ....................................p780-917-7610 ecrose@edmonton.com wwww.shawconferencecentre.com Union Bank Inn 10053 Jasper Ave, Edmonton T5J 1S5 Deidre Frew .......p780-401-2209 f780-401-2213 esales@unionbankinn.com wwww.unionbankinn.com Caterers Zinc Catering at the Art Gallery of Alberta 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq, Edmonton T5J 2C1 Elisa De Fazio.....p780-392-2505 f780-392-2485 eelisa.defazio@compass-canada.com wwww.zincrestaurant.ca Community Halls Blue Quill Community Hall 11304 25 Ave NW , Edmonton T6J 5B1...............p780-438-3366 f780-438-1940 erentals@bqcl.org wwww.bqcl.org

Conference Organizers/Planners/ Trade Show Consultants BUKSA Strategic Conference Services 10328 81 Ave NW Suite 307, Edmonton T6E 1X2 Kate Bailey.........p780-436-0983 f780-437-5984 einfo@buksa.com wwww.buksa.com CEO Corporate Event Organization Inc 11355 105 Ave, Edmonton T5H 3Y3 Anne Finzer ........p780-421-1240 f780-429-1591 einfo@ceoinc.ca wwww.ceoinc.ca Family Productions Inc 4634 90A Ave Suite 200, Edmonton T6B 2P9 Louise Reinich....p780-490-0215 f780-450-3757 einfo@edmontonshows.com wwww.edmontonshows.com Timewise Event Management Inc 18112 105 Ave NW Suite 101, Edmonton T5S 2T4 Arlene Schilke ................................p780-444-3773 einfo@timewise.biz wwww.timewise.biz Entertainment Services Mitchell Entertainment Services Ltd PO Box 62030, Edmonton T5M 4B5 .............p780-488-4715 f780-482-5349 einfo@mitchellentertainment.ca wwww.mitchellentertainment.ca Hotels and Motels Campus Tower Suite Hotel 11145 87 Ave NW, Edmonton T6G 0Y1 ..............p780-439-6060 f780-433-4410 wwww.campustower.com Chateau Lacombe Hotel 10111 Bellamy Hill NW, Edmonton T5J 1N7 ..............p780-428-6611 f780-425-6564 esales@chateaulacombe.com wwww.chateaulacombe.com

Chateau Nova Yellowhead 13920 Yellowhead Trail, Edmonton T5L 3C2 Mindy Smythe....p587-336-9531 f780-732-5719 emindy_s@novahotels.ca wwww.novahotels.ca Comfort Inn & Suites Edmonton 10425 100 Ave NW, Edmonton T5J 0A3 Gary Singh .........p780-423-5611 f780-425-9791 egm@comfortinnedmonton.com wwww.comfortinnedmonton.com Courtyard by Marriott Edmonton West 10011 184 St NW, Edmonton T5S 1B6 ..............p780-638-6070 f780-638-6299 wwww.marriott.com Delta Edmonton Centre Suite Hotel 10222 102 St, Edmonton T5J 4C5 Lori McGrath ......p780-429-3900 f780-426-0562 edec.sales.sm@deltahotels.com wwww.deltaedmontoncentre.ca Delta Edmonton South Hotel & Conference Centre 4404 Gateway Blvd NW, Edmonton T6H 5C2 ..............p780-434-6415 f780-434-5298 edeltaedmonton@deltahotels.com wwww.deltaedmonton.com Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, The 10065 100 St, Edmonton T5J 0N6 .............p780-429-6406 f780-424-8017 ehotelmacdonald@fairmont.com wwww.fairmont.com/macdonald Hilton Garden Inn West Edmonton 17610 Stony Plain Rd, Edmonton T5S 1A2 ..............p780-443-2233 f780-486-8980 wwww.hiltongardeninn.com Metterra Hotel on Whyte 10454 82 Ave, Edmonton T6E 4Z7 Pat Smith ...........p780-431-5318 f780-431-5336 epsmith@hotelsonwhyte.com wwww.metterra.com

With over 7,000 square feet of meeting space, Sands Inn & Suites has 3 fully equipped banquet halls to accommodate a variety of special events ranging from 10 to 450 people. We’ve hosted wedding receptions & ceremonies, charity events, corporate functions, live music and much more. We pride ourselves in our delicious catering options, and our friendly and SURIHVVLRQDO VWDͿ • Pet Friendly • Non & Smoking Rooms

• Close to Rexall & Northlands • North East Located

12340 Fort Road NW Edmonton Alberta T5B 4H5

Main 780-474-5476 Fax 780-477-2714 info@sandshoteledm.com www.sandshoteledmonton.com

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Edmonton & area

Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre 4520 76 Ave NW, Edmonton T6B 0A5 ..............p780-468-5400 f780-465-5515 ecatering@hiccedmonton.com wwww.radisson.com Radisson Hotel Edmonton South 4440 Gateway Blvd, Edmonton T6H 5C2 ..............p780-437-6010 f780-431-5802 erhi_esal@radisson.com wwww.radisson.com Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre 11834 Kingsway, Edmonton T5G 3J5 Mindy Smythe....p587-336-9531 f780-732-5719 emindy_s@novahotels.ca wwww.novahotels.ca

Sands Inn & Suites 12340 Fort Rd NW, Edmonton T5B 4H5 Christee Reda ....p780-474-5476 f780-477-2714 echristee@sandshotel.com wwww.sandshoteledmonton.com Sutton Place Hotel Edmonton 10235 101 St, Edmonton T5J 3E9 ...............p780-428-7111 f780-441-3099 einfo_edmonton@suttonplace.com wwww.suttonplace.com Union Bank Inn 10053 Jasper Ave, Edmonton T5J 1S5 Deidre Frew .......p780-401-2209 f780-401-2213 esales@unionbankinn.com wwww.unionbankinn.com Varscona Hotel on Whyte 8208 106 St, Edmonton T6E 6R9 Pat Smith ...........p780-431-5338 f780-431-5336 epsmith@varscona.com wwww.varscona.com Meeting Planners MS Productions Inc 13103 124 St NW, Edmonton T5L 0P9 Milena Santoro ..............................p780-999-5799 emilena@milenasantoro.com wwww.milenasantoro.com Regional Convention Spaces

Shaw Conference Centre 9797 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton T5J 1N9 Cheryl Rose ....................................p780-917-7610 ecrose@edmonton.com wwww.shawconferencecentre.com Speakers/Facilitators Affinity Consulting and Training 215 Blackburn Dr E Suite 105, Edmonton T6W 1B9 Brian Ward.....................................p877-432-8182 einfo@affinitymc.com wwww.affinitymc.com Tourist Attractions - Major West Edmonton Mall 8882 170 St Suite 1755, Edmonton T5T 4M2 .............p780-444-5308 f780-444-5331 egroups@wem.ca wwww.wem.ca

Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities

Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre 11727 Kingsway NW, Edmonton T5G 3A1 Nigel Swarbrooke ..........................p780-452-7770 f780-454-3436 enigel@chateaulouis.com wwww.chateaulouis.com Citadel Theatre 9828 101A Ave, Edmonton T5J 3C6 ..............p780-428-2119 f780-428-7194 ecitadel@citadeltheatre.com wwww.citadeltheatre.com

Winspear Centre 9720 102 Ave NW, Edmonton T5J 4B2 Diana de Sousa..p780-401-2522 f780-425-1913 eddesousa@winspearcentre.com wwww.winspearcentre.com Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor Fort Edmonton Park PO Box 2359, Edmonton T5J 2R7...............p780-423-4069 f780-496-8732 erentals@fortedmontonpark.ca wwww.fortedmontonpark.ca

Northlands Park Racetrack & Casino 7410 Borden Park Rd NW, Edmonton T5B 4W9 Scott Sinclair ......p780-471-7210 f780-471-7172 einfo@northlands.com wwww.northlandspark.ca

Leduc Caterers

Edmonton EXPO Centre 7515 118 Ave, Edmonton T5B 4X5 Tony Cordeiro ......p780-471-7210 f780-471-7172 einfo@northlands.com wwww.edmontonexpocentre.com Jubilations Dinner Theatre - Edmonton 8882 170 St Unit 2690, Edmonton T5T 4J2 Stacey Wilson....p780-484-2424 f780-489-3942 ecorpsales.edm@jubilations.ca wwww.jubilations.ca Lodge at Snow Valley, The 119th Street off the Whitemud, Edmonton T6J 6M7 Gina Mitchell .....p780-809-2374 f780-436-5479 egina@snowvalley.ca wwww.snowvalley.ca Muttart Conservatory 9626 96A St Box 2359, Edmonton T5J 2R7 ..............p780-496-8355 f780-496-8747 emuttartquestions@edmonton.ca wwww.muttartconservatory.ca Oasis Centre - Conferences, Weddings & Events, The 10930 177 St NW, Edmonton T5S 2X7 Christine Dimler .p780-451-9227 f780-486-7870 einfo@oasiscentre.com wwww.oasiscentre.com

