Alberta Meeting & Event Guide · Fall 16/Winter 17 by Tanner Young Publishing Group

Fall/Winter 2016/2017 Edition â&#x20AC;¢ Suggested Retail $5.95

Your Guide to

Event Planning From Start to Finish

Out-of-the-Box Entertainment How to Keep Your Audience Engaged Cutting-Edge Tech Trends Industry Terminology 101

Subscribe for

FREE! See page 5

PM#40020277

FUNNNNNNN 60,000 SQFT

60,000 SQFT + INSPIRED FOOD 60,000 SQFT + INSPIRED FOOD + ENDLESS ENTERTAINMENT + YOUR NEW GO-TO

Redefine the meaning of fun when you plan your next event at The Rec Room. With over 60,000 square feet of entertainment space, Canadian‑inspired dining and gaming options ranging from axe throwing to virtual reality, it’ll be like nothing you’ve hosted before.

Host better events. TheRecRoom.com Team Building | Corporate Events & Meetings | Event Planner Onsite | Gaming | Live Entertainment 2

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

CANADA’S TOP ENTERTAINMENT & SHOPPING DESTINATION. GROUP PROGRAMS AND DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE (mall tours, meet & greets, team building, discounted passes for attractions, super savings coupon books).

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: GROUP SALES & TOURISM DEPARTMENT TEL: 780-444-5308 EMAIL: GROUPS@WEM.CA

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Welcome to the NEW Alberta Meeting & Event Guide!

This guide is full of ideas, inspiration, expert tips, and hot new trends to help you plan an unforgettable event! We know that a lot of work goes into planning special events, conferences, and weddings — selecting the venue, lining up speakers, booking a caterer, finding a photographer, deciding on entertainment — the list goes on and on! In this edition of the Alberta Meeting & Event Guide, you’ll find advice on networking etiquette, great tips on how to keep your audience engaged, tech trends that are on the rise, and out-of-the-box entertainment ideas. Alberta has a wealth of incredible spaces, suppliers, and event experts that can pull off anything from the glitziest of affairs to small, intimate gatherings. Would you like To highlight these fantastic resources, we’ve to receive future put together a removable guide that will give editions of the Alberta you a convenient, at-a-glance look at all the Meeting & Event Guide information you need to choose the perfect vendors. You will find this Resource Guide by mail for FREE? in the centre of the magazine. Email your contact info to

PHOTO BY JAMIE TWEEDY OF TWEEDY STUDIOS

circ@tanneryoung.com Whether you are looking for a brand new or call us at venue for your company retreat, some 780-465-3362 advice on floor plans, or some entertainment inspiration, you will find everything you need within these pages to take your event well beyond the expectations of your guests!

Lindsay Shapka, Editor editor@tanneryoung.com meetingsalberta.com PS: Do you have a question that you really want answered by an expert? Is there an industry acronym you want explained? Let me know using the email above and we may include it in the next issue!

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

SUB

MIT

NOW

EDITOR

Lindsay Shapka ASSISTANT EDITOR

Matthew Stepanic CONTRIBUTORS

Danielle Mohr

ART DIRECTOR

Adam Still

Calgary March 2 Edmonton March 9

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Zuzana Benesova, Gina Tsang TRAFFIC COORDINATOR

Cheryl Lindquist

LET’S CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE IN OUR MEETING AND EVENT INDUSTRY! Nominations now open in 17 categories

PUBLISHER

R.H. (Rob) Tanner

SALES & MARKETING COORDINATOR

Jeanette Petriko SALES & MARKETING MANAGER

Greg Davis SALES ASSOCIATES

Penny Choponis, Jane Ozegovich CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER

Marie Tanner CIRCULATION

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS & SPONSORS

Kendra Mah ACCOUNTING ADMINISTRATOR

Catherine Staszkiewicz

Tanner Young Publishing Group #1, 9301 – 50 Street Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6B 2L5 PHONE: 780-465-3362 FAX: 780-448-0424 EMAIL: editor@tanneryoung.com At Tanner Young Publishing Group, we value your privacy. For our complete privacy policy go to tanneryoung.com/privacy or call us at 1-800-943-7336

eventawards.ca 6

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Contents

Alberta Meeting & Event Guide • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

26 Features

Need to Know

9 News, Tips & Trends The little details that will make your event unforgettable!

27 28 30 33

PHOTOS COURTESY EDMONTON EVENT AWARDS; ADOBE STOCK

12 Interviews with the Experts Insider tips and tricks from industry professionals. 21 Setting the Stage Make your event spectacular with these décor, gift, and food ideas! 34 Parting Thoughts Your event is over! What's next?

How Much Do I Need? Table Setup Industry Terms & Acronyms Important Info & Associations

Check out the

Resource Guide filled with info on suppliers, meeting spaces & more!

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

EVENT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE Are you a master organizer and love to plan? Do you thrive in a creative environment and enjoy working with different people? Event planners are in demand to organize trade shows, conferences, awards ceremonies and other types of events. With NAIT’s Event Management Certificate you will learn how to implement event management tools and strategies from top industry professionals. Courses include a range of topics that will appeal to both the beginner and seasoned professional. Now offering full-time three week accelerated learning boot camps starting April 2017 in addition to our evening and weekend offerings.

EVENT MANAGEMENT COURSES • Event Management Foundations

• Planning Strategies for Event Management

• Writing Event Proposals

• Professionalism and Ethics

• Technology for Event Administration

• Green Meetings and Corporate Social Responsibility

• Creating Critical Paths and Production Schedules • Risk Management for Events

For more information and to enroll visit nait.ca/Events

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

A LEADING POLYTECHNIC COMMITTED TO STUDENT SUCCESS

Ask Me Anything Sessions

Informal sessions and speaker presentations are growing in popularity at corporate events. They give your attendees a chance to ask questions, start important discussions, and address issues that may not have come up in a more traditionally formatted lecture and Q&A session. Consider adding some informal, roundtable-like sessions to the agenda at your next event.

By Lindsay Shapka

Exciting New Venues! Rogers Place | Edmonton

PHOTOS BY NEIL ZELLER; COURTESY CITY OF EDMONTON; WESTERNER PARK; ADOBE STOCK

The shiny new home of the Edmonton Oilers, located in Edmonton’s vibrant downtown, has some pretty impressive special event space perfect for anything from product launches to professional conferences. There are hockey-themed rooms overlooking the arena, as well as sleek, well-designed spaces that are sure to wow your guests. rogersarena.com

Westerner Park | Red Deer One of Central Alberta’s largest meeting and special event venues, this huge rental facility has added one more space to their list — The Harvest Gardens. A beautiful outdoor venue, this is the perfect spot for weddings, corporate functions, or informal mixers. The gardens can be rented with the adjoining Harvest Centre, making it easy to schedule parts of your event inside as well. westernerpark.ca

National Music Centre | Calgary Five floors of exhibitions tell the story of Canadian music and celebrate the icons of the industry at this fantstic new space. There is also plenty of unique event space available, and theatre space that is the ideal spot for more traditional meetings. Hold your event on the sleek rooftop patio, or let your guests explore the exhibits in one of the special exhibits galleries. nmc.ca

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

News, tips & trends

1 2 3

3 Ways to Go Green People are becoming more eco-conscious every day, and your attendees will appreciate any attempt you make to show you are too.

Instead of having cut flowers at your tables, why not use potted plants like succulents? This is not only better for the environment, but can double as a great giveaway for your attendees.

Have recycle bins out, and visible, for your guests to use. And they don’t have to be blue bins — this is a great opportunity to add to the theme of your event by using an innovative container as your bin.

Don’t Forget to Include Down Time! Constantly networking and being engaged can get exhausting, and to avoid attendee burnout, why not create quiet spaces where your guests can relax without having to escape to their hotel room? This can be as simple as having a space with comfortable seating, quiet music, and some healthy snacks available. You could also go one step further, and hire a professional to take your attendees through a guided meditation. Meditation has been an event trend for years now, and will continue to grow in 2017 as more people are embracing the idea of taking a moment to disconnect from social media and the stresses of their lives.

FREE Access

Ft. McMurray

Grande Prairie

Edmonton

Red Deer

Yoho f Banf rton a W te

Calgary

Medicine Hat Lethbridge

Elk nd Isla

Get them to promote your event on their social media channels using your hashtag.

3 Create Behind-the-Scenes Videos Facebook Live has created a unique opportunity to share live video on one of the largest social networks in the world. It also requires nothing more than a smartphone, and you can broadcast for up to 90 minutes, after which the video is available for anyone who missed the live feed. This is a great tool to show the behind-the-scenes of an event, like the work it takes to transform a room, attendee interviews, or informal Q & A sessions with keynote speakers.

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Ask them to post about the event on LinkedIn and also invite the connections that they think would benefit from attending.

Have them post photos on social media during the event.

Ask them to share any post-event blogs or photos that you put on your website on their social media.

PHOTOS BY ADOBE STOCK

d Woofalo Buf

Banff

You chose your speaker because they are experts in their field and are well respected, which usually translates to a large following on social media. Here’s how they can help spread the word about your event: Have them add your event details to their website.

High Level

er Jasp

5 Ways Your Speaker Can Help Promote Your Event

1 2

To celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, admission to all National Parks is free in 2017! If you are hosting an event near one of these parks — Wood Buffalo, Jasper, Banff, Yoho, Elk Island, or Waterton Lakes — this is the perfect opportunity to add an outdoor experience to the agenda.

Jasper

Have ways for people to label their glasses so that they can reuse them throughout the event. This is also a fun way to get people interacting with each other, and a nice alternative to the typical nametag.

News, tips & trends

Congrats! Edmonton Event Awards 2016 Recap The very first Edmonton Event Awards was held on February 25, 2016, and celebrated the people who are making an impact in the wedding, meeting, conference, and special event industry. Winners in 17 categories were announced during the ceremony, which included fantastic entertainment, and was followed by an after-party featuring mouth-watering food, impressive displays, live music, and more!

And the award goes to… Best Supplier DÉCOR

I-D Bohemia FLORAL DESIGN

Heather de Kok Floral Design ENTERTAINER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDMONTON EVENT AWARDS

Firefly Theatre and Circus

VENUE

FUNDRAISER

Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm

Harvest Celebration by Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

HOTEL

Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel

Best Event TRADE SHOW OR

PHOTOGRAPHER

EXHIBITION

TLT Photography

Farmfair International by Northlands Events

AUDIO VISUAL

Production World CATERER

Stir Catering

CONFERENCE

55 North by Incite Marketing

WEDDING

Madison & Shay by Story Weddings & Events SPECIAL EVENT

All is Bright by Tycoon Event Planning & Promotions OUTSTANDING

Best Innovative Idea Shaping of a Culinary Frontier by Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm in collaboration with RGE RD Restaurant

Best Professional WEDDING PLANNER

Hevin Anne Mueller – Story Weddings & Events

CREATIVITY

EVENT PLANNER

Steven’s Epic Bar Mitzvah Party by SK Events

Kate Gallagher KMG Events

Find contact information for the winners in our Resource Guide. Look for the

Calgary Event Awards 2017 MARCH 2, 2017

Edmonton Event Awards 2017 MARCH 9, 2017

Visit eventawards.ca for more information, or to nominate an outstanding business!

icon. MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

The experts

Event planning from start to finish Q&A with Mike Anderson, Brennan McFaul, and Chris Schoengut of Trixstar Productions By Danielle Mohr

What kind of information do you gather from prospective clients right away? First, we build a strategy with them and find out why they’re putting on their event and what their goals are. Specifically, we want to know if those goals match their budget. It’s important to start with the why. There’s more to it than making money from an event. We’re looking deeper and finding measurable things that we can build a project around. Then when we wrap up the event we can figure out whether we hit those goals. What kind of questions are clients asking you? How much do you cost, and how much money are you going to save us? A lot of people think there’s a big menu list of how much event artists cost, but most of that is custom and schedule-based. Clients who approach us usually already know about us and have seen our past events or website. So we try to make it about the client experience, and figure out what their fears are and what their ambitions are, and work towards that. What is the creative brainstorming process behind creating original events with your clients? That depends a lot on what the client’s goals are and why they’re hosting the event. Mind mapping is one of our biggest tools. A lot of the time we’ll bring a client in, put a screen up and throw everything up on the wall to see what sticks. Some ideas will lead to other ideas that clients wouldn’t have thought of before they entered the room. Through our education process we really walk through the whole planning process with them; we help them with that strategy part. We help them build the event, and then launch and execute that event. What are your clients looking for when they come to you? Some clients need help all the way through, some just need us for buying and executing the talent, and some need help with the marketing part of an event.

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

We try to be flexible to meet different needs of different clients. There is no cookie-cutter menu of services that we provide, but what they pay us to do will save them in expenses and headaches, so it ends up being a win-win.

You have to make sure that guests have an ultimate experience... because it all reflects back on the brand.

What do you do before the event to ensure optimal attendance? We build media strategies and decide what amount of TV advertisement, radio, or social media is needed. We have a great eBook on our website called the Six Pillars of Marketing that goes over PR, TV, radio, print, social media, and brand activations. Some events need all six, some need three, but it gives the reader some ideas about where to start. How do you ensure that branding is carried through an event from start to finish? Brand activation is like a tree and all the branches are the different types of activations that you can do. At this point, events have all become brand activations. The tree of event planning starts at the brand activation. You have to make sure that guests have an ultimate experience, that they aren’t standing in line for a long time and things like that, because it all reflects back on the brand. It’s about fan engagement and making sure the clients and customers are entertained, and having a night that they’re going to remember and talk to their friends about. What is the ultimate goal of every event? We’re always trying to make an event worth talking about. For most of our events, we’re hired by companies to produce an experience for their customers. We want to make sure their customers leave with a great feeling that they’re going to talk about. We want to make sure the client’s vision has been executed from start to finish and we eliminated as many of their fears as possible throughout the process. We take care of the back end of things and produce the event for our clients, so that they can focus on their own clients.

The experts

What kind of information signals a successful event? If the goals were achieved that were set out in the beginning, whether that’s an attendance number, a certain dollar amount generated in revenue, media impressions, positive branding, or client satisfaction. There are a lot of different metrics involved. How do you follow up with your clients? We’re constantly in contact with clients, especially our repeat clients, whether it’s a lunch, a phone call, or a meeting. We also do a post-event report that takes social media and other metrics into account, and compare it to what we were looking at in the beginning. How do you keep the event fresh in the guests’ minds? For most events we do video recaps for our clients and share photos. We have done surveys, but now with social media so in the forefront that’s almost unnecessary. People will speak their minds on social media. There’s no “this was a good event.” It’s either “this event was awesome,” or “this event sucked.” Depending on the event we communicate our thanks through social media. For events like Big Valley Jamboree we’ve done newspaper ads to thank loyal fans.