Eagle’s Nest Catering Ltd 50549 RR234, Leduc T4X 0L7 Linda Kuhn .........p780-449-6646 f780-720-6895 einfo@eaglesnestcatering.ca wwww.eaglesnestcatering.ca Hotels and Motels Best Western Plus Denham Inn & Suites 5207 50 Ave, Leduc T9E 6V3 Carol J Borowic .p780-986-2241 f780-986-1511 einfo@bestwesterndenham.com wwww.bestwesterndenham.com Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Edmonton International Airport 3916 84 Ave, Leduc T9E 8M6 .............p780-980-9775 f780-980-3054 wwww.hamptoninn.hilton.com Promotional Items/Novelties/Corporate Gifts/Gift Baskets In Any Event... Inc 90 49547 RR 243, Leduc T9E 2X2 Lauryann Tessier ............................p780-986-7197 eltessier@inanyevent.ca wwww.inanyevent.ca

Nisku

Rexall Place PO Box 1480, Edmonton T5J 2N5 Dave Shaw.........p780-471-7210 f780-471-7172 einfo@northlands.com wwww.northlands.com

Hotels and Motels Holiday Inn Express Edmonton International Airport 1102 4 St, Nisku T9E 8E2 Selena Martin ....p780-955-1000 f780-955-3009 eedmontonexpress@shiringroup.com wwww.hiexpress.com Nisku Inn & Conference Centre Edmonton Airport 1101 4 St, Nisku T9E 7N1 ..............p780-955-7744 f780-955-7743 esales@niskuinn.com wwww.niskuinn.com

Sherwood Park Banquet Facilities Strathcona County 2001 Sherwood Dr, Sherwood Park T8A 3W7 Erin Mooney.......p780-410-8502 f780-464-8444 eerin.mooney@strathcona.ca wwww.strathcona.ca

Community Halls Strathcona County 2001 Sherwood Dr, Sherwood Park T8A 3W7 Erin Mooney.......p780-410-8502 f780-464-8444 eerin.mooney@strathcona.ca wwww.strathcona.ca Hotels and Motels Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sherwood Park 11 Portage Ln, Sherwood Park T8H 2R7 ..............p780-417-3388 f780-417-3183 ejanice@hiesherwoodpark.ca wwww.hiesherwoodpark.ca Regional Convention Spaces Strathcona County 2001 Sherwood Dr, Sherwood Park T8A 3W7 Erin Mooney.......p780-410-8502 f780-464-8444 eerin.mooney@strathcona.ca wwww.strathcona.ca Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Festival Place 100 Festival Way, Sherwood Park T8A 5T2 Peggy Thomas....p780-410-8567 f780-449-0743 ethomasp@strathcona.ab.ca wwww.festivalplace.ab.ca Holiday Inn Sherwood Park - Conference Centre 2100 Premier Way, Sherwood Park T8H 2G4 ..............p780-464-4900 f780-464-4796 eprakash@aumhotels.com Millennium Place 2000 Premier Way, Sherwood Park T8H 2G4 Sharon Tomaszeski ........................p780-464-8244 f780-416-7200 esharon.tomaszeski@strathcona.ca wwww.strathcona.ca Strathcona County 2001 Sherwood Dr, Sherwood Park T8A 3W7 Erin Mooney.......p780-410-8502 f780-464-8444 eerin.mooney@strathcona.ca wwww.strathcona.ca Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor Strathcona Wilderness Centre 2001 Sherwood Dr, Sherwood Park T8A 0W7 Bjorn Taylor ........p780-922-3939 f780-922-6415 eswcinfo@strathcona.ca wwww.strathcona.ca/wildernesscentre

St Albert Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres St Albert & District Chamber of Commerce 71 St Albert Trail, St Albert T8N 6L5 ..............p780-458-2833 f780-458-6515 eevents@stalbertchamber.com wwww.stalbertchamber.com Banquet Facilities Vee Restaurant Lounge & Banquet (at Apex Casino) 24 Boudreau Rd, St Albert T8N 6K3 ..............p780-460-8092 f780-460-1962 eevents@apexcasino.ca Hotels and Motels Best Western Plus The Inn at St Albert 460 St Albert Trail, St Albert T8N 5J9 Tyson Ghostkeeper.........................p780-470-3800 f780-470-0038 egm@bestwesternstalbert.com wwww.bestwesternstalbert.com St Albert Inn & Suites 156 St Albert Rd, St Albert T8N 0P5 ..............p780-459-5551 f780-460-7687 einfo@stalbertinn.com wwww.stalbertinn.com Resorts/Retreats Star of the North Retreat Centre 3A St Vital Ave, St Albert T8N 1K1 Nancy Vaculchik p780-459-5511 f780-458-8877 eadmin@starofthenorth.ca wwww.starofthenorth.ca Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Servus Credit Union Place 400 Campbell Rd, St Albert T8N 0R8 Scott Daniels .....p780-418-6081 f780-458-2750 esdanielsl@stalbert.ca wwww.servusplace.ca

Shaw Conference Centre 9797 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton T5J 1N9 Cheryl Rose ....................................p780-917-7610 ecrose@edmonton.com wwww.shawconferencecentre.com

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32 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Alberta Rockies

HIGH IN ALBERTA

The western highlands greet visitors with a towering welcome

BY ANDREA COX

J

ust west of Calgary and southwest of Edmonton, the Kananaskis-Canmore-Banff-Jasper corridor presents one of the most exciting and beautiful allseason mountain playgrounds in the world. Its rugged beauty unveils new discoveries at every turn, every season. Alberta’s Rocky Mountains offer the quintessential environment for the corporate retreat with a myriad of world-class and boutique-style meeting spaces and accommodations, activities from dogsledding to skiing and golfing and fabulous meals prepared by talented chefs.

At the Banff Centre, an innovative world-class arts, creativity and business centre, artists, writers and photographers create, teach and participate, while business groups depend one on of the best programming and meeting facilities and resources in Canada, with more than 60 lecture theatres and auditoriums to accommodate up to 1,600 participants.

Banff also boasts a thriving health and wellness ambience nurtured by the town’s renowned mineral spas and by the world-class spa with three waterfalls and its own mineral pool at the iconic Banff Springs Hotel, a chateauinspired CP hotel built circa 1888, featuring Victorian architecture, grand ballrooms, meeting rooms, luxurious restaurants and English-style pubs all overlooking the Bow River, Bow Falls and the Stanley Thompson-designed 18-hole championship golf course.

Also in Banff, the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies offers several historic venues for small to midsize gatherings.

In the hip mountain town of Canmore, big changes are bubbling to the surface. This charming centre boasts more than 70 restaurants, a phenomenal number considering its population barely crests 12,000.

Canmore chefs share a few key commonalities: a love of food, a preference for local ingredients and a healthy respect for innovation. The food scene in Canmore has always been sophisticated, but Canmore Uncorked, a

The Glacier Skywalk offers spectacular views of the adjacent Sunwapta Valley and Athabasca Glacier | PROVIDED

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Alberta Rockies

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34 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Alberta Rockies

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies provides a refreshing escape into Alberta’s past | PROVIDED

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 34

13-day food and drink festival that celebrates the innovative stylings of local culinary gurus, is catapulting this mountain town’s food scene into the limelight. The festival runs in April and offers progressive dinners, such as an evening under the stars with a six-course Tuscanstyle long-table dinner for 100 people. Each course is the artistic interpretation of an original music score, the

sounds of which accompany the meal.

Canmore’s local craft brewery, the Grizzly Paw, transforms vats of hops and molasses into some of Western Canada’s most daring and inviting brews. Groups are invited to tour and taste in the brewery’s brand-new digs, a mountain-themed log, glass and steel architectural gem in the heart of town.

Groups can also cozy up at Mount Engadine Lodge, a boutique lodge nestled in the Spray Valley, where up to 20 can meet, feast on gourmet cuisine or hike, bike, crosscountry ski, paint and photograph the abundant nature.

For larger groups, the Solara Resort & Spa, located in the heart of Canmore, features two conference centres with theatre-style seating for up to 200 people. At day’s end, guests have access to the full-service on-site spa to relax and unwind. Other options include the Delta Kananaskis Lodge and the Coast Canmore Hotel & Conference Centre.

But when it comes to the whole package, two sparkling mountain gems stand out: the Chateau Lake Louise Fairmont and the Post Hotel.

T h e C h ate au L a ke L o u i s e fe at u re s a n e nt i re 36,000-square-foot wing dedicated to meeting space, along with spa facilities. Set amidst cascading mountain ranges on the banks of Lake Louise, the Chateau offers an elegant setting with a casual undertone.

The boutique Post Hotel provides five-diamond excellence at every turn from culinary masterpieces to rare wine, plus comfortable meeting spaces including a library and wine cellar that will accommodate groups of up to 60 people.

Nearby Watson House promises luxury in a private mountain home – perfect for corporate retreats.

Follow the road from Lake Louise northwest to an exciting new nature and learning attraction. Located an hour south of Jasper along Alberta’s Icefields Parkway, the Glacier Skywalk boasts spectacular views of the adjacent Sunwapta Valley and Athabasca Glacier.