PHOTOS COURTESY TRIXSTAR PRODUCTIONS

How do you follow up with your event guests to gauge their experiences? We have done surveys in the past. Now, during the event we follow social media, so that we can actually communicate with guests in real time at the event and engage them right then and there. You can figure out if there are problems on the spot and improve social media reactions. If someone is giving the event praise you can engage them and thank them. What have you learned from past successes and failures?  We learn from every event. There’s always something you can take and make better. It’s just little nuances sometimes. Little things will end up on our radar that don’t end up on anybody else’s radar, but we’re always trying to make things better. With a live event, it’s never going to

be 100% perfect because there’s always something that could be better, but you can’t do retakes. You just have to move forward and make sure it’s the best possible event it can be. We learn something from every event we do, whether it’s something about security, branding, or something else.

Brennan McFaul

How do you stay on top of trends? It’s a fast-changing world. Especially when you go into hotspots like Nashville, Los Angeles, or New York. Quite often those places are two to five years ahead of what’s happening here. We get a lot of our trends from attending conferences, and other events all over North America. So we actually get in real time what people in North America are doing and what’s working for them. We’ll attend Coachella, or Stagecoach in Palm Springs, and bring ideas back from there that people aren’t necessarily doing yet here. We go to six to ten industry conferences in a year to keep up on what’s happening. What advice would you give to someone planning an event in Alberta? Start off by volunteering at events. It gives you a great idea if this is something you really want to do. It’s long days and lots of hairpin turns — high stress but high energy. If it is what you want to do then you might already have your foot in the door, because of the volunteering you have done. Always be networking in the industry. This industry, like many industries, is all about relationships. Those relationships come in handy when you need a favour, when you need a better price on something, when you need some extra work done, or when you need something done fast. A major reason clients approach us about working with them is because of the relationships we have fostered in this industry, and they know they are going to get the best product at the best price. n

Chris Schoengut

Mike Anderson

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

The experts

Keeping an audience engaged Q&A with Lauren Sergy of Up Front Communication By Matthew Stepanic

I also want to know what sort of feeling the organizer wants to have and what feeling they want the audience to have when they’re coming away from it. Do they want the audience to feel smart? Do they want them to feel sophisticated? Or do they want them to feel really relaxed and comfortable, where they’ve just had a big group-hug type of event and where everyone feels like they’re a part of a cozy, cozy group? That’ll give a different feeling to the way I use language and the comments I make. What are your first steps after you accept a hosting gig? Audience research. I’ll spend quite a lot of time doing that. Like I said, I want to know what’s going on in their industries, what’s going on in their subspecialties. If it’s an event in Edmonton, how is the Edmonton market affecting their industry? And it’s the same thing if it was Calgary. Regardless, I also want to know what the broader market is doing to them. Let’s go with the insurance example: is there something that’s affecting insurance providers across 14

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

the province or across the county? I’ll also look at what current affairs are shaping their worldview and giving them things to talk about. A host or an emcee isn’t always necessarily coming from that group of people. I don’t know the first thing about insurance, but I need to sound like I do. That’s how you get people to warm up to you, and that’s how you’re able to guide them through an evening.

Whatever you say, make it relevant to the audience. It’s about them, it’s not about you.

What are the final steps before you begin hosting and when you arrive at the venue? I always check to make sure my schedule and agenda matches the organizer’s schedule and agenda. If someone has shown up late, I need to know that in case that means I have to shift who is appearing in what order in the program. And then I go into rehearsal mode. I go into the back, I find somewhere to hide and I rehearse the jokes, the important statements, and the timing over and over and over. If an emcee looks like they are doing things effortlessly and seamlessly, it is because they have rehearsed their stuff out the wazoo, even if they come with a big sheaf of notes. It’s normal for an emcee to use notes, but we still rehearse it. What are some of your tips and tricks while you’re hosting to keep an event running smoothly and keeping the audience engaged with what you’re saying? You want to make sure that the program and the schedule are tight and efficient. Audiences have incredibly short attention spans. We don’t want to be kept sitting and listing to things that aren’t interesting. I get the length of speeches down to the minute and usually down to the second. In order for me to ensure that the schedule remains tight, I need to make sure everyone who is taking part in the production knows exactly how long they have to speak. The other thing is that you want to make sure the material is relevant to the audience. Are you telling jokes they’re going to get? Because that makes them feel like they’re a part of the show—at all times, any event is about the audience. If you want to keep them engaged, you have to make it about them. If you’re able to call out specific members of the audience, that is absolutely great. If you know there’s going to be a s

PHOTO COURTESY LAUREN SERGY

When a client approaches you about hosting an event, what questions do you ask to figure out how they want the event to run in terms of theme, messaging, mood, etc.? The most important question is: Who is going to be there? I want to know the demographics of the people who are attending. In the case of a corporate event, if it’s an industry, I want to know what sort of subspecialties within that industry are going to be in attendance. I also want to know what age and stage the majority of the people who are attending the event are. Is this an event for really seasoned professionals, like CEOs and executives and people who have been in it for 15 years? Or are there going to be newcomers as well? What all of these questions tell me is how I’m going to relate to the audience. They let me dig into what the audience is interested in, they let me know what news and current affairs may be of interest, and they tell me what kind of jokes I can use. It applies to language styles: if it’s a young crowd and just a young crowd, the style of language I use for emceeing is going to be different than if it’s an older or buttondown corporate crowd.

Brilliance Happens Here! Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity offers customized conference experiences with guest focused support in the unparalleled natural environment of Banff National Park. For more information, please contact: 877.760.4595 conferences@banffcentre.ca banffcentre.ca

HISTORIC EVENTS HAPPEN HERE Let Heritage Park be your picturesque backdrop for entertaining 12 to 3,000 guests. Our diverse and distinctive venues oﬀer the perfect setting for any event, year round. VENUE

THEATRE CLASSROOM

BANQUET

RECEPTION

MINIMUM GUESTS

Town Hall

—

12 Day

Millarville Rancher’s Hall

—

25 Day / 40 Night

Railway Orientation Centre

—

24 Day / 40 Night

Gunn’s Dairy Barn

—

120

140

48 Day / 80 Night

Canmore Opera House

120

100

25 Day / 40 Night

Wainwright Hotel

120

—

160/184

375

80 Day / 140 Night

400

1000

250 Night 100 Day / 200 Night

Gasoline Alley

—

Chautauqua Tent

—

350

600

Celebration Tent

—

1,000

1,500

350 Day / Night

BANQUETS • SEMINARS • WEDDINGS • BUSINESS LUNCHEONS • BARBEQUES

For details and booking: 403.268.8526 or HeritagePark.ca #HeritageParkYYC

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

couple of VIPs and you can give a light little roast, that gets everyone in on the joke and it tells the audience that you care about them, that you invested the time in learning about who they are and who’s going to be there. That increases engagement hugely. How do you gauge how much humour to use or the seriousness of your tone during an event? Almost all events are light in tone. But generally, you can gauge the seriousness of an event based off the program. Unless it is something like a memorial, it’s going to be light in tone and a good steady dose of humour is acceptable. In terms of how much humour and what kind of humour to use, usually the more button-down corporate the event is, the more restrained the humour should be. You still make jokes, but you make things more formal overall. If an event has a really specific agenda, your primary focus is to make sure that people are on task and on target—then you decrease the humour a little bit. But for the most part, I go for light. That being said, you always need to be respectful. People don’t like it when derogatory humour is used or when people are really being called out or put on the spot or made to feel uncomfortable or less than in any way. You want to make sure that people are being cast in their best light, even if you’re poking fun at them. Can you give an example of a unique problem you encountered during an event, and the solution you came up with? A good example is acoustics within a room. There are a few technical things that are good for a host to understand: how close you need your mouth to be to the microphone to be heard, and secondly is how a room’s acoustics and sightlines can affect certain people in an audience. In this specific case, I was hosting a business mixer at the Winspear Centre [in Edmonton] in the lovely open foyer. But there’s an intentional sound barrier in the room, where the ceiling drops down and you can’t hear a thing beyond the host area. I noticed that people weren’t stepping up and paying attention when I was

giving out a call for attention: “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I’ve got a great announcement: we’ve got prizes!” If no one pokes their head around as soon as you mention prizes, you know they can’t hear you. As soon as I noticed that, I grabbed the event organizers and got them to ask people who were in the atrium to move forward into the main area of the room, to basically act as sheepdogs and herd everyone in the area so they could hear me. We got the majority

slideshow, I enjoy doing that. It depends on the audience—if it’s a corporate audience, usually slideshow humour goes over remarkably well. Videos are very popular right now to incorporate into events. So the emcee will say a few words, and then they’ll show a video of one of the VIP companies in attendance or someone who is presenting an award. Those are great because they break up the flow of the program and it jolts people into a different mode of thinking. By the same token, it’s

of the people to get where I needed them to be and we were able to work the audience that way. And I then let them know, “Okay, you can go back to your mixing, but in about 15 minutes, we’re going to start the speaker panel, so come back when you see me come up on stage.” It’s being aware of your surroundings and being able to think on your feet of how can I deal with it in a way that’s practical and easy. But recognize that you’re never going to have a 100% fix on a problem and you’re just looking for good enough, as long as it gets you through the night.

easily overused. Videos need to be short: thirty seconds, one minute max if it’s a really good video. Like I said, I like to go as low-tech as possible. I have my notes on paper; I don’t cue off of anything else.

Are there any ways that you’re integrating new technologies into your duties? I usually go for a Luddite approach when hosting an event because the more tech you include the more likely it is to go wrong. That being said, there are things that are really fun to incorporate. If I have the chance to play around with a

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

What’s your best piece of advice for someone hosting an event? I’m going to sound like a broken record, but I’ll say it again: whatever you say, make it relevant to the audience. It’s about them, it’s not about you. And that can be hard, especially if you’re not intimately familiar with the audience—that’s why all the research needs to be done about the audience. You’ve done a good job if you are almost like wallpaper. If you can swap out the emcee for someone completely different, deliver the same stuff, and have people enjoy it just as much, then you’ve done a brilliant job. Then that makes sure that it’s been about the audience the whole way through. n

PHOTO COURTESY LAUREN SERGY

The experts

Your guide to networking etiquette Q&A with Jeannie Vaage of VIP Protocol By Matthew Stepanic

Why do you think good etiquette is a valuable tool for any professional? Etiquette makes you look good and everyone else feel good. When I start my speeches or teaching, I put that on the board. So when someone says, “Ugh, when I’m doing this, should I do that?” I look back at the mission statement and I say, “Well, what’s going to make someone feel good?” And they say, “Oh, I should do that.” So it’s very simple. There’s not a real set of rules; there are guidelines and there are conventions that are governed by proper behaviour. And they are different in different societies and cultures, social and business situations. For a networking event, how should you dress and present yourself for the best first impression? If the networking event is after a golf game, it’s golf attire. You dress for the occasion. You dress to represent your company and your organization, and you dress to represent yourself. It’s always better to err on the side of formality. For a man, if you’re worried about being overdressed, a tie and a sports coat are great. If it’s a little more formal—let’s say a Chamber of Commerce evening—you may want to wear a suit. A man will never look out of place with a tie.

PHOTO COURTESY JEANNIE VAAGE

For women, short skirts are out. The other thing is to leave the big handbag at home—get a small handbag that’s just enough for your cell phone and your business cards. Nobody wants to battle with a woman’s side knapsack. It’s very important to have your hands free: one to hold your drink and the other to shake hands. What do you do when you arrive at an event and how do you appear approachable? The first thing you want to do is go to the bar and get a beverage. You never call them drinks because then it appears you’re having an alcoholic beverage. You should never drink at an event. No one invites you because you’re hungry or thirsty, so always eat before you go. Towards the end you’re going to have a drink, but until the end, the first thing you do is

you get a [beverage] and generally you’re going to stand around the bar and start making small talk, so it’s not like you’re a lone wolf. And then you approach somebody by just making eye contact and generally you may say, “May I join you?” — and the words are “may I.” If you want to make an impression, you never use “can I.” The other thing is to do some homework before you go—find out who’s going to be there. If there’s a particular person you want to meet, think of a person you can use to connect you with them. You might want to phone them the day before and ask them to give you an introduction to the person you want to meet. That way you’re not spinning your wheels thinking, “Oh, I hope I get to meet him; I hope I get to meet him.”

Believe you belong there and act accordingly. That confidence will get your head into the space.

When you go to an event with somebody you work with, leave them at the door. Don’t have a tag along because you have a very short period of time to make the new connections that you need to. Unless it’s a team thing, then make sure he or she’s going to be on the same track. How do you properly introduce yourself to someone? There’s a formula to introductions: first of all, always say your first and last name. So when you introduce yourself, Matthew, you always say, “Matthew Stepanic”—you’re a junior high student if you’re just ‘Matthew’. If someone is the CEO or legal senior partner, they don’t have to say their last name. Saying your full name is showing that I’m worth saying it properly. More important, it opens great conversations—“Oh, is that a Ukrainian name?” “Oh, what high school did you go to? I knew a Stepanic in high school.” If you say Matthew, it’s a dead-end street. Secondly, you should say your name slowly and with pride so that people don’t have to strain to hear you. The whole point is making other people feel comfortable. So right away, you say your name, first and last, and then you generally say the company that you’re with. s MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

The experts

What are some of your best tips for meeting people at a networking event? Certainly have a repertoire of a small talk. Do not talk about money, do not talk about politics, and do not bring up foods you are allergic to or dislike. Have four ice-breaking conversations pieces that you can rely on.

If you’re talking to someone and the conversation gets too long, you might get away by saying, “I’ll let you go mix and mingle with everyone else; I’m just going to go get another beverage.” That’s a good way to get away from someone or to keep yourself moving. And like I say, three great conversations are better than twenty thin handshakes. What are some of the most common mistakes people make while dining at a conference? The most common, which I cannot believe, is people mistaking which is their bread plate. It’s good to remember the setting goes BMW: bread, meal, water. There are usually no fears about which fork to use: the caterers line up the silverware according to when it should be used. Some rules to remember are if the basket of bread rolls is in front of you, your responsibility is to take them—do not take the bread—but offer it first to the right. The only time a used napkin should be placed on the table is when the meal is finished. Other than that, leave it on your chair if you have to leave the table.

If you don’t know your table etiquette, all of your attention is on yourself, and you’re not concentrating on your guests and other people.

“It is a non-verbal expression of your confidence, your motivation, and your personality. So that tells a person a lot. The handshake is only two pumps, and a firm handshake is different than a strong handshake.”

At dinnertime, what topics may not be appropriate for conversation? Don’t talk about food, bodily functions, or ailments. You can talk about the meal, but don’t talk about food you’re allergic to. Ask questions and listen to the answers and get the people around you talking about what they seem to want to talk about — that is the trick. If they want to talk about their lake cottage, go for it.

And I’d like to see people dress a little more business-like.

Are there any etiquette rules falling out of fashion that you wish would come back? I’d like to hear the words “you’re welcome” and “my pleasure” more often. The phrases “no worries” and “no problem” are unacceptable. Instead of using “can I?”, it’d be nice to get back to “may I?” I’d like to see people’s surnames being used more, both in introduction and [at banks].

Any final advice? Investing in your behaviour lasts forever, certainly a lot longer than a pair of shoes or a car or a nice shirt. People will notice it. They won’t be able to put their finger on it, but they’ll know you’re different. They’ll say, “What a nice guy,” or “He always does this.” Put an effort into that part of your life, because people will notice. n

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

PHOTO BY ADOBE STOCK

Do your homework before you get there: know who’s going to be at the event and why the function is happening. If it’s a fundraiser, get the background on the fundraiser. Where does the money go? How long has it been around? What are their successes? So that when you talk to someone, you can ask these questions and although you actually know the answers, you can expand on them. You’re prepared.

resource guide MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

EDMONTON

Executive Room

Fantasyland Hotel at West Edmonton Mall

Superior Room

Renovated Roman Room

ALBERTA’S MOST UNIQUE CONFERENCE VENUE! Fantasyland Hotel is located inside West Edmonton Mall, Canada’s foremost luxury shopping and entertainment destination. It is home to more than 800 stores and services, including 10 world-class attractions, two hotels, and over 100 dining venues. Guests can enjoy an afternoon at Canada’s largest indoor waterpark and amusement park, or shop at one of our many exclusive and one-of-a-kind retailers before winding down at Fantasyland Hotel. Fantasyland Hotel is Alberta’s business destination for corporate meetings and team building events. Stay in one of our beautifully decorated Superior or Executive corporate rooms.

TOTAL MEETING SPACE (sq.ft.)

25,000

MEETING FACILITIES Room

AREA Sq. Ft.

Beverly Hills Ballroom

9,100

1,100

400

580

Chianti

4,234

300

180

250

350

Madeira

2,628

180

120

200

Piesporter

1,664

120

100

150

Bordeaux

1,480

110

120

Beaujolais

1,443

110

120

CAPACITY Theatre Classroom Banquet

Reception 1,200

Chablis

825

Medoc

660

Cognac

660

Chivas

629

Champagne

608

17700–87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5T 4V4 T 780-444-5500 F 780-444-5238 TF 1-800-RESERVE E info@fantasylandhotel.com W fantasylandhotel.com 2

Meeting Room

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Businesses with this icon were winners of the 2016 Edmonton Event Awards

Edmonton & Area ADVERTISING SERVICES 5 Star Promotional Advertising Inc. 14403-115 Ave. Edmonton T5M 3B8 T: 780-415-7827 Big Shoe Marketing #3621, 10405 Jasper Ave. Edmonton T5J 3S2 T: 780-760-0492 The Met Agency 8603-104 St. Edmonton T6E 4G6 T: 780-628-2494

Crystal’s Bridal 12950-97 St. Edmonton T5E 4C3 T: 780-457-8800 David’s Bridal 10185-13 Ave. Edmonton T6N 0B6 T: 780-437-0179

A Cappella Catering 12105-120 Ave. Edmonton T5L 4K4 T: 780-454-2642

Event Technology Solutions #101, 18112-105 Ave. Edmonton T5S 2T4 T: 780-444-6776 GRUVPIX 9902-111 St. Edmonton T5K 1K2 T: 780-758-4788

Edible Arrangements 10179-105 St. NW Edmonton T5J 1E2 T: 780-429-2901

KDL Audio Productions Box 3301 Sherwood Park T8H 2T2 P: 780-498-6336 F: 780-564-0054 E: kyle@kdlaudio.com W: kdlaudio.com Audio, video, lighting, staging, rentals, production, and event management. From 10 to 10,000 people, we have you covered. Let us make your event our best.

Prairie Catering 13119-156 St. Edmonton T5V 1V2 T: 780-453-1465

Production World 12410B-142 St. Edmonton T5L 4K2 T: 780-452-4843

BRIDAL SHOPS The Bridal Boutiqe West Edmonton Mall 8882-170 St. Edmonton T5T 3J7 T: 780-930-1505

TNT Events T: 780-463-9569

DÉCOR I-D Bohemia T: 780-221-1812

CATERING

Bridges Catering 9203-111 Ave. Edmonton T5G 0A2 T: 780-425-0173 F: 780-421-4714 E: info@bridgescatering.ca W: bridgescatering.ca A full-service catering company with delicious food, Bridges can cater any event, from corporate breakfasts and lunches to private receptions and galas.

AUDIO-VISUAL SERVICES

seminar, symposia, and meeting management, award shows, gala fundraisers, trade fairs, and corporate anniversaries.

Stir Catering 1116-74 St. Edmonton T6X 0N7 T: 780-993-9262

COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS B5 Communications T: 780-221-6006 Currie Communications Ltd. #202, 10471-178 St. Edmonton T5S 1R5 T: 780-413-9570 F: 780-486-0285 E: info@curriecom.com W: curriecom.com Currie Communications is one of Edmonton’s premier event management companies. Established in 1993, we specialize in conference,

DJ SERVICES Advanced DJ Services 4204-40 Ave. Edmonton T6L 5T4 T: 587-409-9882 Capital DJ Services 8807-163 St. Edmonton T5R 2N8 T: 780-756-5225 Mr. Entertainment 9336-60 Ave. Edmonton T6E 5B6 T: 780-437-0508

EDUCATION SERVICES NAIT - Department of Continuing Education 11762-106 St. NW Edmonton T5G 2R1 T: 780-471-6248

EVENT PLANNERS Big Pixel Creative #301, 11020-19 Ave. Edmonton T6J 6P5 T: 780-934-3279 Buksa Strategic Conference Services #307, 10328-81 Ave. Edmonton T6E 1X2 T: 780-436-0983 Caitlin McElhone Events Inc. T: 780-761-6682 Comlinks Events & Marketing 10924-107 Ave. Edmonton T5H 0X5 T: 780-448-5917 Incite Marketing 10507 Saskatchewan Dr. Edmonton T6E 4S1 T: 780-423-5552 KMG Events 10801-68 Ave. Edmonton T6H 2B8 T: 780-757-3077 SK Events T: 780-222-0732 Timewise Event Management #456, 17008-90 Ave. NW Edmonton T5T 1L6 T: 780-444-3773 Tycoon Event Planning & Promotions T: 780-667-5183

ENTERTAINMENT Big Time Entertainment T: 780-454-2070 Clown Cartel 11609-89 St. Edmonton T5B 3V3 T: 780-455-1444 Firefly Theatre & Circus 8540 Roper Rd. Edmonton T6E 6V4 T: 780-758-9999 Rapid Fire Theatre Improv 9828-101A Ave. Edmonton T5J 3C6 T: 780-443-6044 Safire Dance T: 403-973-3211

EVENT RENTALS A Chair to Remember 14603-63 Ave. Edmonton T6H 1S6 T: 780-893-4401 Big Top Tent Rentals 17412-108 Ave. Edmonton T5S 1E8 T: 780-489-0859 River City Events 10560-107 St. Edmonton T5H 2Y6 T: 780-424-6001 Special Event Rentals 6010-99 St. Edmonton T6E 3P2 T: 780-435-2211

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

FIRST AID GPS Security Group 6728-99 St. Edmonton T6E 5B6 T: 780-989-2017 St. John Ambulance 12304-118 Ave. Edmonton T5L 5G8 T: 780-452-6565

FLORAL DESIGN Heather de Kok Floral Design #103, 6303 Wagner Rd. Edmonton T6E 4N4 T: 780-468-9459

FOOD TRUCKS Attila the HUNgry T: 780-297-5757

Orbit Food Truck T: 780-554-7810

MAKEUP ARTISTS Be Glamorous T: 780-264-9488 Blush Artistry 37 Woodfield Dr. Sherwood Park T8A 4A1 T: 780-937-5816 Blushed Beaute T: 780-999-5047

MISCELLANEOUS EVENT SERVICES City of Edmonton 1 Sir Winston Churchill Sq. Edmonton T5J 2R7 T: 780-442-5311

PHOTO BOOTHS

• Weddings

Laugh Photo Booth T: 780-655-5750

Aspen Zettel Photography T: 780-686-8733

Mojo Photo Booths 9203-62 St. Edmonton T6B 1N7 T: 780-952-3965

Just Married Photography T: 780-707-7214

PHOTOGRAPHERS • Events Avonlea Photography 10458-174 St. Edmonton T5S 2G9 T: 780-482-4747 Curtis Comeau Photography 10832-61 Ave. Edmonton T6H 1M1 T: 780-907-8678

Bully Food Truck Inc. T: 780-695-9292

FO Photography 10235-116 St. Edmonton T5K 1W4 T: 780-935-6563

Knosh Catering T: 780-292-6467

TLT Photography T: 780-951-6561

ST. ALBERT

The Arden Theatre Looking for a unique venue for your next event? The Arden Theatre might just be what you are looking for. • Can accommodate both large and small groups • State-of-the-art technology • Live streaming capabilities • Minutes from Edmonton • Free parking • Wheelchair accessible

5 St. Anne Street, St. Albert, AB, T8N 3Z9 T 780-459-1524 F 780-458-5417 E ttralnberg@stalbert.ca W ardentheatre.com

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Tulle & Tweed Photography 7724-181 Ave. Edmonton T5Z 0L8 T: 587-784-7840

PRINTING SERVICES Above & Beyond Promotions #52, 9703-41 Ave. Edmonton T6E 6M9 T: 780-637-0776 Capital Colour Press 4904-89 St. Edmonton T6E 5K1 T: 780-465-8080 Printworks Ltd. 3850-98 St. Edmonton T6E 3L2 T: 780-452-8921

EDMONTON

The Rec Room Redefine the meaning of fun when you plan your next event at The Rec Room. Whether you’re hosting a working lunch, team building offsite, product launch or gala event, The Rec Room offers a variety of unique event spaces, all under one roof! Combine those with our massive entertainment area, Canadian-inspired dining, and gaming options ranging from classic ping pong to state-of-the-art virtual reality, and your event will be like nothing you’ve hosted before. With our onsite professional event planner always ready to assist, you can be sure you’ll have everything to pull off your most epic event yet.

1725-99 Street, Edmonton, AB T6N 1K5 T 780-702-1332 E EventsSouthEdmonton@TheRecRoom.com W therecroom.com

MEETING FACILITIES Room

Indiv. Room Capacity

Combined Capacity

Zone Capacity

Floor Capacity

Ground Floor The Hall

140

Hall Mezzanine

Library (2 Rooms)

212

N/A

Garage (5 rooms)

Garage Terrace

The Shed

Dining Room

Patio

120

164

100

840

164

Additional availability on Mezzanine Level

388

EDMONTON

EPCOR Tower Conference Centre A great downtown option! The Conference Centre at EPCOR Tower is a perfect venue for your small to medium sized meetings with 4 different sized rooms that are fully equipped with state of the art audio/visual equipment, and a shared kitchen. EPCOR Tower is within walking distance to a number of great downtown Edmonton hotels, restaurants and the new Rogers Place. The building boasts a 600 stall underground, secure heated parkade available to the public, and is also easily accessible via public transit. The Conference Centre at EPCOR Tower is an ideal place to host your next meeting.

MEETING FACILITIES Room

SF (approx.)

Theater

Boardroom

Reception

MacKenzie

992

Nelson

570

Churchill

532

Columbia

285

10423-101 Street, Edmonton AB T5H 0E7 T 780-424-1331 ext 221 E ETTenantServices@ranchogroup.com

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

EDMONTON

The Burke Group 17407-106 Ave. Edmonton T5S 1E7 T: 780-482-6026

PROMOTIONAL ITEMS Echo Promotions 11606-149 St. Edmonton T5M 3R3 T: 780-784-3246

Best Western PLUS Westwood Fresh renovations throughout the property with your comfort in mind. Whether travelling for business or leisure, our aim is for your 100% satisfaction guarantee! • • • • •

Close to West Edmonton Mall Complimentary WiFi and Business Centre Complimentary Parking Designated Pet Friendly Rooms Over 11,000 sq. ft. of Meeting & Event space for your next conference or special event • Onsite Restaurant & Lounge 18035 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton, AB T5S 1B2 T 780-483-7770 F 780-486-1769 TF 1-800-557-4767 W bestwesternwestwoodinn.com

EDMONTON

E.C. Promotions #202, 11729-105 Ave. Edmonton T5H 0L9 T: 780-944-8098 Promotional Wearhouse Inc. 4648-99 St. Edmonton T6E 5H5 T: 780-437-0197 Spark - The Branding Shop #116, 2257 Premier Way Sherwood Park T8H 2M8 T: 780-488-9559

SANITATION Derrick Disposal 5920-98 St. Edmonton T6E 3L5 T: 780-437-5000 Eh! Royal Flush Portable Toilets 47 Westpark Rd. Fort Saskatchewan T8L 3X2 T: 780-729-8333 Handi-Can 327 Saskatchewan Ave. Spruce Grove T7X 0G6 T: 780-962-9400

SPEAKERS BUREAUS

Campus Tower Suite Hotel We are located right in the heart of the University of Alberta’s main campus, 5 minutes from Edmonton’s downtown. Our central location allows our guests easy access to anywhere they need to be for business or pleasure. 2,020 sq. ft. meeting/event space • Complimentary Wi-Fi • Complimentary Business Centre • Complimentary Indoor Fitness Centre • Free local calls • Indoor and Outdoor parking • 5 minutes to Whyte Ave. & Old Strathcona restaurants and shopping • 1 block to LRT (light rail transit) to Ice District, Edmonton Northlands • 1 block to Northern Alberta Jubiliee Auditorium

Canadian Association of Professional Speakers T: 1-877-847-3350 National Speakers Bureau T: 1-800-360-1073 Speakers’ Bureau of Alberta #158, 16815-88 Ave. Edmonton T5R 5Y7 T: 1-866-420-3338

SPECIAL EVENT VENUES 11145-87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 0Y1 TF 1-877-221-3989 W campustower.com

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Alberta Aviation Museum 11410 Kingsway Edmonton T5G 0X4 T: 780-451-1175