Designed by Calgary’s Sturgess Architecture, the cantilevered 450-metre interpretive walk connects visitors to the natural environment with a tempered glass floor offering heartstopping views of the canyon 280 metres below.

The Glacier View Inn, a boutique hotel with 32 guests rooms, is located nearby and is surrounded by massive glaciers and sparkling streams. Stop at the interpretive centre and book a close tour of the glacier on the Ice Explorer, a massive vehicle designed for glacial ice travel.

The surprises continue onwards to Jasper where the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge delights the senses. This convention destination graces 700 acres of untouched beauty. Expect to see soft-eyed does grazing on the lawns and eagles soaring above the lake. The prestigious mountain resort features over 26,500 square feet of meeting space and five updated function rooms, not to mention a multitude of activities from paddle boating to golfing and art classes. É

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Alberta Rockies

Banff Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Banff Lake Louise Tourism PO Box 1298, Banff T1L 1B3 Jason Elie ........... p403-762-0271 f403-762-8545 ejelie@banfflakelouise.com wwww.banfflakelouise.com Hotels and Motels Banff Voyager Inn/Spruce Grove Inn 555 Banff Ave Box 1540, Banff T1L 1B5 Georgina Raso .... p800-879-1991 f403-760-7792 esales@banffvoyagerinn.com wwww.banffvoyagerinn.com Tourist Attractions - Major Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies 111 Bear St Box 160, Banff T1L 1A3 Monte Greenshields.......................p403-762-2291 f403-762-8919 emgreenshields@whyte.org wwww.whyte.org Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Banff Centre 107 Tunnel Mountain Dr Box 1020, Banff T1L 1H5 ............... p403-762-6485 f403-762-6202 econferences@banffcentre.ca wwww.banffcentre.ca/conferences Rimrock Resort Hotel 300 Mountain Ave PO Box 1110, Banff T1L 1J2 ............... p403-762-3356 f403-762-1842 esales@rimrockresort.com wwww.rimrockresort.com Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies 111 Bear St Box 160, Banff T1L 1A3 Monte Greenshields.......................p403-762-2291 f403-762-8919 emgreenshields@whyte.org wwww.whyte.org Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies 111 Bear St Box 160, Banff T1L 1A3 Monte Greenshields.......................p403-762-2291 f403-762-8919 emgreenshields@whyte.org wwww.whyte.org

Photography - Event/Videography Colin Ferguson Photography/Mountain Light Studio 1612 11 Ave, Canmore T1W 2B2 Colin Ferguson................................p403-678-0432 einfo@mountainlightstudio.com wwww.mountainlightstudio.com Resorts/Retreats Blackstone Mountain Lodge 170 Kananaskis Way, Canmore T1W 2A8 ............. p403-609-8098 f403-679-7098 egsm@blackstonelodge.ca wwww.blackstonelodge.ca Falcon Crest Lodge 190 Kananaskis Way, Canmore T1W 3K5 Trish Appleyard .. p403-678-6150 f403-678-6148 etrish@falconcrestlodge.ca wwww.falconcrestlodge.ca Mount Engadine Lodge Box 6843, Canmore T1W 0B9 Karen Fitzgerald .............................p403-678-4080 emountengadine@castleavery.ca wwww.mountengadine.com Mystic Springs Chalets & Hot Pools 140 Kananaskis Way, Canmore T2W 2X2 Mike Bell ........................................p587-215-3417 emike@waymarker.ca wwww.waymarker.ca StoneRidge Mountain Resort 30 Lincoln Park, Canmore T1W 3E9 ............. p403-961-5039 f403-675-5002 ekevin@stoneridgeresort.ca wwww.stoneridgeresort.ca Tourist Attractions - Major Alpine Helicopters Inc 91 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore T1W 1N8 Jo-Anne Kobelt .. p403-678-4802 f403-678-2176 ecanmore@alpinehelicopters.com wwww.alpinehelicopters.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities

Lakeview Inn & Suites Hinton 500 Smith St, Hinton T7V 2A1 ............. p780-865-2575 f780-865-2976 ehinton@lakeviewhotels.com wwww.lakeviewhotels.com Nova Lodge Hinton 149 Woodley Dr, Hinton T7V 0A7 Mindy Smythe .... p587-336-9531 f780-732-5719 emindy_s@novahotels.ca wwww.novahotels.ca Resorts/Retreats Black Cat Guest Ranch 50508 Range Rd 271A Box 6267, Hinton T7V 1X6 .............. p780-865-3084 f780-865-1924 email@blackcatguestranch.ca wwww.blackcatguestranch.ca Overlander Mountain Lodge PO Box 6118, Hinton T7V 1X5 .............. p877-866-2330 f780-866-2332 eevents@overlandermountainlodge.com wwww.overlandermountainlodge.com

Jasper Hotels and Motels Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre Jasper 76 Connaught Dr PO Box 2080, Jasper T0E 1E0 Pat McLeod ........ p780-852-6593 f780-852-6594 epmcleod@sawridge.com wwww.sawridge.com Resorts/Retreats Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, The 1 Lodge Rd Box 40, Jasper T0E 1E0 Uwe Walter ........ p780-852-6007 f780-852-5107 ejasperparklodge@fairmont.com wwww.fairmont.com/jasper Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Municipality of Jasper - Culture & Recreation 303 Bonhomme St, Jasper T0E 1E0 Activity Centre Front Desk .............p780-852-3381 f780-852-5176 eactivctr@town.jasper.ab.ca wwww.jasper-alberta.com

Kananaskis Resorts/Retreats

Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino 888 Nakoda Way, Kananaskis T0L 1N0 Chris Grimes ....... p403-881-2830 f403-881-2831 eevents@stoneynakodaresort.com wwww.stoneynakodaresort.com Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor Boundary Ranch 2 Guinn’s Rd Hwy 40 Box 44, Kananaskis T0L 2H0 Haylie Guinn ....... p403-591-7171 f403-591-7326 ealy@boundaryranch.com wwww.boundaryranch.com

Lake Louise Hotels and Motels Lake Louise Inn 210 Village Rd Box 209, Lake Louise T0L 1E0 Amy Hugo ........... p403-522-3791 f403-522-2950 esalesmanager@lakelouiseinn.com wwww.lakelouiseinn.com Post Hotel & Spa 200 Pipestone Rd PO Box 69, Lake Louise T0L1E0 Geoff Booth ........ p403-522-3989 f403-522-3966 esales@posthotel.com wwww.posthotel.com Resorts/Retreats Baker Creek Mountain Resort Bow Valley Parkway Box 66, Lake Louise T0L 1E0 ............... p403-522-3761 f403-522-2270 ebakerinfo@bakercreek.com wwww.bakercreek.com Deer Lodge 109 Lake Louise Dr Box 100, Lake Louise T0L 1E0 ............... p403-781-8131 f403-410-7406 edlmanager@crmr.com wwww.crmr.com/deer Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, The 111 Lake Louise Dr, Lake Louise T0L1E0 Todd Porter ......... p403-522-3511 f403-522-3834 echateaulakelouise@fairmont.com wwww.fairmont.com/lakelouise Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge Box 39, Lake Louise T0L1E0 ............... p403-522-2167 f403-522-2425 entjinfo@num-ti-jah.com wwww.num-ti-jah.com

Canmore Caterers Bow Valley Gourmet PO Box 8703, Canmore T1W 0B9 Michael Anderson ..........................p403-679-8470 f403-678-0085 echef@bowvalleygourmet.ca wwww.bowvalleygourmet.ca Hotels and Motels

canmore hotel & conference centre

™

Coast Canmore Hotel & Conference Centre 511 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore T1W 1N7 Marie-Eve Jackson.........................p403-609-5438 em.jackson@coasthotels.com wwww.coasthotels.com/hotels/ab/canmore/ coast-canmore-hotel-and-conference-centre Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge 1988 Olympic Way Suite 100, Canmore T1W 2T6 .........................................p403-678-2400 ecanmore.nordiccentre@gov.ab.ca wwww.canmorenordiccentre.ca

Dead Man’s Flats

canmore hotel & conference centre

™

Coast Canmore Hotel & Conference Centre 511 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore T1W 1N7 Marie-Eve Jackson.........................p403-609-5438 em.jackson@coasthotels.com wwww.coasthotels.com/hotels/ab/canmore/ coast-canmore-hotel-and-conference-centre Mystic Springs Chalets & Hot Pools 140 Kananaskis Way, Canmore T2W 2X2 Mike Bell ........................................p587-215-3417 emike@waymarker.ca wwww.waymarker.ca Ramada Inn & Suites Canmore 1402 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore T1W 1N5 Rose Chobaniuk.. p403-609-5408 f403-609-2773 etours@ramadacanmore.com wwww.ramadacanmore.com

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 35

Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino 888 Nakoda Way, Kananaskis T0L 1N0 Chris Grimes ....... p403-881-2830 f403-881-2831 eevents@stoneynakodaresort.com wwww.stoneynakodaresort.com

Waterton Lakes National Park | SHUTTERSTOCK

Hotels and Motels Copperstone Resort 250 2nd Ave, Dead Man’s Flats T1W 2W4 Joey Belanger .... p403-678-0303 f403-678-0453 egm@copperstoneresorthotel.com wwww.copperstoneresorthotel.com

Hinton Hotels and Motels Holiday Inn Express Suites Hinton 462 Smith St, Hinton T7V 2A1 Alison Poiron ...... p780-865-2048 f780-865-2049 eapoiron@zsholdings.com wwww.hiexpress.com Holiday Inn Hinton 393 Gregg Ave, Hinton T7V 1N1 .............. p780-865-3321 f780-865-7856 ecboisvert@zsholdings.com wwww.bestsleepintown.com

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36 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Central Alberta

GET CENTRED Central Alberta offers a range of great meeting places just far enough away from the two big cities

BY GEOFF KIRBYSON

R The 2,000-acre Olds College campus in Olds features a 20-acre wetlands for outdoor events, large dining and conference facilities, an equine centre and accommodation | OLDS COLLEGE

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 36

ed Deer, a city of about 100,000, is located almost equidistant between Calgary and Edmonton. “It’s very easy for people to get here from the two major cities,” says Tim Creedon, CEO of the Red Deer & District Chamber of Commerce. “Part of the strength and part of the challenge is the location.”

The city is one hour and 45 minutes away from downtown Calgary and just over 90 minutes from downtown Edmonton.

The city’s largest conference centre is the Sheraton hotel, which has a large exhibition hall that can host up to 1,000 people for dinner, spacious banquet areas and lots of meeting rooms.

But if a recent city proposal comes to fruition, its capacity to host large events will increase significantly. Developers want to build in the Riverlands area near the city centre with the focal point being a new conference centre.

The biggest event on Red Deer’s calendar is Agri-Trade, the largest agricultural equipment trade show in Western Canada, which is held every November.

“It has the capacity to completely sell out Red Deer hotel rooms for a radius of 50 to 100 kilometres,” Creedon says.

In Olds, 45 minutes from Calgary, Olds College has become a prime campus for conferences and events, in conjunction with the Pomeroy Inn & Suites, part of the facilities on the 2,000-acre campus.

The campus features 5,600 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities and can accommodate up to 360 banquet guests but also has smaller meeting spaces and trade show facilities for up to 50 exhibitors. Its Ralph Klein Centre has seating for 1,500 for sports events, while a multimedia centre boasts a 390-seat theatre.

There is even a new equine facility available for riding competitions.

The giant campus includes the 20-acre wetlands, perfect for outdoor events amidst 19 ponds and 1.3 kilometres of pathways.

Camrose is close to Alberta’s capital region but with

2015-10-14 10:08 AM

| 37

Central Alberta

a different vibe. The Norsemen Inn is equipped for gatherings of up to 500 people, with rooms ranging from small conference spaces to a banquet hall. It even has its own brew pub. The Best Western Plus Camrose Resort and Casino can accommodate conferences of up to 400 people for banquets and 450 for meetings.

Wetaskiwin, south of Edmonton, focuses on regional and provincial conferences. John Vandenbeld, communications co-ordinator with the City of Wetaskiwin, says its newly-opened Manluk Aquatic Centre has hosted a number of swim meets of various sizes. The city has also hosted a number of air shows.

Wetaskiwin’s biggest hotel is the Super 8 Wetaskiwin, which has 88 rooms, followed by the Alberta Inn & Suites (30 rooms) and the Best Western Wayside Inn (28 rooms).

The Wetaskiwin Drill Hall can hold up to 1,000 guests while the Memorial Arts Centre and Best Western Wayside Inn have capacity for 300 and 250, respectively.

Lacombe, about an hour south of Edmonton, is proud to host meetings and trade events at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. The facility has four meeting spaces, ranging from 760 square feet to over 8,000 square feet.

Lloydminster straddles the province’s eastern border with Saskatchewan, marked with a series of four 100-foot-high survey markers along the great divide. A great venue for interprovincial meetings, the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds offers everything from small meeting rooms to large trade halls.

Lloydminster’s Centennial Civic Centre auditorium can seat up to 300 people and has a kitchen available for rent. As well, the city’s Days Hotel Suites features a conference wing that can host between six and 450 people. É

Staff prepare a dining experience at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites in Olds, part of the Olds College complex | OLDS COLLEGE

A Retreat Close to Home...

A meeting or conference held in the unique atmosphere of the Badlands Community Facility, nestled along the Drumheller River Valley, is sure to motivate your team!

• 11,900 square feet of modern and versatile conference and banquet facilities, accommodating groups of 2 to 600 • 20,900 square feet of field house space ideal for exhibitions and team building • State- of- the -art audio visual system • Extensive fitness facilities, library, art gallery and outdoor terrace overlooking Drumheller’s breathtaking landscapes • World class attractions including the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, Atlas Coal Mine, the World’s Largest Dinosaur and more!

• Centrally located to Drumheller’s finest accommodations Our exceptional staff is ready to assist you to make your visit enjoyable, professional and successful.

We invite you to experience the Badlands Community Facility.

Drumheller, Alberta Phone: (403) 823-1370 Email: mflater@dinosaurvalley.com www.dinosaurvalley.com

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 37

5% Discount, Promo Code: Badlands2

2015-10-14 10:08 AM

38 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Central Alberta Blackfalds

Camrose

Hotels and Motels Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Blackfalds Red Deer North 6021 Parkwood Rd, Blackfalds T0M 0J0 .............p403-885-9797 f403-885-9790 egm@microtelblackfalds.com wwww.microtelinn.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Town of Blackfalds 5018 Waghorn St, Blackfalds T0M 0J0 Abbey Centre Guest Services ........p403-885-4039 eguestservices@blackfalds.com wwww.blackfalds.com

Bonnyville Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Bonnyville & District Chamber of Commerce Box 6054 Hwy 28 West Vezeau Beach Park, Bonnyville T9N 2G7 Megan Naylor ....p780-826-3252 f780-826-4525 emanager@bonnyvillechamber.com wwww.bonnyvillechamber.com Hotels and Motels Best Western Bonnyville Inn & Suites 5401 43 St PO Box 4988, Bonnyville T9N 0H3..............p780-826-6226 f780-826-6270 egm@bestwesternbonnyville.com wwww.bestwesternbonnyville.com Holiday Inn Express & Suites 4404 52 Ave, Bonnyville T9N 0C3 ..............p780-687-8888 f780-687-8889 einfo@hibonnyville.com wwww.hibonnyville.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Bonnyville & District Centennial Centre 4313 50 Ave Unit 1003, Bonnyville T9N 0B4 ..............p780-812-3400 f780-826-7816 eevents@centennialcentre.ca wwww.centennialcentre.ca

Banquet Facilities Camrose Regional Exhibition 4250 Exhibition Dr, Camrose T4V 4Z8 Jennifer Filip ......p780-672-3640 f780-672-8140 ejenniferf@cre.ab.ca wwww.cre.ab.ca Hotels and Motels Best Western Plus Camrose Resort Casino 3201 48 Ave, Camrose T4V 0K9 Dawn Anderson .p780-679-4956 f780-679-0992 edanderson@bestwesterncamrose.com wwww.camroseresortcasino.com Ramada Inn & Suites Camrose 4702 73 St, Camrose T4V 0E5...............p780-672-5220 f780-672-5299 egm@ramadacamrose.com wwww.canaltahotels.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Camrose Regional Exhibition 4250 Exhibition Dr, Camrose T4V 4Z8 Jennifer Filip ......p780-672-3640 f780-672-8140 ejenniferf@cre.ab.ca wwww.cre.ab.ca

Drayton Valley Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Brazeau Regional Tourism 6009 44 Ave PO Box 6401, Drayton Valley T7A 1R4 ..............p780-542-7529 f780-542-7523 einfo@brazeautourism.ca wwww.brazeautourism.ca Hotels and Motels Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Drayton Valley 5001 Brougham Dr PO Box 6907 Stn Main, Drayton Valley T7A 1T1 ..............p780-515-9888 f780-514-2734 egm@hiedraytonvalley.com wwww.hiedraytonvalley.com

Ramada Drayton Valley 2051 50 St, Drayton Valley T7A 1S5 ..............p780-514-7861 f780-514-7863 egm@ramadadraytonvalley.com wwww.ramada.com Service Plus Inns & Suites Drayton Valley 5704 Power Centre Blvd, Drayton Valley T7A 0A5 ..............p888-875-4667 f780-542-3811 edraytonvalley@spis.ca wwww.serviceplusinns.com

Red Deer Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres

Edson Hotels and Motels Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Edson 4520 2 Ave, Edson T7E 1C3...............p780-723-4011 f780-723-4447 egm-edsonhiexpress@shaw.ca wwww.hiexpress.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Edson & District Recreation Complex 3905A Golf Course Rd, Edson T7E 3E2 ...............p780-723-3311 f780-723-4025 eedsonrecsociety@gmail.com wwww.edsonrecreationcomplex.com