Arden Theatre 5 St. Anne St. St. Albert T8N 3Z9 T: 780-459-1542 Dow Centennial Centre 8700-84 St. Fort Saskatchewan T8L 4P5 T: 780-992-6400 EPCOR Tower Conference Centre 10423-101 St. NW Edmonton T5H 0E7 T: 780-424-1331 ext. 221 Francis Winspear Centre for Music 9720-102 Ave. NW Edmonton T5J 4B2 T: 780-401-2522 High Level Bridge Street Car 10340-84 Ave. Edmonton T6E 2G9 T: 780-437-7721 The King’s University 9125-50 St. NW Edmonton T6B 2H3 T: 780-465-8323 Latitude 53 10242-106 St. NW Edmonton T5J 1H7 T: 780-423-5353 Multicultural Heritage Centre 5411-51 St. Stony Plain T7Y 1B7 T: 780-963-2777 Nisku Inn & Conference Centre 1101-4 St. Nisku T9E 7N1 T: 780-955-7744 Northlands 7300-116 Ave. Edmonton T5B 4X5 T: 780-471-7210 Old Timer’s Cabin 9430 Scona Rd. Edmonton T6E 3W4 T: 780-465-2139 Oasis Edmonton Conference Centre 10930-177 St. NW Edmonton T5S 2X7 T: 780-451-9227 Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm 56311 Lily Lake Rd. Bon Accord T0A 0K0 T: 780-921-2272

Providence Renewal Centre 3005-119 St. Edmonton T6J 5R5 T: 780-430-9491 F: 780-438-1639 W: providencerenewal.ca With 20 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, Providence Renewal Centre is open to all who want a peaceful environment to host their meeting, seminar, or conference. Snow Valley Ski Club PO Box 21100 Edmonton T6R 2V4 T: 780-434-3991

Edmonton T5T 4J2 T: 780-444-5321

SUIT SHOPS & RENTALS Derks 8111-102 St. Edmonton T6E 4A4 T: 780-433-6614 Henry Singer West Edmonton Mall 8882-170 St. Edmonton T5T 4J2 T: 780-444-3444

TRADE SHOW SERVICES

Stony Plain and Parkland Pioneer Museum 5120-43 Ave. Stony Plain T7Z 1L5 T: 780-963-1234

Goodkey Show Services 9519-49 St. Edmonton T6B 2L8 T: 1-877-726-2211

The Rec Room 1725-99 St. Edmonton T6N 1K5 T: 587-756-6400

Superior Show Services 8599-111 St. Fort Saskatchewan T8L 4S1 T: 780-992-0404

West Edmonton Mall 8882-170 St. NW

VEHICLE RENTALS & SERVICES

Intergra Films 8882-170 St. Edmonton T5T 5X1 T: 780-909-2763

Blue Sky Limos 9915-65 Ave. Edmonton T6E 0L1 T: 780-432-0000

WEDDING PLANNERS

Edmonton Taxi Service Group 10135-31 Ave. Edmonton T6N 1C2 T: 780-465-8500 Legends Limousine 15137-117 Ave. Edmonton T5M 3V7 T: 780-477-3111

Awespiring Weddings & Design T: 780-920-7707 Fresh Look Event Management 6423-14 Ave. Edmonton T6L 1Y1 T: 587-988-3470 Jennifer Bergman Weddings T: 780-298-8244

Prestige Limousine 10135-31 Ave. Edmonton T6N 1C2 T: 780-463-5000

Story Weddings & Eventsâ&#x20AC;&#x201E; T: 780-221-9436

Calgary & Area

VIDEOGRAPHERS DC Brandon Films 20612-92 Ave. Edmonton T5T 1S9 T: 780-700-6502

ADVERTISING SERVICES CAYK Marketing Inc. #205, 5720 Macleod Tr. Calgary T2H 0J6 T: 403-456-0072

DMB Video Productions T: 780-233-1362

EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Nisku Inn and Conference Centre The Nisku Inn & Conference Centre at the Edmonton International Airport and Nisku Business Park offers convention services for all of your corporate and special events ranging from 10 to 600 delegates. With over 12,000 sq. ft. of flexible function space that includes stylish boardrooms, a variety of meeting space, magnificent ballrooms, a spacious Indoor Atrium and Courtyard with elegant water features, this full service property provides state-of-the-art facilities, on the spot office amenities, exquisite catering, and elegant guest rooms to suit all your meeting and event needs. Our conference services team will be on hand to assist with design and planning, as well as, worry-free delivery of your business meeting, conference, wedding, private or Christmas party ensuring an effortless and truly memorable experience.

1101-4th Street, Nisku, Alberta T9E 7N1 T 780-955-7744 F 780-955-7743 TF 1-800-661-6966 E sales@niskuinn.com W niskuinn.com

ME E TIN G F A CIL ITIE S Room

AREA Sq. Ft.

CAPACITY Theatre Classroom Banquet

Ballroom 1 & 2

6,040

500

300

400

Ballroom Foyer

1,500

125

Ballroom 1

3,300

250

150

120

350

Ballroom 2

2,740

200

130

120

350

Ballroom Patio

2,500

120

150

Ballroom 3

2,720

150

120

175

Courtyard

2,200

200

250

Beaumont

918

Leduc

741

Millet

414

Calmar

326

Devon

414

Reception 800

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

EDMONTON

Edible Arrangements For anything from snacks for a business meeting to centerpieces for your event to sending out a special thank you, Edible Arrangements makes the perfect addition for any occasion! Our arrangements are made of fresh fruit hand carved and dipped in gourmet semi-sweet chocolate. We are open 7 days a week for same day pick up or delivery.

Downtown 10179-105 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 1E2 T 780-429-2901

North 15831-97 Street Edmonton, AB T5X 0C7 T 780-457-5703

Tag Advertising #200, 2219-4 St. Calgary T2S 1X1 T: 403-233-2282

Five Star Events 1247 Rosehill Dr. Calgary T2K 1M3 T: 403-266-6558

C&B Advertising #500, 805-10 Ave. Calgary T2R 0B4 T: 403-770-0925

Iris Meck Communications #510, 5920-1A St. SW Calgary T2H 0G3 T: 403-686-8407

AUDIO-VISUAL SERVICES

DECORATIONS & SERVICES

Evolution AV #129, 2312-52 Ave. Calgary T2C 0A3 T: 403-259-3793

Frozen Memories Ice Studio 233088 RR 280 Rocky View T1X 0H5 T: 403-936-2345

Calgary Show Services Ltd. #107, 3009-23 Ave. Calgary T3E 0J3 T: 403-453-0911

edible.ca

St. Albert 398 St. Albert Trail St. Albert, AB T8N 5J9 T 780-460-4333

EDMONTON

Phoenix Show Services #204, 1440-52 St. NE Calgary T2A 4T8 T: 403-278-5638

BRIDAL SHOPS The Bridal Boutique 5131 Elbow Dr. Calgary T2V 1H2 T: 403-281-9777

Rock-it Productions 106 Mahogany Way Calgary T3M 1N5 T: 403-280-9905

Durand Bridal and Formal Wear 9618 Horton Rd. SW Calgary T2V 4K8 T: 403-454-2684

• Conference, Banquet, and Board Rooms (over 10,000 sq. ft. available) • Tiered atrium, lecture theatres, classrooms and performance hall • Fully equipped, 935 square metre gymnasium • On-site catering and cafeteria services • Accommodations (Hotel and Apartment Style) • Free parking and Wi-Fi • Additional campus and outdoor spaces available on request Contact us to learn how to host your next event at The King’s University. 9125-50 Street, Edmonton, AB T6B 2H3 T 780-465-8323 F 780-465-3534 E conferenceservices@kingsu.ca W kingsu.ca

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

BPM Calgary 317 Skyview Springs Gardens Calgary T3N 0B6 T: 403-910-2618 Pez Productions 606 Meredith Rd. Calgary T2E 5A8 T: 403-768-2737

Rococo Brides #4, 8989 Macleod Tr. Calgary T2H 0M2 T: 403-200-6999

The King’s University Conferences, Services & Facilities

DJ SERVICES

CATERING Alpine Catering 3513D 78 Ave. SE Calgary T2C 1J7 T: 403-279-6664 Indulge Catering 5524 -1A St. SW Calgary T2H 0E7 T: 403-229-9029

COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS Forward Level Marketing #210, 2020-4 St. SW Calgary T2S 1W3 T: 403-693-5145

ENTERTAINMENT PM Gigs Inc. #200, 4722-1 St. SW Calgary T2G 0A2 T: 403-276-4447 Kiss Productions 1428 Marlyn Way NE Calgary T2A 3K1 T: 403-616-2411 TriXtan Entertainment T: 403-809-5735

EVENT PLANNERS Boom Goes the Drum 2501 Alyth Rd. Calgary T2G 1P7 T: 587-316-5292 Details Convention & Event Management Inc. #400, 305-4625 Varsity Dr. NW Calgary T3A 0Z9 T: 403-277-7377

Glynt Productions #150, 1900-11 St. SE Calgary T2G 3G2 T: 403-483-7932 Simply Elegant #7, 3600-19 St. NE Calgary T2E 6V2 T: 403-242-0598 The Event Group #210, 1235-17 Ave. SW Calgary T2T 0C2 T: 403-543-1509 True Event Management #101, 2734-17 Ave. SW Calgary T3E 0A7 T: 403-589-4022

EVENT RENTALS Great Events Rentals 7207 Fairmount Dr. SE Calgary T2H 0X6 T: 403-319-0028 Jas Tent Rentals #1117, 3961-52 Ave. NE Calgary T3J 0J8 T: 403-560-3607 Special Event Rentals #101, 2313-52 Ave. SE Calgary T2C 0A3 T: 403-235-2211

FIRST AID GPS Security Group 600 Crowfoot Cres. NW Calgary T3G 0B4 T: 403-451-5325 St. John Ambulance 7236-10 St. NE Calgary T2E 8X3 T: 1-800-665-7114

FOOD TRUCKS Red Wagon Diner Food Truck T: 403-991-9696 Bento Burrito T: 403-991-9696 Soul Kitchen BBQ T: 403-614-5952

MAKEUP ARTISTS

EDMONTON

Blush Professional Hair & Makeup 129 Tarawood Pl. NE Calgary T3J 5B4 T: 403-616-1160 Maddpretty Makeover Studio #102, 735-12 Ave. Calgary T2R 0H7 T: 403-245-6233

PHOTO BOOTHS Hoot Booth T: 403-620-3673 Xpress Booth T: 587-707-4088 Twisted Photobooths 8 Tuscany Hills Point NW Calgary T3L 2C6 T: 403-667-1514

Latitude 53 Latitude 53 is an artist-run gallery in downtown Edmonton. Host your event during our exhibitions and greet your guests with some of the most exciting contemporary art on display in Alberta, or talk to us about taking control of the space, including its lighting, between exhibitions. • Accessible building with gender-neutral washrooms • Full kitchen with bar window • Street-level patio • Three gallery spaces (1080, 985, and 625 square feet) • Audiovisual equipment options (including projectors & PA) • Special rates for nonprofits & arts organizations

PHOTOGRAPHERS • Events Pinpoint National Photography T: 1-877-245-3859

10242-106 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 1H7 T 780-423-5353 E info@latitude53.org W latitude53.org

EDMONTON

Fotographix 2325 Erlton St. SW Calgary T2S 2V7 T: 403-398-6713 Leblond Studio T: 403-999-7458 Speers Photography T: 403-230-4042

• Weddings JM Photography 105 Erin Meadow Bay SE Calgary T2B 3A2 T: 403-650-3137 JT Images 249 Panamount Hill NW Calgary T3K 5M4 T: 403-620-3673

The Oasis Centre • 6,500 sq. ft. auditorium featuring 24’ high ceilings with natural or controlled lighting • Tiered theatre seating up to 720 including balcony • Banquet table seating up to 350 • Built in stage with flexible size options • 1,500 sq. ft. marble foyer • Complimentary Executive Lounge and VIP Board Room with private entrance • Beautifully landscaped enclosed gardens • Free on-site parking for 230 vehicles

Limelight Photography 285 Brightonstone Green Calgary T2Z 0C8 T: 403-279-4529 10930-177 Street, Edmonton, AB T5S 2X7 T 780-451-9227 E info@oasiscentre.com W oasiscentre.com

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

EDMONTON

PRINTING SERVICES DHQ 635-6 Ave. SW Calgary T2P 0T5 T: 403-265-2679 Alberta Printing Co. Ltd. 1915-32 Ave. NE Calgary T2E 7C8 T: 403-291-5351

Old Timers Cabin Our historical log cabin is a charming events venue nested on Scona Hill in Edmonton. It is perfect for wedding ceremonies and receptions, social functions, and corporate meetings. The Old Timers Cabin is an air-conditioned facility with a capacity for 250 people and panoramic views of the Edmonton skyline and river valley. Conveniently located only minutes from downtown Edmonton, the venue boasts a spacious free parking lot and the ability to accommodate handicapped guests with full access via a wheelchair ramp and lift. Visit our website for more details and photo galleries. Send us an email if you have any questions! 9430 Scona Road, Edmonton, AB T6E 3W8 T 780-465-2139 E events@oldtimerscabin.net W oldtimerscabin.net

Petro-Tech Printing Ltd. 621-4 Ave. SW Calgary T2P 0K2 T: 403-266-1651

PROMOTIONAL ITEMS JAS Impressions Ltd. #11, 5918-5 St. SE Calgary T2H 1L4 T: 403-319-0399 First Impressions Sportswear & Cresting #105, 4950-106 Ave. SE Calgary T2C 5E9 T: 403-258-3212 Drive Sportswear #123, 11769-40 St. SE Calgary T2Z 4M8 T: 403-517-0020

STONY PLAIN SANITATION PortaPal Portable Toilets T: 403-701-7637 Straight Flush Toilet Rental 416-28 St. NE Calgary T2A 6T3 T: 403-948-2391

Opening in early 2017 HERITAGE PARK PHASE III Phase III at Heritage Park is a two level facility linked to the existing single storey Heritage Park Pavilion. Both floors include a large dividable banquet or multi -purpose room complete with stage with dressing room. A professional kitchen on the main floor and servery on the upper floor allows for simultaneous events. The Main Floor multi-purpose space (6900 sq ft) has hard surface flooring while the upper banquet room (6400 sq ft) is carpeted with an inlaid dance floor, BBQ deck and balcony that overlooks the Heritage Park grounds and pond.

5100-41 Avenue, Stony Plain, AB Mailing Address 4905 51 Avenue, Stony Plain T7Z 1Y1 T 780-963-8604 F 780-963-0935 W stonyplain.com

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE â&#x20AC;˘ Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Pit Stop Portables 4334-68 Ave. Calgary T2C 2T9 T: 403-273-6521

SPECIAL EVENT VENUES Authentic Western Productions Co. Ltd. 67 Commercial Court Calgary T3Z 1A6 T: 403-312-6462 E: bandits@authenticwestern.com W: authenticwestern.com Full-service Western-themed event venue, largest inventory of Western Canada, Western entertainment, horses, horsedrawn carriages, hay wagons,

and the white horse wedding service. Badlands Community Facility 80 Veterans Way Drumheller T0J 0Y2 T: 403-823-1370 Blue Devil Golf Club 2300-194 Ave. SE Calgary T2X 0R3 T: 403-452-7892 Calgary Zoo 1300 Zoo Rd. NE Calgary T2E 7V6 T: 1-800-588-9993 Canada Sports Hall of Fame 169 Canada Olympic Rd. SW Calgary T3B 6B7 T: 403-776-1040 F: 403-776-1090 E: info@cshof.ca W: sportshall.ca Canada Sports Hall of Fame offers a unique venue in Calgary with over 40,000 sq. ft. of inspiring experiences, state-ofthe-art technology, 52 hands-on interactive exhibits, including multi-sport simulators, teambuilding exercises, and more! The Genesis Centre #10, 7555 Falconridge Blvd. NE Calgary T3J 0C9 T: 403-590-2833 Glenmore Inn & Convention Centre 2720 Glenmore Tr. SE Calgary T2C 2E6 T: 403-279-8611 Heritage Park 1900 Heritage Dr. SW Calgary T2V 2X3 T: 403-268-8500 Magnolia Banquet Hall #900, 5075 Falconridge Blvd. NE Calgary T3J 4L8 T: 403-590-9092 Mount Royal University 4825 Mt. Royal Gate SW Calgary T3E 6K6 T: 403-440-6111 University of Calgary Downtown Campus 906-8 Ave. SW Calgary T2P 1H9 T: 403-210-6277

SUIT SHOPS & RENTALS Black & Lee Tuxedo & Suit Rentals/Sales #670, 9737 Macleod Tr. SW Calgary T2J 0P6 T: 403-253-6684 O’Connors 1415-1 St. SW Calgary T2R 0V9 T: 403-269-4996 Derks Formals #107, 7004 Macleod Tr. SE Calgary T2H 0L3 T: 403-301-3366

TRADE SHOW SERVICES Superior Show Services Inc. #109, 18 Highland Park Way NE Airdrie T4A 2L5 T: 780-992-0404 Display Dynamics Ltd. 1733-10 Ave. SW Calgary T3C 0K1 T: 403-269-5566 Derrick Exhibit & Trade Show Services Ltd. #121, 7879-8 St. NE Calgary T2E 8A2 T: 403-291-9496

VEHICLE RENTALS & SERVICES Ambassador Limousine Service 316 Meridian Rd. SE Calgary T2A 1X2 T: 403-299-4910 A1 Limousine & Sedan Services 92 Martin Crossing Bay T: 403-399-2916 Delta Cab Ltd. #304, 4655-54 Ave. NE Calgary T3J 3Z4 T: 403-278-8999 Round the Block Tours 300-5 Richard Way SW Calgary T3E 7M8 T: 1-855-595-1855 F: 1-855-446-4464 E: charters@rtbtours.ca W: rtbtours.ca Bus charters, shuttle services, and guided tours. We provide customized solutions to your transportation needs! Our services are for those who are

budget conscience yet want excellent service, integrity, and quality.

EDMONTON

VIDEOGRAPHERS NextEpisodeProduction 4758-14 St. NE Calgary T2E 6L7 T: 403-889-7788 Sequence Event Video 64 Scenic Rise NW Calgary T3L 1A8 T: 403-667-7879 Dream Day Films 7540 Fountain Rd. SE Calgary T2H 0W8 T: 403-246-1082

WEDDING PLANNERS Reflections Weddings & Events 224-13 Ave. SW Calgary T2R 1N8 T: 403-703-5273 Lynn Fletcher Weddings 423 Forge Rd. Calgary T2H 0S9 T: 403-457-1324 Creative Weddings Planning & Decor B14, 6020-2 St. SE Calgary T2H 2L8 T: 1-888-790-6986

Red Deer & Area ADVERTISING SERVICES Reaction #206, 4807-50 Ave. Red Deer T4N 4A5 T: 403-346-6580 Redpoint Design 491 Wishart St. Red Deer T4N 7E9 T: 403-346-9572

Union Bank Inn Edmonton's Premier 4 Star Boutique Hotel located in the Heart of Edmonton's Business and Arts District. 34 Designer Guest Rooms with Fireplaces Included Free: À la Carte Breakfast, Daily Delivery Wine & Cheese, In-Room Coffee, Wi-Fi Ballroom & Conference Facilities • Madison’s Grill Room

AREA Sq. Ft.

CAPACITY Theatre Classroom Banquet

Reception

Giverny Ballroom 1,400 150 70 112 150 Devonshire Room 1,000 60 30 60 60 Vintage Room

600 14 14 14 14

10053 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 1S5 T 780-401-2209 TF 1-888-423-3601 E catering@unionbankinn.com W unionbankinn.com

NEED MORE COPIES OF THE ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE? Call 780-465-3362, Email circ@tanneryoung.com or visit meetingsalberta.com

AUDIO-VISUAL SERVICES Parkland Audio 5550-45 St. Red Deer T4N 1L1 T: 403-309-9499

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

EDMONTON

SHERWOOD PARK

Vold Audio Group Inc. #106, 4819C-48 Ave. Red Deer T4N 3T2 T: 403-348-5800

BRIDAL SHOPS Your Wedding Place Ltd. 4946-53 Ave. Red Deer T4N 5J9 T: 403-340-0808

Fresh Inspired Committed

Doing it right since 1986

Serving up fresh ingredients, planning inspired events and committed to customer service for 20 years!

Audio/video event production, Equipment Rentals, Sales, Service and Installation. We’ll make your event our best. Contact us for an estimate.

Novia Mia Bridal & Evening Wear #203, 5116-52 St. Red Deer T4N 6Y4 T: 403-986-3925 Sunni René Bridal 4732-50 St. Red Deer T4N 1X2 T: 403-340-0036

CATERING

9203-111 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5G 0A2 T 780-425-0173 W bridgescatering.ca

Sherwood Park, AB T 780-498-6336 E kyle@kdlaudio.com W kdlaudio.com

STONY PLAIN

Red Deer Catering 38253 RGE RD 283 Red Deer T4E 1Z5 T: 403-343-6186 All Seasons Pig Roast & BBQ RR#2, Site 4, Box 3 Red Deer T4N 5E2 T: 403-347-1611 Big Sky Camp Catering Ltd. #201, 5208-53 Ave. Red Deer T4N 5K2 T: 403-347-3838

DJ SERVICES

Year-Round Culture & Family Fun! The Multicultural Heritage Centre preserves and promotes the history of Stony Plain through a living museum showcasing Western Canadian pioneer life and an art gallery showcasing local and Canadian artists.

YOUR AD HERE Call 780-465-3362 for information

Sound Source DJ Services 4603-61 St. Red Deer T4N 6Z2 T:403-342-6340

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Five Star Party Planning T: 403-304-8140 Proverbs 31 Events T: 587-333-5122

EVENT RENTALS Something Borrowed Wedding Decor Event Rentals 43 Dobson Close Red Deer T4R 2Y1 T: 780-832-8706 Parkland Party & Equipment Rentals Ltd. 5929-48 Ave. Red Deer T4N 3V4 T: 403-347-7733 Special Event Rentals 7882 Edgar Industrial Way Red Deer T4P 3R2 T: 403-343-1878

FIRST AID Paladin Security #2, 4942-46 St. Red Deer T4N 7C3 T: 403-346-4615 St. John Ambulance 6519-67 St. Red Deer T4P 1A3 T: 1-800-665-7114

FOOD TRUCKS The GOOD Stuff T: 403-586-4547 Chedda Heads T: 403-392-4728

On the Mark Productions T: 403-346-6275

The Stache T: 403-358-6888

Juiced Audio & Lighting T: 403-358-4233

MAKEUP ARTISTS

Revolution Entertainment T: 587-797-0699

ENTERTAINMENT

5411-51 Street, Stony Plain, AB T 780-963-2777 E info@multicentre.org W multicentre.org

EVENT PLANNERS

Safire Dance Event Entertainment T: 403-973-3211

Crop Hair Boutique #1, 4801-51 Ave. Red Deer T4N 4H2 T: 403-340-3232 Makeup by Stephanie T: 403-506-9343 Image of Beauty 4713-50 Ave. Red Deer T4N 4A2 T: 403-597-2582

PHOTO BOOTHS TwitchyBooth T: 403-304-3604 Twilite Photo Booth T: 1-888-343-3318 Memory Lane Booth T: 403-348-1224

PHOTOGRAPHERS • Events Truelight Photography 14 Randolph St. Red Deer T4P 3K3 T: 403-343-2907 Revolution Entertainment Inc. T: 587-797-0699

• Weddings Old Country Road Photography 126 Welton Crescent Red Deer T4N 6B3 T: 587-877-6533

Twitchy Finger Photography T: 403-304-3604 Tracy Kuhl Photography T: 403-304-5501

PRINTING SERVICES Rileys Printing #100, 4900-50 St. Red Deer T4N 1X7 T: 403-356-3401 Fletcher Printing 4838-52 St. Red Deer T4N 2C5 T: 403-347-3396 Skytone Printing & Graphics #1, 7320 Johnstone Dr. Red Deer T4P 3Y6 T: 403-342-1414

PROMOTIONAL ITEMS All Things Promotional Inc. 36 Allsop Close Red Deer T4R 1A3 T: 403-346-9327

Flag Stop Promotions 5215-54 Ave. Red Deer T4N 5K8 T: 403-343-1504

Red Deer T4N 1T9 T: 403-342-9950

SPECIAL EVENT VENUES

Nyman’s Trophies Awards Promotionals Ltd. #3, 4768 Riverside Dr. Red Deer T4N 2N7 T: 403-343-6619

Heritage Ranch 6300 Cronquist Dr. Red Deer T4N 7E8 T: 403-347-4977

Elite Sportswear & Awards Ltd. #1, 7619-50 Ave. Red Deer T4P 1M6 T: 587-772-6265

Fratters Speakeasy Venue 5114-48 St. Red Deer T4N 1T2 T: 403-356-0033 The Hideout 411 Lantern St. Red Deer T4E 0A5 T: 403-348-5309

SANITATION Canmasters Inc. 3207, 39015 Highway 2A Red Deer County  T4S 2A3 T: 403-342-1582

SUIT SHOPS & RENTALS Black Knight Tuxedos 4912-35th St. Red Deer T4N 6K6 T: 403-347-5961

Waste-Co Disposal Systems Inc. Box 251123 Red Deer T4R 2M2 T: 403-352-7800

Milano For Men #183, 2004-50 Ave. Red Deer T4R 3A2 T: 403-346-9333

Go Services Inc. #47, 27123 Hwy 597

CALGARY

The Glenmore Inn and Convention Centre The Glenmore Inn and Convention Centre is an independent South Calgary hotel that has over 30 years of experience in providing outstanding hospitality. Our catering specialists provide professional and friendly service and can assist you with catering, event planning and accommodations, and guide you through our many flexible menu options. With 15,000 sq. ft. of adaptable banquet space, we have established ourselves as the hotel of choice for meetings and events of all sizes, and will accommodate your business meetings and annual conventions with the same personal attention and professional service as your family dinner or wedding celebration.

2720 Glenmore Trail SE Calgary, AB T2C 2E6 T 403-279-8611 F 403-236-8035 E cindythomas@glenmoreinn.com W glenmoreinn.com

MEETING FACILITIES Room

AREA Sq. Ft.

Glenmore Ballroom

9,742

CAPACITY Theatre

Classroom

Banquet

Reception

1,200

440

750

700

Glenmore Centre or West

1,931

220

140

100

Glenmore East

4,314

540

200

360

260 N/A

Heritage #1 or #2

720

Heritage

1,395

150

100

Macleod #1 or #2

700

N/A

Macleod

1,288

130

Ogden

1,008

N/A

Deerfoot

585

N/A

Foothills

961

N/A

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

TRADE SHOW SERVICES

CATERING

FIRST AID

PRINTING SERVICES

Goodkey Show Services Ltd. 104 & 105-153 Clearmile Ave. Red Deer T4E 0A1 T: 1-877-726-2211

The Bison #213, 211 Bear St. Banff T1L 1E4 T: 403-762-5550

Banff Fire & Safety 100 Jay St. Banff T1L 1B2 T: 403-762-4666

The Banff Sign Co. Ltd. #3, 100 Jay St. Banff T1L 1C3 T: 403-762-4945

Oh Catering T: 403-760-6660

FOOD TRUCKS

Patti’s Pantry Catering 141 Eagle Cres. Banff T1L 1C3 T: 403-609-7051

PD3 by Blake 806 Main St. Canmore T1W 2B7 T: 403-609-4928

COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS

MAKEUP ARTISTS

VEHICLE RENTALS & SERVICES Premier Limousine Services 6812-52 Ave. Red Deer T4N 4L1 T: 403-342-9565

VIDEOGRAPHERS All Shook Up Wedding Films Kingston Dr. Red Deer T4P 0H2 T: 403-341-5119 I Do Videography T: 780-974-9710 Image of Beauty Videography Services 4713-50 Ave. Red Deer T4N 4A2 T: 403-597-2582

WEDDING PLANNERS Your Wedding with Irene 87 Duncan Cres. Red Deer T4R 1W3 T: 403-343-7653

Banff & Area ADVERTISING SERVICES PixelWell PO Box 466 Banff T1L 1A6 W: pixelwell.ca

AUDIO-VISUAL SERVICES AV Strategies #120, 1220-28 St. NE Calgary, T2A 2P6 T: 403-276-3995 Freeman Audio Visual 105 Falcon St. Banff T1L 1J2 T: 403-760-4440

Artmann Communications T: 403-923-9858

DJ SERVICES

The Albion Room #111, 220 Bear St. Banff T1L 1B1 T: 403-762-4181

Bow Valley Basics 317 Banff Ave. Banff T1L 1A9 T: 403-762-4228

PROMOTIONAL ITEMS Sunset Alpine 128 Eagle Cres. Banff T1L 1A6 T: 403-762-2091

SANITATION

Banff Entertainment Co. T: 403-678-0339

Botega Hair #105, 211 Bear St. Banff T1L 1A9 T: 403-760-3087

Mr. P. Potty 128 Fisher Ave Cochrane T4C 1B2 T: 403-932-3352

Class Act DJ Service Inc. T: 1-800-661-6044

PHOTO BOOTHS

SPECIAL EVENT VENUES

Engaged Films T: 403-760-9876

The Banff Centre 107 Tunnel Mountain Dr. Banff T1L 1H5 T: 403-762-6100

Livin’ & Dancin’ DJ Services Box 8209 Canmore T1W 2T9 T: 403-609-3546

EVENT PLANNERS Brewster Corporate & Event Management 100 Gopher St. Banff T1L 1J3 T: 403-762-6700 Discover Destination Management #10, 147 Eagle Cres. Banff T1L 1B5 T: 403-760-7629 Mountainscape Productions & Events 150 Eagle Cres. Banff T1L 1A9 T: 403-760-5436

EVENT RENTALS Special Event Rentals 150 Eagle Cres. Banff T1L 1B1 T: 403-762-2227

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Kawaii Prints Photo Booth Rental T: 403-890-9237

PHOTOGRAPHERS • Events Alpine Peak Photography 222 Banff Ave. Banff T1L 1A6 T: 403-762-3516 Mountain Light Studio #202, 707 Main St. Canmore T1W 2B2 T: 403-678-0432

• Weddings One Edition Photography T: 403-953-1303 Kim Payant Photography #301, 220 Bear St. Banff T1L 1B6 T: 403-497-5111

Blackstone Mountain Lodge 170 Kananaskis Way Canmore T1W 0A8 T: 403-609-8098 Fairmont Banff Springs 405 Spray Ave. Banff T1L 1J4 T: 403-762-2211 The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre 100 Norquay Rd. Banff V9B 1V2 T: 403-762-1238 Stoneridge Mountain Resort 30 Lincoln Park Canmore T1W 3E9 T: 1-877-675-5001 Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino 888 Nakoda Way Kanananskis T0L 1N0 T: 403-881-2830

SUIT SHOPS & RENTALS Boulder Menswear 802 Main St.