Hotels Red Deer 4200 Hwy 2 Suite 101, Red Deer T4N 1E3 Karen Kitchen ....p403-304-4050 f403-346-5081 ekaren@hotelsreddeer.ca wwww.visitreddeer.com

Lloydminster Equipment and Supply Rentals Tent Guys, The PO Box 10087, Lloydminster T9V 3A2 Pamela Becotte..............................p780-205-7368 eofďŹ ce@thetentguys.net wwww.thetentguys.net

Olds Universities and Colleges Olds College 4500 50 St, Olds T4H 1R6 Kerry Moynihan .p403-556-4762 f403-559-4710 ekmoynihan@oldscollege.ca wwww.oldscollege.ca

Tourism Red Deer 4200 Hwy 2 Suite 101, Red Deer T4N 1E3 Liz Taylor ........................................p403-346-0180 eliz@tourismreddeer.com wwww.visitreddeer.com Hotels and Motels Best Western Plus Inn & Suites 6839 66 St, Red Deer T4P 3T5 Lana Goldie ....................................p403-346-3555 esales@bestwesternreddeer.com wwww.bestwesternreddeer.com

EVERYTHING YOU WANT AND NEED IN ONE LOCATION EventPlanning

Menus

Conferences Church Retreats Summer Camps Weddings Christmas Parties Sports Teams Conventions Banquets

Special Catering Cafeteria Dining Buffets Barbecues Tailored Menus

Services

Facilities

Accommodations Centennial Village (NEW) Townhouses Hotel

Boardrooms Outdoor Spaces Suites & Kitchenettes Banquet Halls Theatre & Lecture Halls Meeting Rooms Recreational Facilities Gymnasiums Conference Rooms Computer Labs

Ample Parking RV Parking 24 Hour Campus Security Audio Visual & Multimedia Equipment Technical Support

OLDS COLLEGE – CONFERENCE SERVICES

o 4USFFU 0MET "MCFSUB $BOBEB 5 ) 3 t www.oldscollege.ca/campus/conference_services

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 38

2015-10-14 10:08 AM

visitreddeer.com

Red Deer is mid-way between Calgary and Edmonton.

We are the only city on the Canadian prairies with a potential market of over 2 million people within a 160 km radius.

Start new partnerships in a great location.

KAREN KITCHEN Business Development 403.304.4050 • karen@hotelsreddeer.ca 101, 4200 Hwy 2, Red Deer, AB T4N 1E3

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 39

2015-10-14 10:08 AM

40 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Central Alberta Black Knight Inn 2929 50 Ave, Red Deer T4R 1H1 Ken Mandrusiak.............................p403-343-6666 esales@blackknightinn.ca wwww.blackknightinn.ca Comfort Inn & Suites Red Deer 6846 66 St, Red Deer T4P 3T5 Brad Gabrielson .p403-348-0025 f403-348-0026 ebgabrielson@cdnam.com wwww.comfortinnreddeer.com Days Inn Red Deer 5001 19 St Suite 1000, Red Deer T4R 3R1 Stephanie Morlidge .......................p403-340-3297 f403-340-3274 esmorlidge@d3h.ca wwww.daysinnreddeer.ca Econo Lodge Inn & Suites 23 Gasoline Alley E, Red Deer T4E 1B3 Ruby Sidhu .........p403-346-4188 f403-346-8225 eeconolodgereddeer@shaw.ca wwww.choicehotels.com Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Red Deer 128 Leva Ave, Red Deer T4E 1B9 Lisa Klein ...........p403-967-1002 f403-341-9996 elisa.klein@hilton.com wwww.reddeersuites.hamptoninnbyhilton.com Holiday Inn & Suites Red Deer South 33 Petrolia Dr, Red Deer T4E 1B3 Ash Ahamed...................................p403-348-8485 eaahamed@zsholdings.com wwww.bestsleepintown.com/red-deer/reddeer-south Holiday Inn Express Red Deer 2803 50 Ave, Red Deer T4R 1H1 Ash Ahamed...................................p403-343-2112 eaahamed@zsholdings.com wwww.bestsleepintown.com/red-deer-express Howard Johnson Inn 71 Gasoline Alley E, Red Deer T4E 1B1 Al Samji..............p403-343-8444 f403-342-4310 ereservations@hojoreddeer.com wwww.hojoreddeer.com

Microtel Inn & Suites Red Deer 126 Leva Ave, Red Deer T4E 1B9 Tracy Sutherland p403-967-0320 f403-346-0593 egm@reddeermicrotel.com wwww.marriott.com/yqfts Motel 6 Red Deer 5001 19 St, Suite 900, Red Deer T4R 3R1 Helena Holliday .p403-340-1749 f403-349-8954 ehholliday@d3h.ca wwww.motel6rd.ca Quality Inn North Hill 7150 50 Ave, Red Deer T4N 6A5 Larry Yaworski ...p403-343-8800 f403-346-8690 elarry@qualityinnnorthhill.com wwww.qualityinnnorthhill.com Radisson Hotel Red Deer 6500 67 St, Red Deer T4P 1A2 Karima Suleman p403-357-1108 f403-343-3600 amin@radissonreddeer.com www.radissonreddeer Ramada Red Deer Hotel & Suites 6853 66 St, Red Deer T4P 3T5 Vimar Pillay ....................................p403-342-4445 einfo@ramadareddeer.com wwww.ramadareddeer.com Red Deer Lodge Hotel & Conference Centre 4311 49 Ave, Red Deer T4N 5Y7 Shirin Poonawala...........................p800-661-1657 f403-341-3220 egm@reddeerlodge.ca wwww.reddeerlodge.ca Sandman Hotel Red Deer 2818 50 Ave, Red Deer T4R 1M4 Chris Oldring ......p403-343-7400 f403-343-7411 egm_reddeer@sandman.ca wwww.sandmanhotels.com Sheraton Red Deer Hotel 3310 50 Ave, Red Deer T4N 3X9 Lisa Francoeur....p403-755-1150 f403-346-4790 esales@sheratonreddeer.com wwww.sheratonhotelreddeer.com

Super 8 Red Deer City Centre 4217 Gaetz Ave, Red Deer T4N 3Z4 Judy Kruse..........p403-358-7722 f403-358-7778 einfo@super8reddeer.ca wwww.super8reddeer.ca TownePlace Suites by Marriott 6822 66 St, Red Deer T4P 3T5 Linda Hunter ..................................p403-341-3589 elhunter@tpsreddeer.com wwww.towneplacesuitesreddeer.com Western Budget Motel 171 Leva Ave, Red Deer T4E 1B9 ............................................ p403-358-5755 Western Budget Motel 57 Gasoline Alley East, Red Deer T4E 1B1 ............................................ p403-347-2177 Universities and Colleges Red Deer College Summer Conference Services 100 College Blvd PO Box 5005, Red Deer T4N 5H5 Corry McGregor .p403-356-4900 f403-342-3459 econtinuingeducation@rdc.ab.ca wwww.rdc.ab.ca Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities

Rimbey Hotels and Motels Best Western Rimstone Ridge Hotel 5501 50 Ave Box 1546, Rimbey T0C 2J0 Valerie-Ray St Jean .......................p403-843-2999 f403-843-2997 evalerie.stjean@bwrimbey.com wwww.bestwestern.com

Sylvan Lake Hotels and Motels Best Western Plus Chateau Inn 5027 Lakeshore Dr, Sylvan Lake T4S 1R3 Susan Fisher ......p403-887-7788 f403-887-2598 esuef@beca.ca

Three Hills Hotels and Motels Super 8 Three Hills 208 18 Ave N, Three Hills T0M 2A0 Louise Alberts ....p403-443-8888 f403-443-8889 elfalbert2@gmail.com wwww.super8threehills.com

Wetaskiwin Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor Reynolds-Alberta Museum PO Box 6360, Wetaskiwin T9A 2G1 Melissa Daoust..p780-312-2065 f780-361-1239 ereynoldsalbertamuseum@gov.ab.ca wwww.reynoldsalbertamuseum.com

Westerner Park 4847A 19 St, Red Deer T4R 2N7 Meghan Gustum p403-343-7800 f403-341-4699 easkus@westerner.ab.ca wwww.westernerpark.ca

Sylvan Lake , Alberta

Chateau Inn SYLVAN LAKE PLUS

ALBERTA

• 100% Smoke Free Hotel • Pet-Friendly Premises • Free Continental Breakfast • Heated Indoor Pool & Hot Tub • Fitness & Business Center

Catch the

lake effect.