Canmore T1W 2B7 T: 403-678-2828

Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-4550

TRADE SHOW SERVICES

DJ SERVICES

GES Exposition Services (Canada) Ltd. 405 Spray Ave. Banff T1L 1J4 T: 403-762-2828

Jasper’s Alpine Music PO Box 1283 Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-0321

VEHICLE RENTALS & SERVICES Banff Taxi PO Box 2502 Banff T1L 1C2 T: 403-762-0000 Alpine Limousine & Tours 145 Eagle Cres. Banff T1L 1B9 T: 403-762-5558

VIDEOGRAPHERS Mountain Wedding Videos 538 Banff Ave. Banff T1L 1G5 T: 403-760-7998

WEDDING PLANNERS Rocky Mountain Wedding Planners 600 Banff Ave. Banff T1L 1H8 T: 403-760-2933 Naturally Chic Box 8737 Canmore T1W 0B9 T: 403-679-1409 Elope in Banff 222 Glen Cres. Banff T1L 1A6 T: 403-762-3516

Jasper & Area CATERING Cassios Italian Restaurant 602 Connaught Dr. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-4070 Coco’s Cafe 608B Patricia St.

Informal Sounds DJ Services 138 Tamarack Ave. Hinton T7V 1C9 T: 780-740-5178 Pulse Productions Inc. T: 780-919-9981

ENTERTAINMENT JayDee Hypnotist T: 780-988-5830 Monika Schaefer P: 780-852-4608 E: info@monikaschaefer.ca W: monikaschaefer.ca Violinist Monika Schaefer offers a wide repertoire of music from standards to eclectic, classical, romantic, Celtic, and old-time fiddle. Whatever the occasion, large or small, indoor or outdoor, Monika is flexible and accommodating to your wishes.

DRUMHELLER

Badlands Community Facility The Badlands Community Facility is a multi-purpose center nestled in the beautiful river valley of Drumheller, Alberta, only 90 minutes northeast of Calgary. Conveniently situated within walking distance to downtown, the Badlands Community Facility features beautifully appointed Meeting Rooms, Conference and Banquet facilities and amenities to make your event enjoyable, professional and successful. • 7,290 square feet of flexible spaces • Integrated A/V solutions • Three Banquet Halls • Commercial kitchen • Outdoor Terrace • Multi-Purpose Rooms • Gallery • Fitness center equipped with a field house and running track

80 Veterans Way, Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y4 T 403-823-1338 E bookings@dinosaurvalley.com W badlandscommunityfacility.com

CALGARY

Heritage Park

Mount Royal University

EVENT PLANNERS Jasper Event Management PO Box 2857 Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-931-2245 E: info@jasperevents.ca W: jasperevents.ca From meetings to activities to dining to transportation. They will help you tailor your meeting, wedding, or special event to fit all your group’s needs and make the most out of your time in Jasper National Park. Phat Cat Event Planning 104 Connaught Dr. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-8878

Historic Events Happen Here. Let Heritage Park be your picturesque backdrop for entertaining 12 to 3,000 guests.

Your Partner in Event, Theatre and Performance Services.

Event and Theatre Services

EVENT RENTALS Mountain Chic Event Rentals T: 780-931-2666

1900 Heritage Drive SW, Calgary, AB T 403-268-8526 W heritagepark.ca

4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, AB T3E 6L6 T 1-403-440-8890 TF 1-866-226-1801 E mrevents@mtroyal.ca W mtroyal.ca/mrevents

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

BANFF

FIRST AID

PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

Jasper Protective Services 518 Geikie St. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-1591

Dig That Stitch Embroidery & Design 146 Athabasca Ave. Hinton T7V 2A5 T: 780-865-4111

Seton - Jasper Healthcare Centre 518 Robson St. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-3344

The Fenlands The Fenlands is a world-class, unique facility located in Banff, Alberta. We have successfully held meetings, trade shows and events since 2010. • Located with walking distance from the downtown core • Up to 15,000 sq. ft. of trade show floor space in the off season • 10,000 sq. ft. of beautiful and bright meeting space • Complimentary wireless internet • Stunning interior design • Natural light in all our spacious event space • Ample complimentary parking • Awarded LEED silver certification 100 Norquay Road, Banff, AB T1L 1A1 T 403-762-1238 E rentals@banff.ca W banff.ca/thefenlands

MAKEUP ARTISTS Trademark Hair Company 606 Patricia St. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-9700 Wild Orchid Salon & Spa 616 Patricia St. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-2111

PHOTO BOOTHS Jasper Photo Booths T: 780-852-0321 Pulse Productions Inc. T: 780-919-9981 White Leaf Photographs T: 403-763-7234

JASPER PHOTOGRAPHERS

Best Western Jasper Inn & Suites We are a Canada Select three and a half star service resort. We have a wide variety of rooms from standard rooms with two double beds, to executive suites with a two person jacuzzi, to two bedroom suites that can accommodate up to 6 people. Set amidst the rugged beauty of Jasper National Park our hotel puts every mountain holiday into perfect perspective with spectacular views and fireside comforts. The perfect location for your next meeting, banquet or retreat. Let us assist you with planning the perfect business meeting, corporate retreat or training getaway. Our “Upstairs at the Inn” banquet room has the capacity to host groups of up to 70 people.

98 Geikie Street, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0 TF 1-800-661-1933 F 780-852-5916 W bestwesternjasperinn.com

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

SANITATION Gotta Go 5513-50 Ave. Drayton Valley T7A 1S2 T: 587-673-0410

SPECIAL EVENT VENUES Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre 76 Connaught Dr. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-5111 Pyramid Riding Stables 1 Pyramid Lake Rd. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-7433 Maligne Lake Chalet Maligne Lake Rd. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-3370

VEHICLE RENTALS & SERVICES Jasper Limo T: 780-852-3600

• Events

Mountain Express Taxi T: 780-852-4555

Mike Gere Photography Box 711 Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-931-4373

Alpine Art Eco Tour Ltd. (Bus) 500 Pyramid Lake Rd. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-3709

Crystal Puim Photography T: 780-995-5438

VIDEOGRAPHERS

• Weddings White Leaf Photography T: 403-763-7234 A Different Angle Photography Jasper T: 780-852-4133

PRINTING SERVICES Tekarra Color Lab Ltd. 600 Patricia St. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-5525 Bearberry Photo & Canadiana 612 Connaught Dr. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-1112

Delphinus 18 Productions T: 780-984-5252 H2O Video Productions 500 Pyramid Lake Rd. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-852-4226 Fast Forward Productions T: 709-424-8567

WEDDING PLANNERS Live the Dream Events 100 Connaught Dr. Jasper T0E 1E0 T: 780-820-0203 Leaf It Up To Us T: 780-852-8830

PARKING

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

ACCESSIBILITY

AIR-CONDITIONING

EXHIBIT ACCESS INTERNET (FREE/PAID/ NONE) CUSTOMIZED ACTIVITIES

IN-HOUSE CATERING

AUDIO/VISUAL SERVICES

OUTDOOR VENUE

NUMBER OF RESTAURANT SEATS

RECEPTION

BANQUET

CAPACITY OF LARGEST ROOM

THEATRE

LARGEST ROOM (SQ.FT.)

NO. OF MEETING ROOMS

Attraction spaces Banff & Area

artsPlace 2+ 1,500 105 50 120 950-8 Ave., Canmore AB T1W 2V2 Tel 403-609-2623 Web artsplacecanmore.com A welcoming and user-friendly space, artsPlace is a hub for artists to create art and advance their skills. The intimate rooms here are ideal to meet in and share your creativity.

• • • • F • • •

Cave & Basin National Historic Site 4 1,777 128 96 168 PO Box 900, Banff AB T1L 1K2 Tel 403-762-1566 Web pc.gc.ca Located only minutes from Banff Avenue, this heritage landmark features nearby trails where attendees can peacefully explore and marvel at the scenery.

• • • • F • • • •

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies 4 4,160 150 100 350 • • • F • • • 111 Bear St., Banff AB T1L 1A3 Tel 403-762-2291 ext. 315 Web whyte.org With several unique heritage buildings to choose from, this space is filled with historic character and will add the same touch of culture that's shaped the valley to any event.

Calgary & Area The Hangar Flight Museum 4 6,000 200 200 170 4629 McCall Way NE, Calgary AB T2E 8A5 Tel 403-250-3752 ext. 108 Web thehangarmuseum.ca Perfect for any aviation buff, this venue features historically significant military and civilian aircraft, and it can offer customized talks to add some exciting history to your event.

• • • • F • • •

Arts Commons 14 5,625 2,000 220 1,200 • F • • 205-8 Ave. SE, Calgary AB T2G 0K9 Tel 403-294-7455 Web artscommons.ca Host your event in a creative and inspirational place, as this venue offers a variety of spaces from intimate theatres to fine concert halls to spacious gala-worthy rooms. Calgary Tower 1 N/A 70 N/A 90 • • F • • 101-9 Ave. SW, Calgary AB T2P 1J9 Tel 403-508-5814 Web calgarytower.com Meet high in the sky at 1,228 m above sea level! This tower is the highest 360-degree observation deck in the world, and its view will take your guests' breath away. Calgary Zoo 4 4,000 280 280 500 86 • • • • F • • • • • 1300 Zoo Rd. NE, Calgary AB T2E 7V6 Tel 403-232-9300 Web calgaryzoo.com Whether you're planning a wedding, customer appreciation, product launch, or a corporate meeting, the zoo has a venue to give it a unique flair for groups from 30 up to 1,000+. Fort Calgary 7 9,388 200 144 220 • • • F • • • • 750-9 Ave. SE, Calgary AB T2G 5E1 Tel 403-290-1875 Web fortcalgary.com Celebrate your future at the spot where Calgary began! In an authentic, historic space, your guests will be treated to all that western hospitality can offer. Heritage Park 4 6,000 250 400 1,200 • • • • • • • 1900 Heritage Dr. SW, Calgary AB T2V 2X3 Tel 403-268-8500 Web heritagepark.ca History will come alive in the picturesque backdrop of this living museum. Treat your guests to a tour of Calgary in a bygone age, or take in many of the fun and educational attractions in this park.

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

PARKING

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

ACCESSIBILITY

AIR-CONDITIONING

EXHIBIT ACCESS INTERNET (FREE/PAID/ NONE) CUSTOMIZED ACTIVITIES

IN-HOUSE CATERING

AUDIO/VISUAL SERVICES

OUTDOOR VENUE

NUMBER OF RESTAURANT SEATS

RECEPTION

BANQUET

CAPACITY OF LARGEST ROOM

THEATRE

LARGEST ROOM (SQ.FT.)

NO. OF MEETING ROOMS

Attraction spaces

National Music Centre 11 3,300 275 180 250 850-4 St. SE, Calgary AB T2G 1R1 Tel 403-543-5115 Web studiobell.ca This stunning new venue celebrates the story of Canadian music, and its icons, with interactive installations and a hall of fame. Wow your attendees as you meet under pristine architecture.

• • • • F • • • •

TELUS Spark 11 10,000 500 250 900 220 St. Georges Dr. NW, Calgary AB T2P 2M5 Tel 403-817-6887 Web sparkscience.ca Minutes from the downtown core, this science centre is an intriguing and versatile venue. Interact with the mind-blowing exhibits about the earth and sky, being human, and energy and innovation.

• • • • F • • • • •

Edmonton & Area Alberta Aviation Museum 4 11,000 400 400 • • F 11410 Kingsway Ave., Edmonton AB T5G 0X4 Tel 780-451-1175 Web albertaaviationmuseum.com Perfect for aviation or history fans, you can explore Edmonton’s aviation history alongside your event as they have 30 aircrafts on display!

•

Alberta Legislature Building N/A N/A N/A • • N 9820-107 St., Edmonton AB T5K 1E7 Tel 780-427-7362 Web assembly.ab.ca/visitor Located in the heart of downtown Edmonton, visitors can take in a free guided tour of the Legislature Building or take a break with a walk around the grounds. Open 362 days a year, the Alberta Legislature is open for you to discover.

•

Art Gallery of Alberta 10 3,900 167 200 500 60 • • • F 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq., 99 St. & 102A Ave., Edmonton AB T5J 2C1 Tel 780-392-2505 Web youraga.ca On top of being located centrally in the downtown area, this gorgeous structure’s rooms add class to your event with the art displayed in them.

•

Citadel Theatre 8 5,000 681 200 472 • • F 9828-101A Ave., Edmonton AB T5J 3C6 Tel 780-425-1820 Web citadeltheatre.com For a comfortable and natural theatre venue, the Citadel is perfect with several room options. Or book their atrium to give your event a tropical theme, as it's teeming with plant life and waterfalls!

•

Devonian Botanic Garden Located 5 km north of Devon on Hwy 60 Tel 780-987-3054 ext. 2223 Web devonian.ualberta.ca Ideal for weddings or any other outdoor event, you’ll love the idyllic setting of this garden, which abounds with roses, lilacs, peonies, and other blossoms!

2,400 250 180

• • • N • • • •

Fort Edmonton Park 10 9,011 600 500 600 • • • • F • Fox Dr. & Whitemud Dr., 7000-143 St., Edmonton AB T6H 4P3 Tel 780-496-8787 Web fortedmontonpark.ca Filled with history, this interactive museum has naturally become a hot spot for events. Experience Edmonton as it was over 100 years ago!

•

Leduc #1 Energy Discovery Centre 6 N/A 70 150 200 • • • • F #6, 20 Haven Ave., Devon AB T9G 2B9 Tel 780-987-4323 Web leducnumber1.com Celebrate your own company’s successes alongside the grit, success, and determination of the Alberta oilpatch. This historical site has over 200 exhibits, including a drill bit virtual ride.