Only an hour and a half north of Calgary

www.sylvanlake.ca

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 40

• Free Wireless Internet • Banquet Meeting Room to Hold up to 120 People • King Lakeview Rooms with Jetted Tubs

For reservations (Canada, USA) call

1-800-780-7234 5027 Lakeshore Drive, Sylvan Lake, AB T4S 1R3 Tel: (403) 887-7788 • Fax: (403) 887-2598 bestwestern.com • info@bestwesternchateauinn.com

2015-10-14 10:08 AM

Alberta’s City of opportunity for meetings & conferences

Only 30 minutes from the Edmonton International Airport (YEG)

diverse meeting facilities sized for groups from 8 to 2,300

modern hotel rooms with full service restaurants and fitness amenities

Listings for hotels & meeting spaces can be found at www.wetaskiwin.ca | www.buywetaskiwin.ca

world-class attractions including the Reynolds-Alberta Museum, Manluk Centre: Wetaskiwin Regional Aquatics & Fitness, and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame

For more information please contact

City of Wetaskiwin - Facilities 780-361-4416 | facilities@wetaskiwin.ca www.wetaskiwin.ca 00_MPAB2016_02.indd 41

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42 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Southern Alberta

SOUTHERN MIX The red carpet is always out in the eclectic meeting venues of southern Alberta

The rustic Fort Whoop-Up National Historic Site in Lethbridge has rooms for 20 to 50 guests, plus an outdoor meeting space for up to 300 | PROVIDED

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 42

BY PAT JOHNSON

W

hether planning a staff retreat for a dozen or a convention for thousands, Southern Alberta’s has the perfect venue, large or small. There are hundreds of hotels, motels and conventional meeting places in the area. We’ve put together a few destinations you might not have considered – unexpectedly unconventional sites to give your meeting or event a twist.

A rustic venue that offers a sense of history is Fort Whoop-Up National Historic Site in Lethbridge, which has rooms for 20 to 50 guests, plus an outdoor meeting space for up to 300.

For large gatherings and trade shows, Lethbridge Exhibition Park has multiple, cavernous facilities for events of all kinds, as well as catering, equipment rentals and an outdoor event space featuring fire pits, picnic tables and a bandstand.

Popular Lethbridge conference hotels include the Best Western Plus Service Inn & Suites with 113 rooms. The hotel has meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 60 guests.

The Coast Lethbridge Hotel and Conference Centre is a traditional meeting place, offering a 9,000-square-foot banquet ballroom, plus separate meeting rooms that can hold up to 800 guests.

For a meeting that captures the history of the indigenous peoples and the North-West Mounted Police, consider The Fort Museum of the NWMP and First Nations Interpretive

2015-10-14 10:08 AM

| 43

Southern Alberta

Centre in Fort Macleod. This affordable facility can accommodate up to 60. Nearby is the Site Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump UNESCO World Heritage site.

The big convention news in the south for 2016, however, is the long-awaited completion of Medicine Hat’s new regional event complex, which opened in the fall of last year. The centrepiece is Canalta Centre, the city’s premier sports arena and entertainment venue. The $74.9 million state-of-the-art facility has nearly 200,000 square feet of space for multiple events – space can be separated – and stadium seating for more than 6,600.

The Esplanade, on Medicine Hat’s historic First Street SW, is fronted by a stunning glass façade that encloses an array of meeting and event possibilities. A main stage theatre features 700 seats with top-of-the-line theatre technology, an orchestra pit and fly tower. Smaller, flexible rooms are also on offer. There is an adjacent 1887 Victorian home for small meetings, workshops or social events.

A southern visit is not complete without touring Drumheller and its Royal Tyrrell Museum. One of the most visited places in Alberta, the museum contains thousands

Brooks Hotels and Motels Heritage Inn & Suites 1239 2 St W, Brooks T1R 1P7...............p403-362-8688 f403-362-8579 einfo.brookssuites@heritageinn.net wwww.heritageinn.net Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre 1217 2 St W, Brooks T1R 1P7 Eric Deringer ......p403-362-6666 f403-362-7319 egm.brooks@heritageinn.net wwww.heritageinn.net

Coleman Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor Country Encounters 7701 17 Ave PO Box 655, Coleman T0K 0M0 Dawn Rigby........p403-563-5299 f403-582-1149 ethepass@shaw.ca wwww.countryencounters.com

of dinosaur skeletons and displays and would make an interesting break from a conference at the giant Badlands Community Facility in downtown Drumheller.

The Badlands can comfortably welcome large and small conferences with seating for up to 650 theatre-style or 450 for a sit-down banquet. There are also more intimate meeting rooms for breakout or training sessions. A fully equipped commercial kitchen, ample parking and fully accessible facilities make the Badlands a nice landing for meetings of any size.

Waterton Lakes National Park is home to the Bayshore Inn Resort and Spa and the Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort, both offering conference facilities adjacent to one of the national park system’s most beloved and spectacular destinations.

Southern Alberta is packed with intriguing destinations that can give your meeting, retreat or convention an infusion of scenery, history and fun. É

Drumheller Banquet Facilities

Badlands Community Facility 224 Centre St, Drumheller T0J 0Y4 Cathy Kuntz ....................................p403-823-1333 eckuntz@dinosaurvalley.com wwww.dinosaurvalley.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities

Badlands Community Facility 224 Centre St, Drumheller T0J 0Y4 Cathy Kuntz ....................................p403-823-1333 eckuntz@dinosaurvalley.com wwww.dinosaurvalley.com

00_MPAB2016_02.indd 43

Lethbridge Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Economic Development Lethbridge/ Convention & Event Development 308 Stafford Dr S, Lethbridge T1J 2L1 Erin Crane ..........p403-331-0022 f403-331-0202 eerin@chooselethbridge.ca wwww.chooselethbridge.ca Banquet Facilities Ric’s Grill in the Watertower 103 Mayor Magrath Dr S Suite 200, Lethbridge T1J 4Y8 Brandon Boorsma ..........................p403-317-7427 emarketing@ricsgrill.ca wwww.ricsgrill.ca Rogue Restaurant, The 103 Mayor Magrath Dr S Suite 100, Lethbridge T1J 4Y8 Brandon Boorsma ..........................p403-328-4384 emarketing@theroguerestaurant.com wwww.theroguerestaurant.com Hotels and Motels Best Western Plus Service Inn & Suites 209 41 St S, Lethbridge T1J 1Z3 Bruce Primeau................................p403-329-6844 egm@bestwesternlethbridge.ca wwww.bestwesternlethbridge.ca Coast Lethbridge Hotel & Conference Centre 526 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge T1J 3M2 Curtis Burton ......p403-327-5701 f403-327-5075 ec.burton@coasthotels.com wwww.coasthotels.com Days Inn Lethbridge 100 3 Ave S, Lethbridge T1J 4L2 Josh Og ..........................................p403-327-6000 esales@ladaysinn.com wwww.daysinn.ca

The Bayshore Inn Resort and Spa is set in the spectacular Waterton Lakes National Park | BAYSHORE INN RESORT AND SPA

A close-up with an Albertosaurus is among the thrills at the famous Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, a city that also features the conventionfriendly Badlands Community Facility | ROYAL TYRRELL MUSEUM

Econo Lodge Inn & Suites 1124 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge T1K 2P8 Joan Martin....................................p403-328-5591 emotelmanager@shaw.ca wwww.choicehotels.ca/en/econo-lodge-inn-&suites-lethbridge-hotel-cn038 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Lethbridge 120 Stafford Dr S, Lethbridge T1J 4W4 Sacha Johnson ..............................p403-394-9292 ehielethbridge.gm@gmail.com wwww.hielethbridge.ca Holiday Inn Lethbridge 2375 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge T1K 7M1 Tiffany Sullivan ..............................p403-359-5612 etiffanysullivan@fortisproperties.com wwww.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/ lethbridge/yqlhi/hoteldetail Howard Johnson Express 1026 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge T1K 2P8 Paul Bachhal ..................................p403-327-4576 ehj123511@yahoo.com wwww.hojo.com/hotels/alberta/lethbridge/ howard-johnson-express-inn-lethbridge/hoteloverview Lethbridge Lodge Hotel & Conference Centre 320 Scenic Dr S, Lethbridge T1J 4B4 Danielle Gruninger.........................p403-328-1123 edgruninger@silverbirchhotels.com wwww.lethbridgelodge.com Motel 6 1142 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge T1K 2P8 Aran Shortt.....................................p403-328-4436 em65724bo@6franchise.com wwww.motel6.com/en/motels. ab.lethbridge.5724

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44 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Southern Alberta