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

•

PARKING

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

ACCESSIBILITY

AIR-CONDITIONING

EXHIBIT ACCESS INTERNET (FREE/PAID/ NONE) CUSTOMIZED ACTIVITIES

IN-HOUSE CATERING

AUDIO/VISUAL SERVICES

OUTDOOR VENUE

NUMBER OF RESTAURANT SEATS

RECEPTION

BANQUET

CAPACITY OF LARGEST ROOM

THEATRE

LARGEST ROOM (SQ.FT.)

NO. OF MEETING ROOMS

Attraction spaces

Multicultural Heritage Centre 4 2,228 N/A 100 120 80 • • F • • • • • 5411-51 St., Stony Plain AB T7Z 1X7 Tel 780-963-2777 Web multicentre.org Located in the heart of Stony Plain, this venue is available to rent for events and board meetings. Catering services also available, provided by the Homesteader's kitchen. Snow Valley Ski Club (The Lodge at Snow Valley & Rainbow Valley Chalet) Located on 119 St., one block south of Whitemud Dr., Edmonton AB T6R 2V4 Tel 780-434-3991 Web thelodgeatsnowvalley.ca Overlooking the Edmonton Rainbow Valley, the Lodge offers a cozy and inspiring atmosphere for any special celebration.

N/A

200 300

• • • • F • • • •

Stony Plain and Parkland Pioneer Museum N/A 1,800 180 120 N/A 34 • F • • 5120-41 Ave., Stony Plain AB T7Z 1L5 Tel 780-963-1234 Web pioneermuseum.ca Explore the past at this wonderful living history museum. Eleven historical buildings and twelve display buildings house over 10,000 artifacts on the museum's 14 acres. TELUS World of Science—Edmonton 5 5,400 160- 50- 100- 100 • • • • F • • • • • 11211–142 St., Edmonton AB T5M 4A1 240 200 500 Tel 780-451-3344 Web telusworldofscienceedmonton.com A unique spin on any occasion, TWOSE will provide an awe-inspiring setting for your next event. An IMAX Theatre that is home to Alberta’s largest screen, a planetarium, a variety of themed exhibit galleries and engaging science experiences are just some of what TWOSE has to offer. West Edmonton Mall 11 9,100 1,200 600 1,200 • • F • • • 8882–170 St., Edmonton AB T5T 4J2 Tel 780-444-5308 Web wem.ca Host your meeting or event alongside all the entertainment West Edmonton Mall has to offer, including a casino, a dinner theatre, a standup comedy venue, and plenty of dining options!

Jasper & Area Jasper Planetarium 1 314 35 16 35 4629 McCall Way NE, Calgary AB T2E 8A5 Tel 403-250-3752 ext. 108 Web jasperplanetarium.com A renowned astronomer can guide you in a tour of the stars that fill Jasper's skies, and share the history of Indigenous constellations and other shared histories of planets, galaxies, meteors, and more.

• • • • F • • •

Red Deer & Area Alberta Sports Hall of Fame & Museum 3 N/A 100 50 200 • • • F • • • #102, 4200 Hwy 2 Red Deer AB T4N 1E3 Tel 403-341-8614 Web ashfm.ca On top of hosting the history of many of the province's most accomplished athletes, attendees can also test their sports skills with many of the interactive exhibits on display. Heritage Ranch 3 N/A N/A 35 35 6300 Cronquist Dr., Red Deer AB T4N 7E8 Tel 403-347-4977 Web heritageranch.ca With an atmosphere that carries the romance of the west, this ranch-like venue will impress guests if you book a classy dining experience in the on-site restaurant or an al fresco event in the wide-open outdoor space.

• • • • F • • •

Red Deer Museum & Art Gallery 2 N/A 50 32 60 • • F • • • 4525-47A Ave., Red Deer AB T4N 6Z6 Tel 403-309-8405 Web reddeermuseum.com Meet in the vicinity of creativity, as guests can view some incredible local and national talents on display in the gallery's latest exhibits. MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

PARKING

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

ACCESSIBILITY

AIR-CONDITIONING

CUSTOMIZED ACTIVITIES

IN-HOUSE CATERING INTERNET (FREE/PAID/ NONE) ENTERTAINMENT

AUDIO/VISUAL SERVICES

OUTDOOR VENUE

NUMBER OF RESTAURANT SEATS

RECEPTION

BANQUET

CAPACITY OF LARGEST ROOM

THEATRE

LARGEST ROOM (SQ.FT.)

NO. OF MEETING ROOMS

Meeting & event spaces Banff & Area Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity 107 Tunnel Mountain Dr., Banff AB T1L 1H5 Tel 1-877-760-4595 Web banffcentre.ca

60+ 5,920 959 490 617 Varies • • • F • • • • •

Calgary & Area Genesis Centre 7 30,000 1,800 1,400 1,800 • • • F • • • • • #10, 7555 Falconridge Blvd. NE, Calgary AB T3J 0C9 Tel 403-590-2833 Web genesis-centre.ca The Genesis Centre is not only a venue for sport and recreation, but a place which caters to the diverse interests of the community. Facility spaces are capable of hosting cultural events, concerts and performing arts, business meetings, trade shows, conferences, and weddings. The Glenmore Inn & Convention Centre 2720 Glenmore Tr. SE, Calgary AB T2C 2E6 Tel 403-279-8611 Web glenmoreinn.com

14 9,742 1,200 750 700 410 • • F • • •

Mount Royal University 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary AB T3E 6L6 Tel 403-440-8890 Web mtroyal.ca/mrevents/index.htm

12 8,320 773 400 600

• • • F • • • • • •

University of Calgary Downtown Campus 55 5,084 450 288 550 • • F • • • • 906-8 Ave. SW, Calgary AB T2P 1H9 Tel 403-210-6277 Web ucalgary.ca/downtown A 5,000-sq.-ft. multi-purpose event centre provides opportunities for lectures, conferences, and special events. The downtown campus advances the U of C's community engagement strategies by strengthening relationships with alumni, corporate Calgary, the not-for-profit sector, and arts and cultural communities.

Edmonton & Area The Arden Theatre 2 500 N/A 80 • F • • • • 5 St. Anne St., St. Albert AB T8N 3Z9 Tel 780-459-1524 Web ardentheatre.com Intimate, comfortable, and superbly equipped, the Arden Theatre is a unique option for your next employee gathering, business meeting, or creative endeavour. Dow Centennial Centre 8 14,000 538 500+ 500+ • • F • • • • • 8700-84 St., Fort Saskatchewan AB T8L 4P5 Tel 780-992-6400 Web fortsask.ca This 170,000-sq.-ft. recreation and cultural facility houses the 538-seat Shell Theatre, banquet halls, and various meeting rooms, and is designed to host a variety of organized events and activities. Let the exclusive on-site caterer take care of all your food and beverage needs. A perfect location to host weddings, anniversaries, Christmas parties, conferences, workshops, conventions, or tradeshows, the Dow Centennial Centre is ready to be your host. EPCOR Tower Conference Centre 10423-101 St. NW, Edmonton AB T5H 0E7 Tel 780-424-1331 ext. 221 Web N/A

Francis Winspear Centre for Music 9720-102 Ave. NW, Edmonton AB T5J 4B2 Tel 780-401-2522 Web winspearcentre.com

The King’s University 9125–50 St., Edmonton AB T6B 2H3 Tel 780-465-8323 Web kingsu.ca/conference-services

48 48

50 • • F • • • •

840 250 300 500 • F • • •

40 9,202 500 400 800

• • • F • • •

Latitude 53 10242-106 St., Edmonton AB T5J 1H7 Tel 780-423-5353 Web latitude53.org

3 1,080 N/A 150 150 • F • •

The Oasis Centre 10930-177 St., Edmonton AB T5S 2X7 Tel 780-451-9227 Web oasiscentre.com

4 6,500 720 350 1,000

Providence Renewal Centre 3005-119 St., Edmonton AB T6J 5R5 Tel 780-430-9491 Web providencerenewal.ca

8 3,864 200 150 150 150 • • F •

• • • F • • •

The Rec Room 15 60,000 1,200 900- • • • F • • • • • • 1725-99 St., Edmonton AB T6N 1K5 1,000 Tel 780-702-1332 Web therecroom.com Redefine the meaning of fun when you plan your next event. The Rec Room offers a variety of unique event spaces all under one roof!

Red Deer & Area Westerner Park 16 50,000 2,200 3,000 4,000 4847A-19 St., Red Deer AB T4R 2N7 Tel 403-343-7800 Web westernerpark.ca 20

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

• • • F • • • •

PARKING

IN-HOUSE CATEREING

CAPACITY (RECEPTION)

CAPACITY (BANQUET)

CAPACITY (THEATRE)

LARGEST ROOM (SQ. FT.)

NO. OF MEETING ROOMS

TOTAL MEETING SPACE (SQ. FT.)

SMOKING ROOMS AVAILABLE

SPA/FITNESS/EXERCISE ROOM

AIR CONDITIONING

O S/F

POOL (INDOOR/OUTDOOR)

NO. OF RESTAURANT SEATS

BREAKFAST INCLUDED

RACK RATE

NO. OF SUITES

•

RACK RATE

BB Bed & Breakfast

TYPE

M Motel

NO. OF ROOMS

SH 128 $170- 101 $190- 40

LEGEND TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION 1 Handicapped Access H Hotel SH Suite Hotel

MAX NO. GUEST ROOM BLOCK

Hotel spaces

Banff & Area Blackstone Mountain Lodge

170 Kananaskis Way, Canmore AB T1W 0A8 $300 Tel 403-609-8098 Web blackstonelodge.ca Blackstone Mountain Lodge offers luxurious hotel rooms, and one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites. Hotel amenities: year-round heated outdoor pool, two hot tubs, fitness centre, heated underground parking, meeting and banquet space, and WiFi throughout the resort. Falcon Crest Lodge

905 905 60 48 60 • P

$550

SH N/A N/A 85 N/A 10 • • F 1 540 540 45 30 30 P

190 Kananaskis Way, Canmore AB T1W 3K5 Tel 403-678-6150 Web falconcrestlodge.ca This beautiful resort features hotel rooms, studio, oneand two-bedroom suites equipped with full kitchens, living areas with fireplaces, and balconies with BBQs. While staying at Falcon Crest Lodge, enjoy mountain views from one of our two outdoor hot tubs. Ramada Inn & Suites Canmore

H 189 $100 4 $210 50 94 • I S/F/E 4 3,150 2,400 170 160 250 P

1402 Bow Valley Tr., Canmore AB T1W 1N5 Tel 403-609-5409 Web ramadacanmore.com The Ramada Inn & Suites, located in the heart of Canmore, offers a fitting atmosphere for any function. From conferences to meetings to retreats, the Ramada Inn & Suites has a team and meeting space that is capable of satisfying everyone's needs. Stoneridge Mountain Resort

SH N/A N/A 102 $200 102

•

1 1,100 1,100 58 36 36 P

120 • S/F/E

5 8,940 2,230 200 160 180 • P

30 Lincoln Park, Canmore AB T1W 3E9 Tel 403-675-5000 Web stoneridgeresort.ca Stoneridge Mountain Resort is Canmore's premier luxury resort in the Alberta Rockies. They are located just moments from downtown and Banff National Park. The resort features 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms, all with gourmet kitchens, fireplaces, and gas BBQs.

Calgary & Area Hotel Clique & Applause Hotel Calgary Airport

H 200 $119

5 $199- 200

24 Aero Cres. NE, Calgary AB T2E 7Y5 Tel 403-460-9588 Web clique.ca Hotel Clique & Applause Hotel Calgary Airport offer a modern Euro Chic design, providing a distinctive experience with matchless comfort, restfulness, and bliss. Conveniently located less than five minutes from the airport with 24-hour shuttle service, these hotels are perfect for leisure and business travellers. Hampton Inn by Hilton Calgary Airport North

$499

H 135 $149 0 N/A 20 • 70 • I F 3 1,586 1,320 93 72 80 • P

2021-100 Ave. NE, Calgary AB T3J 0R3 Tel 403-452-9888 Web calgaryairportnorth.hamptoninn.com Located across the street from the Calgary International Airport and less than 1 km from Calgary's major thoroughfare, the Hampton Inn is part of a Hilton dual hotel complex along with the Homewood Suites. Guests are sure to enjoy these fresh hotels for your next meeting. Hilton Garden Inn Calgary Airport

H 135 N/A 4 N/A 50 72 • I F 3 1,764 1,182 90 72 80 • P

2335 Pegasus Rd. NE, Calgary AB T2E 8C3 Tel 403-717-1999 Web calgaryairport.gardeninn.com

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino

PARKING

IN-HOUSE CATEREING

CAPACITY (RECEPTION)

CAPACITY (BANQUET)

CAPACITY (THEATRE)

LARGEST ROOM (SQ. FT.)

TOTAL MEETING SPACE (SQ. FT.)

NO. OF MEETING ROOMS

SMOKING ROOMS AVAILABLE

SPA/FITNESS/EXERCISE ROOM

POOL (INDOOR/OUTDOOR)

AIR CONDITIONING

NO. OF RESTAURANT SEATS

BREAKFAST INCLUDED

MAX NO. GUEST ROOM BLOCK

RACK RATE

BB Bed & Breakfast

NO. OF SUITES

M Motel

RACK RATE

TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION 1 Handicapped Access H Hotel SH Suite Hotel

TYPE

LEGEND

NO. OF ROOMS

Hotel spaces

H 92 $199 18 $249 • 150 • I E • 5 8,500 6,000 400 200 400 • P

888 Nakoda Way, Kananaskis AB T0L 1N0 Tel 403-881-2830 Web stoneynakodaresort.com Located 40 minutes west of Calgary and with exceptional group rates, luxurious accommodation, ample meeting space, casino action, gourmet catering options, and a wide range of outdoor activities at our doorstep, there is something to satisfy every taste. Let us handle the details. Wingate by Wyndham Calgary Airport

H 110 $119 4 $179 60 • 50 • I F 4 1,850 1,030 75 65 100 P

57 Freeport Cres. NE, Calgary AB T3J 0TA Tel 587-393-0700 Web wingateyyc.com

Edmonton & Area Best Western Plus Westwood Inn

H 172 $135 4 $185 100 • I

F 7 11,000 4,550 500 300 450 • P

18035 Stony Plain Rd., Edmonton AB T5S 1B2 Tel 780-483-7770 Web bestwesternwestwoodinn.com Campus Tower Suite Hotel

SH N/A N/A 90 $179 45 • F/E 3 2,020 1,145 60 56 60 P

11145-87 Ave., Edmonton AB T6G 0Y1 Tel 780-439-6060 Web campustower.com Fantasyland Hotel

H 355 $328 1 $488

• S/F/E

15 25,000 9,100 1,100 580 1,200 • P

17700-87 Ave., Edmonton AB T5T 4V4 Tel 780-444-3000 Web fantasylandhotel.com Providence Renewal Centre

BB 50 $50 20 $80 50 8 20,000 3,864 200 120 200 • P

3005-119 St., Edmonton AB T6J 5R5 Tel 780-430-9491 Web providencerenewal.ca Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre Edmonton South

H 135 $119- 19 $165- 135 150 • S/F/E

4235 Gateway Blvd. NW, Edmonton AB T6J 5H2 Tel 780-438-1222 Web sawridge.com Union Bank Inn

$135

9 9,000 3,000 175 140 250 • P

$205

H 23 $189- 11 $249- 30 • 100 • $229 $429

E 3 2,650 1,400 150 112 150 • P

H 105 $149- 16 $149- 50 • 120 • I $159 $159

F 4 2,932 2,448 180 100 120 • P

10053 Jasper Ave., Edmonton AB T5J 1S5 Tel 780-423-3600 Web unionbankinn.com Wingate by Wyndham Edmonton West

18220-100 Ave., Edmonton AB T5S 2V2 Tel 780-443-1000 Web wingatebywyndhamedmonton.com

Jasper & Area Best Western Jasper Inn & Suites

H 30 $275 114 $300- 35 110 I 2 11,946 11,126 50 75 75 • P

98 Geikie St., Jasper AB T0E 1E0 Tel 780-852-4461 Web bestwesternjasperinn.com Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre Jasper

$360

H 152 $180 4 $290 N/A 160 •

S/F

8 5,500 2,990 300 240 300 • P

76 Connaught Drive, PO Box 2080, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0 Tel 780-852-5111 Web sawridgejasper.com

Red Deer & Area Best Western Plus Chateau Inn

H 72 $145- 0 N/A 40 • N/A • I S/F/E 2 1,511 1,271 120 90 90 • P

5027 Lakeshore Dr., Sylvan Lake AB T4S 1R3 Tel 403-887-7788 Web bestwestern.com

$150

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Best Western Plus Red Deer Inn & Suites

H 92 $130 32 $140 40 • N/A • I

PARKING

IN-HOUSE CATEREING

CAPACITY (RECEPTION)

CAPACITY (BANQUET)

CAPACITY (THEATRE)

LARGEST ROOM (SQ. FT.)