Premier Inn And Suites 2225 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge T1K 7M1 .............p403-380-6677 f403-320-2945 epremierinns@shaw.ca wwww.premierinnandsuites.com Quality Inn & Suites Lethbridge 4070 2 Ave S, Lethbridge T1J 3Z2 ...............p403-331-6440 f403-331-6442 egm.cn828@choicehotels.com wwww.choicehotels.com Ramada Lethbridge 1303 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge T1K 2R1 Brian Um ........................................p403-329-0555 egm@lethbridgeramada.com Sandman Hotel Lethbridge 421 Mayor Magrath Dr, Lethbridge T1J 3L8 Maria Cozarescu ............................p403-328-1111 egm_lethbridge@sandman.ca wwww.sandmanhotels.ca/hotels/lethbridge Super 8 Lethbridge 1030 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge T1K 2P8 Joan Martin....................................p403-328-6636 emotelmanager@shaw.ca wwww.super8.com/hotels/alberta/lethbridge/ super-8-lethbridge/hotel-overview VisitLethbridge.com Lethbridge ............................................................... eed@visitlethbridge.com wwww.visitlethbridge.com Restaurants Plum 330 6 St S, Lethbridge T1J 2C8...........................................p403-394-1200 einfo@uncorkplum.com wwww.uncorkplum.com Universities and Colleges University of Lethbridge Conference & Event Services 4401 University Dr W, Lethbridge T1K 3M4 Nika Czarnecki ...............................p403-329-2244 edominika.czarnecki@uleth.ca wwww.uleth.ca/conference Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities CASA Arts Centre 230 8 St S, Lethbridge T1J 5H2 ..........................................p403-327-2272 ecasa@artslethbridge.org wwww.casalethbridge.ca Lethbridge College 3010 College Dr S, Lethbridge T1K 8A2 Jo-Anne Wilson .............................p403-329-7218 ejo-anne.wilson@lethbridgecollege.ca wwww.lethbridgecollege.ca/student-experience/ housing/summer-housing Lethbridge Exhibition Park 3401 Parkside Dr S, Lethbridge T1J 4R3 Doug Kryzanowski .........................p403-317-3213 f403-320-8139 edoug@exhibitionpark.ca wwww.exhibitionpark.ca Rocky Mountain Turf Club 3401 Parkside Dr S, Lethbridge T1J 4R3...............p403-380-1905 f403-380-1903 ecatering@rmtc.ca wwww.rockymountainturfclub.com

VisitLethbridge.com Lethbridge eed@visitlethbridge.com wwww.visitlethbridge.com Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor Fort Whoop-Up National Historic Site Box 1074 Indian Battle Park, Lethbridge T1J 4A2 Doran Degenstein ..........................p403-329-0444 f403-329-0645 einfo@fortwhoopup.com wwww.fortwhoopup.com Galt Museum & Archives 502 1 St S, Lethbridge T1J 0P6 Lea-Ann Owsley p403-320-4247 f403-329-4958 efacilityrentals@galtmuseum.com wwww.galtmuseum.com

Medicine Hat Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Tourism Medicine Hat 8 Gehring Rd SW, Medicine Hat T1B 4W1 .............p403-527-6422 f403-528-2682 eevents@tourismmedicinehat.com wwww.tourismmedicinehat.com Banquet Facilities City of Medicine Hat - Arenas 155 Ash Ave SE, Medicine Hat T1A 3B1 Terra Petryshyn ..p403-502-8745 f403-529-1112 eterpet@medicinehat.ca wwww.medicinehat.ca Golf Courses & Country Clubs Desert Blume Golf Club 107 Clubhouse Dr SW, Medicine Hat T1B 0A4 Ruthanne Monahan .......................p403-581-4653 f403-529-0775 eevents@desertblume.com wwww.desertblume.com Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club 947 Pigeon St NE PO Box 232, Medicine Hat T1A 7E9 ..............p403-529-6930 f403-526-2118 wwww.medicinehatgolf.com Hotels and Motels Best Western Plus Sun Country 722 Redcliff Dr SW, Medicine Hat T1A 5E3 ..............p403-527-3700 f403-526-8689 e61020@hotel.bestwestern.com wwww.bestwesternalberta.com/hotels/bestwestern-plus-sun-country Clarion Hotel & Conference Centre 954 7 St SW, Medicine Hat T1A 7R7 ..........................................p403-527-8844 wwww.choicehotels.com/cn841

Coast Hotel Medicine Hat 3216 13 Ave SE, Medicine Hat T1B 1H8 ..............p403-526-7487 f403-529-2638 einfo@coasthotels.com wwww.coasthotels.com Comfort Inn & Suites Medicine Hat 2317 Trans Canada Way SE, Medicine Hat T1B 4E9...............p403-504-1700 f403-527-1579 einfo@comfortinnmedicinehat.com wwww.comfortinnmedicinehat.com Holiday Inn Express & Suites Medicine Hat 9 Strachan Bay, Medicine Hat T1B 4Y2 Ryan Tracey........p403-504-5151 f403-504-0055 ertracey@fortisproperties.com wwww.hiexpress.com/medhat Imperial Inn 3282 13 Ave SE, Medicine Hat T1B 1H8 ..............p403-527-8811 f403-526-7039 eimperialinnmedicinehat@gmail.com wwww.imperialinn.ca Medicine Hat Lodge Resort 1051 Ross Glen Dr SE, Medicine Hat T1B 3T8 Jill Scherer .........p403-502-8190 f403-528-4075 ejscherer@medhatlodge.com wwww.medhatlodge.com Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede 2055 21 Ave SE Box 1298, Medicine Hat T1A 7N1 Natalie Weir ......p403-527-1234 f403-529-6553 enweir@mhstampede.com wwww.mhstampede.com Southside Events Centre 4 Strachan Crt SE, Medicine Hat T1B 4R7 Kevin Schaan .....p403-528-9997 f403-527-9804 eadmin@southsideeventscentre.com wwww.southsideeventscentre.com Venues - Historical or Themed or Outdoor Medalta - Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District 713 Medalta Ave SE, Medicine Hat T1A 3K9 ..........................................p403-529-1070 eevents@medalta.com wwww.medalta.org

Pincher Creek Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Pincher Creek and District Chamber of Commerce 1300 Hewetson Ave Unit 4 PO Box 2287, Pincher Creek T0K 1W0 .........................................p403-627-5199 einfo@pincher-creek.com wwww.pincher-creek.com Golf Courses & Country Clubs Pincher Creek Golf Club, The 942 Hyde St Box 2397, Pincher Creek T0K 1W0 Gord Culham ......p403-627-2126 f403-627-2162 epcgolf@shaw.ca

Hotels and Motels Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre Pincher Creek 919 Waterton Ave Box 399, Pincher Creek T0K 1W0 Claire Layton ......p403-627-5000 f403-627-3936 egm.pinchercreek@heritageinn.net wwww.heritageinn.net

Rosebud Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Rosebud Centre of the Arts 116 Main St PO Box 654, Rosebud T0J 2T0 Heather Little .....p403-677-2350 f403-677-2390 eheatherl@rosebudtheatre.com wwww.rosebudmerc.com

Taber Hotels and Motels Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre 4830 46 Ave, Taber T1G 2A4 Tyrel McLelland..p403-223-4424 f403-223-1733 einfo.taber@heritageinn.net wwww.heritageinn.net

Waterton Park Banquet Facilities

Bayshore Inn at Waterton Lake PO Box 38 111 Waterton Ave, Waterton Park T0K 2M0 Shameer Suleman .........................p403-859-2211 f403-859-2291 einfo@bayshoreinn.com wwww.bayshoreinn.com Hotels and Motels

Bayshore Inn at Waterton Lake PO Box 38 111 Waterton Ave, Waterton Park T0K 2M0 Shameer Suleman .........................p403-859-2211 f403-859-2291 einfo@bayshoreinn.com wwww.bayshoreinn.com

Book online at Waterton.ca Waterton Lakes National Park | Alberta, Canada

Waterton’s Only Lakefront Hotel

1.888.527.9555 | www.bayshoreinn.com

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Waterton’S All-Suite Hotel

1.866.621.3330 | www.watertonsuites.com

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From team meeting... to team building in 10 minutes

From the conference room to the golf courses, airport, restaurants, mall, art gallery, theatre, coulees, Henderson Lake, hockey game, or hotel‌ you can be there in 10 minutes or less!

In Lethbridge your next adventure is only 10 minutes away!

Call 403 915 2869 to book your next meeting.

We provide all the big city amenities and services you need, without the hassle and trafďŹ c. Giving you more time to do what matters to you and we offer free hotel parking.

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46 | MEETING PLACES ALBERTA 2016 PUBLISHED BY BUSINESS IN VANCOUVER

Northern Alberta

BIGGER IS BETTER Breathtaking Northern Alberta embraces the majesty of its giant landscape

Slave Lake is among the only Alberta communites that boasts kilometres of soft white sand beaches. Slave Lake Inn and Conference Centre can accommodate groups ranging in size from 12 to 500 guests and offers the latest in communication and audiovisual technology | TOWN OF SLAVE LAKE

Fort McMurray’s new Shell Place offers sports and entertainment venues, including a 20,000seat stadium and two ballrooms | CONSTRUCTION CANADA

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BY ROB ALEXANDER

I

n Northern Alberta, everything just seems bigger; the skies, the forest, lakes and rivers, even the fish all tend to be larger or grander than their counterparts to the south. And sometimes, at least when it comes to finding a spectacular region for a meeting or conference, the cliché “bigger is better” can actually be true.

While Northern Alberta communities are no match in size for Calgary and Edmonton, the amenities these northern towns and cities have to offer rival anything found in the province.

Take Grande Prairie as a prime example. A city of 55,000 located a 4.5-hour drive northwest of Edmonton, Grande Prairie has two facilities that would be a welcome addition to any city or town: Revolution Place and the Eastlink Centre. Revolution Place is a 3,288-seat multi-purpose arena that is used for music and sporting events along with 18,000 square feet of space for conferences and conventions. Revolution Place also provides an in-house caterer. Eastlink Centre, meanwhile, has everything you’d expect in a first-rate recreation centre: fitness facilities, a 50-metre and a 25-metre pool, a lazy river, slides, a splash park and hot tubs with the added bonus of a wave simulator for indoor surfing.

For meeting and accommodation needs, the Paradise

Inn & Conference Centre is the place. This hotel has 8,000 square feet of meeting and conference rooms, dining venues, a fitness room and business centre.

Flights arrive at and leave the Grande Prairie Airport for Edmonton and Calgary daily.

Due east of Grande Prairie, three hours north of Edmonton, the town of Slave Lake is known as the Jewel of the North for good reason. Slave Lake sits on the edge of the 1,160-square-kilometre Lesser Slave Lake and is one of the only communities in Alberta that can boast kilometres of soft white sand beaches.

But if meeting on a beach would be too distracting, the nearby Slave Lake Inn and Conference Centre can accommodate groups ranging in size from 12 to 500 guests.

It can also fulfil any technology need from projectors to TVs, conference phones, free Wi-Fi, flip charts and marker boards.

Fort McMurray, which sits in the northeast corner of the province near Alberta’s oilsands, personifies the big Northern Alberta spirit with its giant dump trucks, remarkable recreation facilities and an even larger entrepreneurial drive.

Fort McMurray’s MacDonald Island Park, home to Canada’s largest community recreation centre, grew in June 2015 with the opening of the impressive $127 million expansion project Shell Place.

Along with what amenities that were already available at MacDonald Island Park, a golf course, aquatic centre, art gallery and dance academy, Shell Place has provided new sports and entertainment venues, including a 20,000-seat stadium, two ballrooms and a hospitality team to ensure events run smoothly.

Fort McMurray is also home to more than 18 hotels, inns and motels such as the Chateau Nova and Nomad Hotel & Suites. Both properties provide banquet and meeting rooms, along with a business centre, dining and access to the amenities in the city centre, including the

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| 47

Northern Alberta

Surf city Grande Prairie: a superb fitness and community centre and Revolution Place, a 3,288seat multi-purpose arena with 18,000 square feet of space for conferences and conventions, are among the reasons to consider the northwest city for your next big event | CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE

Oil Sands Discovery Centre, art galleries, shops, restaurants, bars and the Boomtown Casino. The new Fort McMurray International Airport terminal, which opened in 2014, provides a seamless arrival from across Canada.

With all that it has to offer, including plentiful outdoor and wilderness adventures such as watching the northern lights, Fort McMurray is quickly becoming one of Alberta’s premier meeting, event and conference centres.

The north is more than meeting spaces, however.

Trails for biking, hiking, skiing and off-road vehicles, fishing and boating and stargazing in the world’s largest darksky preserve located in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada’s largest national park, are just a few of the outdoor options to explore.

Northern Alberta also boasts a rich history, a vibrant culture steeped in those wild, wide-open spaces and a big sense of hospitality. All told, this region holds expansive promise for a successful conference, convention or meeting. É

Athabasca Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Athabasca County Tourism 3602 48 Ave, Athabasca T9S 1M8 .............p780-675-2273 f780-675-5512 etourism@athabascacounty.com wwww.visitathabasca.ca Banquet Facilities Anne’s Fine Dining 4820 51 St, Athabasca T9S 1E5...............p780-675-3040 f780-675-3724 wwww.annesfinedining.com Hotels and Motels Athabasca Super 8 4820 Woodheights Rd, Athabasca T9S 1V4 ..............p780-675-8888 f780-675-8889 egm@super8athabasca.com wwww.super8athabasca.com Days Inn Athabasca 2805 48 Ave, Athabasca T9S 0A4 ..............p780-675-7020 f780-675-7783 edaysinnatha@gmail.com wwww.daysinn.ca

Fort McMurray Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce 9612 Franklin Ave Suite 304, Fort McMurray T9H 2J9 ..............p780-743-3100 f780-790-9757 wwww.fortmcmurraychamber.ca Hotels and Motels Ace Inn Hotel 9913 Biggs Ave, Fort McMurray T9H 1S2 ..............p780-715-2219 f780-715-2201 einfo@aceinnhotel.com wwww.aceinnhotel.com Chateau Nova Fort McMurray Mod 3 Comp 9 RR1, Fort McMurray T9H 5B5 Mindy Smythe....p587-336-9531 f780-732-5719 emindy_s@novahotels.ca wwww.novahotels.ca

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Merit Hotel & Suites 8200 Franklin Ave, Fort McMurray T9H 2H9 ..............p780-714-9444 f780-714-9440 ehotelinfo@meritfortmcmurray.com wwww.meritfortmcmurray.com Nomad Hotel & Suites 10006 MacDonald Ave, Fort McMurray T9H 1S8 .............p780-791-4770 f780-790-1684 einfo@nomadfortmcmurray.com wwww.nomadfortmcmurray.com Podollan Inn & Rez-idence Fort McMurray 10131 Franklin Ave, Fort McMurray T9H 2K8 Kevin Cloutier ....p780-790-2000 f780-790-2775 egmfm@podollan.com wwww.podollan.com Radisson Hotel & Suites Fort McMurray 435 Gregoire Dr, Fort McMurray T9H 4K7 ..............p780-743-2400 f780-743-2448 egm@radissonfortmcmurray.com wwww.radissonfortmcmurray.com Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre Fort McMurray 530 MacKenzie Blvd, Fort McMurray T9H 4C8 Gail Macqueen ..p780-799-7410 f780-799-7444 egmacqueen@sawridge.com wwww.sawridgefortmcmurray.com Stonebridge Hotel Fort McMurray 9713 Hardin St, Fort McMurray T9H 1L2...............p780-743-3301 f780-791-2519 econferencefacilities@stonebridgefortmac.com wwww.stonebridgefortmac.com

MacDonald Island Park

TO BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT VISIT MACDONALDISLAND.CA OR EMAIL CATERING@ONEREC.CA

Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities

Venues - Event or Meeting Facilities Centre 2000 Tourism & Trade 11330 106 St, Grande Prairie T8V 7X9 Janice Chomik ....p780-513-0240 f780-532-2926 einfo@centre2000.ca wwww.centre2000.ca

High Level

MacDonald Island Recreation Park 1 CA Knight Way, Fort McMurray T9H 5C5 ..............p780-791-0070 f780-791-2898 wwww.macdonaldisland.ca

Grande Prairie Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce 11330 106 St Suite 127 Centre 2000, Grande Prairie T8V 7X9 Dan Pearcy .........p780-532-5340 f780-532-2926 einfo@gpchamber.com wwww.grandeprairiechamber.com Hotels and Motels Holiday Inn & Suites Grande Prairie Conference Centre 9816 107 St, Grande Prairie T8V 8E7 Myrna Sim .........p780-357-2624 f780-402-6835 ecatering@higrandeprairie.com wwww.higrandeprairie.com Podollan Inn & Spa Grande Prairie 10612 99 Ave, Grande Prairie T8V 8E8 Amanda Schweitzer .......................p780-830-4244 f780-830-2902 ebanquetsgp@podollan.com wwww.podollan.com Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre 11633 100 St, Grande Prairie T8V 3Y4 Shelly Hegge......p780-832-2440 f780-532-5441 emeetingmanager@pomeroyhotelgp.com wwww.pomeroyhotel.com/grande-prairie

Associations/Chambers of Commerce/Tourist Info Centres High Level & District Chamber of Commerce 10803 96 St, High Level T0H 1Z0 .............p780-926-2470 f780-926-4017 einfo@highlevelchamber.com wwww.highlevelchamber.com Hotels and Motels Quality Inn & Suites 9704 97 St, High Level T0H 1Z0 ..........................................p780-926-4222 einfo@qualityinnhighlevel.com wwww.qualityinnhighlevel.com Regional Convention Spaces Best Western Plus Mirage Hotel & Resort 9616 Hwy 58, High Level T0H 1Z0 ..............p780-821-1000 f780-821-8300 einfo@bestwesternhighlevel.com wwww.bestwesternhighlevel.com

High Prairie Hotels and Motels Peavine Inn & Suites 3905 51st Ave, High Prairie T0G 1E0 ..............p780-523-2398 f780-523-2764 ereservations@peavineinnandsuites.com wwww.peavineinnandsuites.com

Peace River Hotels and Motels Chateau Nova Peace River 10010 74 St, Peace River T8S 0B3 Mindy Smythe....p587-336-9531 f780-732-5719 emindy_s@novahotels.ca wwww.novahotels.ca

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Go Beyond

Meetings

Canada’s Mountain Meeting Destination www.tourismcanmore.com/meetings

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