TOTAL MEETING SPACE (SQ. FT.)

NO. OF MEETING ROOMS

SMOKING ROOMS AVAILABLE

SPA/FITNESS/EXERCISE ROOM

POOL (INDOOR/OUTDOOR)

AIR CONDITIONING

NO. OF RESTAURANT SEATS

BREAKFAST INCLUDED

MAX NO. GUEST ROOM BLOCK

RACK RATE

BB Bed & Breakfast

NO. OF SUITES

M Motel

RACK RATE

TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION 1 Handicapped Access H Hotel SH Suite Hotel

TYPE

LEGEND

NO. OF ROOMS

Hotel spaces

F 2 704 466 15 P

6839-66 St., Red Deer AB T4P 3T5 Tel 403-346-3555 Web bestwesternreddeer.com Black Knight Inn

H 98 $165 9 $310 50 98 • I S/F

8 10,200 6,200 450 500 500 • P

2929-50 Ave., Red Deer AB T4R 1H1 Tel 403-343-6666 Web blackknightinn.ca Holiday Inn & Suites Red Deer South

H 114 $145 24 $165 60 • 150 • I S/F 5 7,300 6,996 410 500 500 • P

33 Petrolia Dr., Red Deer AB T4R 1H1 Tel 403-348-8485 Web bestsleepintown.com Microtel Inns & Suites by Wyndham

H 100 $109 4 $159 50 • N/A • I S/F P

126 Leva Ave., Red Deer AB T4E 1B9 Tel 403-967-0320 Web microtelinn.com Radisson Red Deer

H 142 $219 33 $399 100 • 75 • I S/F 9 19,369 5,280 200 300 300 • P

6500-67 St., Red Deer AB T4P 1A2 Tel 403-342-6567 Web radisson.com/red-deer Ramada Red Deer Hotel & Suites

H 90 $145 14 $225 40 • N/A • I S/F 2 2,800 1,780 50 70 50 P

6853-66 St., Red Deer AB T4P 3T5 Tel 403-342-4445 Web ramadareddeer.com Sandman Hotel Red Deer

H 142 $194 70 $239 4 174 •

I S/F •

1 700 700 25 35 45 • P

2818 Gaetz Ave., Red Deer AB T4R 1M4 Tel 403-343-7400 Web sandmanhotels.ca Sheraton Red Deer Hotel

H 241 $299 13 $899 180 120 I S/F 16 53,000 25,668 1,560 2,208 2,200 • P

3310-50 Ave., Red Deer AB T4N 3X9 Tel 403-346-2091 Web sheratonhotelreddeer.com Towneplace Suites by Marriott

H 92 $135 8 $180 40 • N/A • I S/F 2 300 600 20 20 20 P

6822-66 St., Red Deer AB T4P 3T5 Tel 403-341-3589 Web tpsreddeer.com

LOOKING FOR A VENUE? Visit the Alberta Meeting & Event Guide website for resources, planning tools, and more!

meetingsalberta.com MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

MeetingsAlberta.com 24

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT RESOURCE GUIDE â&#x20AC;¢ Fall/Winter 2016/2017

The experts

How to freshen up your event-planning skills Q&A with Nancy Milakovic, Business & Hospitality Program Manager, NAIT By Matthew Stepanic

How do event planners stay on top of the trends? By networking with industry professionals through industry organizations such as Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and International Live Events Association (ILEA). That’s part of it: seeing what’s happening in the industry because everybody does work with each other. Going to bigger national and international conferences to learn about what other people are doing relative to events is also a good way for people to stay on top of what’s happening. There are publications like [this] that come from event groups that students can be reading.

PHOTO COURTESY NANCY MILAKOVIC

How does the event management program at NAIT work for current event professionals and those outside of the industry? Our program is a certificate program that’s 175 hours. The thing that’s different about our program now, that I think better supports the Alberta event industry, is you can come and take any of the courses. You don’t have to be a part of the certificate. There are no pre-requisites that are required. Let’s say, for example, you’re someone who’s planning your grandmother’s birthday party and you need some help with a particular area, you can come and take just the one class. Or if you are an event manager who really wants to dive deeply into the industry, you can take more of the courses, and it’ll still be tailored to your level because our instructors and faculty are industry professionals who have been working in the industry for a such a long time that they can give advice to that broad range of backgrounds. How does classroom experience translate to realworld experience? Our tagline is “experience for the real world.” One of the things we make sure of is that our faculty are industry experts who are working in the industry, so they have a lot of real-life stories that can translate to students. The other thing we do is ensuring that the assessments we get students to do are real things. They’re not writing a multiple-choice test. They’re not writing an essay. If the course is on making a budget,

they’re creating a budget. If the course is on a critical path, they’re doing a critical path. So by the time they get to the end of the program, they have done these things in sort of real time with feedback from their instructors. So when they go out into the real world, they can say to someone, “I can do a critical path” or “I can do a budget” or “I can do a communications plan,” because these are things they’ve had their hands on through the course of the program.

Our faculty are industry experts who are working in the industry, so they have a lot of real-life stories.

What jobs or roles do you see graduates from the program finding work in? There are a lot of different places graduates can go. Plenty of our graduating students go and work in hotels; they work in their events area. They work in private companies that run events. There are corporate event people. There are lots of avenues for the students to go down. How has the program changed over time? The program’s been running about eight or nine years now, and two years ago, we completely started over — similar topics, obviously because it doesn’t change, but we’re really excited that we doubled the number of course offerings for students. The certificate length itself didn’t change as much, but students have double the choice of things they can take. And that was to appeal to the professional development group who may not want a certificate but want to brush up on their skills. Are there any plans to further evolve the program? Right now, there are two specializations in the program: there’s the program planning specialization and there’s the operation specialization. Certainly, doing a specialization in wedding planning is something we’d like to do. I’d like to do a specialization in technology because I don’t know that event planners are always that familiar. Planners want to understand not necessarily the technology but more of the production side: the audio-visual, the sound, the lighting. So getting more into the production piece is probably something we’ll go for next. n MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

AUDIO • VIDEO • LIGHTING • PRODUCTION • STAGING • RENTALS #101, 18112-105 Avenue | 780-444-6776 eventtech.ca | av@eventtech.ca

Edmonton's Peaceful Meeting SpaceMeets Stillness n Where Urba

3005 - 119 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6J 5R5 T 780-430-9491 F 780-438-1639 | providencerenewal.ca

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Setting the stage

TECH TRENDS to boost your event! These technologies will improve your attendee’s experience (and your stats) now! By Matthew Stepanic & Danielle Mohr

one are the days when conference attendees would shuffle into a room, collect a sheaf of panel notes, listen to a presenter drone on with the aid of overhead-projector slides, and slip back out, weighed down with a heavy swag bag of cards and coupons. Attendees of decades ago would barely recognize the events that occur today, and as technologies continues to evolve, event planners are finding new ways to make their conferences more interactive and engaging. Keep your attendees coming back for more with these tech trends that are both current and on the horizon.

PHOTO BY ADOBE STOCK

The Conference App

One of the best tools for ensuring and measuring the success of your event — and a good first step for events wanting to integrate a new technology — is the conference app. Attendees can sign up for your conference with the app, which will store and organize their information and behaviours in the app. Alissa Hurley, National Director of Marketing and Emergent Technologies for FMAV,

says, “As they build their agendas, you can gauge their interests because they can customize their agenda.” This quickly and easily gathered data will assist you in planning future events that are of actual interest to your attendees. Moreover, explains Hurley, “If you have a trade show component to your conference, you can see who they’re visiting or who they’re interested in visiting.”

Helpful Big Brother

beacons around the venue space. On top of analyzing traffic patterns these beacons can send out custom messages and target people based on proximity. As Hurley explains, “If I’m at a networking event or I’m in a conference session, an educational session or a breakout, the beacon may notify me who’s around me in that room. I can note people with similar interests who I may want to connect with.” Or, if a person walks past a piece of digital signage, the device can inform the attendee that an exhibitor is offering a special and useful offer to them.

Though it may unnerve some attendees to learn this, radio-frequency identification (or RFID technology) could not only assist with easy payments at concerts or food festivals but also track attendee movements Using RFID technology, event planners can now do throughout a venue. This away with the heavy and often inconvenient swag tracking is an incredibly bags, while still adding value to event vendors, useful tool, according to sponsors, and attendees. Do vendors want to offer Hurley, “In the old days so to a special coupon or promotion to attendees? Save speak, you had people with paper and have them create a digital version. With counters at the entrance. So the use of a beacon, explains Hurley, an attendee you really only knew who’s can visit a booth, scan their badge or wristband and come through that particular save that information for later. Want to save a recipe gate, but how many people from a sample you tried at a food festival? Scan your will get to that area of your wrist band and reference it later! show floor or that area of your “Because then you don’t have to event? RFID helps you get that worry about gathering information element of your event so you and carrying this big bag full of can figure out where are the print materials,” says Hurley. “I can more popular areas.” just touch my ID and it adds a piece

Digital Swag

RFID chips can be inserted into attendee wristbands or conference badges, and can be used to interact with

of material to my memory bank that I can reference later.”

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

Setting the stage

There’s an App for That

Continue the Conversation

Event Mobi: This helpful conference app can add ease to your event from the beginning to the end. Your attendees can use the app to register, discover information on panels and speakers, play event games, respond during sessions to polls and surveys, and network with other attendees. InitLive: Stay connected with your event staff and volunteers using this simple app. You can input all the event details and roles, schedule shifts throughout the conference period, and assign them to people. The app tracks work as it’s being done, allows you to communicate with anyone at any time, and manages problems as they arise. Super Planner: With a variety of planning tools included, this handy app will save you time by helping you calculate venue capacity, staffing requirements, catering needs, and other costs and figures.

Missed Connection

As you implement more and more technology in your event, there’s one major problem you need to ensure doesn’t affect it. “The biggest thing most people run into problems with is WiFi connectivity in venues,” says Hurley. “You may have a technology you’re deploying in there, but it really is dependent on the WiFi.” However, preparing for this common problem with a good tech team can help you prevent a disaster. In the past, Hurley explains, her team has used multiple mobile rocket sticks — which can be purchased from most WiFi providers — to bolster the WiFi connectivity when a signal is weak.

Don’t underestimate the power of social media to capture and continue a conversation! Engage attendees before, during, and after any event by encouraging them to share and talk about their experiences on Twitter using a specific event hashtag. Though Twitter is the easiest platform to guide a conversation on, you can also ask attendees to post pictures on Instagram with your hashtag to keep track of what’s going on and even repost them on your own social media. All of this information will be useful in gauging attendees’ experience during an event and promoting future ones.

PHOTOS BY ADOBE STOCK; DOLLARPHOTOCLUB.COM

On top of your own conference app, these convenient apps will help you plan the perfect event before, allow you to manage problems during, and measure the success of your event after!

ETips for Getting the Most Out of an Audio-Visual Specialist A Know exactly what your needs and expectations are by making a detailed list of how you want presentations and displays to run.

C Find out if your venue has an in-house AV specialist, as they may be able to provide some on-site expertise.

B Discuss your budget with the AV provider to ensure that they can deliver on your expectations without exceeding your costs.

D Read your venue contracts carefully, as some venues may charge extra for you to bring in your own AV specialist.

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

E Tour the event venue with your AV specialist before the event and discuss options for the space.

Setting the stage

How to Add Tech Effectively

PHOTO BY ADOBE STOCK

Though you may be eager to implement all of the newest tech to your event, there is some wisdom to the old phrase, “slow and steady wins the race.” “Don’t necessarily try to implement five new and different technologies at your event,” says Hurley. “Introduce one new thing at a time because attendees can only absorb so much in terms of technology changes…. Analyze what impact it’s had on your event and gather attendee feedback, and then build on it.” Hurley recommends first understanding what your objectives are for your event before deciding on technology. “What’s the experience you want to create for your attendees?” she explains. “Choose the right technology that enhances that experience and not just for the sake of adding the coolest, latest thing.”

On the Event Horizon

As someone who’s surrounded by a team of specialists and researchers, Hurley often hears about the most exciting tech before it hits the market. What upcoming technology is she most excited about? Virtual and augmented reality. “Maybe because I’m an information junkie,” says Hurley, “I want that overlay of mixed reality.” Whenever she’s in a new area or venue, she wants to learn more about her surroundings. “What is this? Why is this here? That type of overlay of information. I think is something I’m really interested in terms of adding value to attendees experiences.” Some virtual reality technology is already in the works for event planners. “We’ve been using virtual reality to help event planners with their planning process,” explains Hurley. “Where in the past we may have used a floor plan to design an

“Choose the right technology that enhances that experience and not just for the sake of adding the coolest, latest thing.” event, which evolved to 3D renderings, we can now use virtual reality renderings. So a planner can now essentially put on a set of VR goggles and see what goes where and be fully immersed in their environment and get the attendee’s perspective before the event even happens.” This technology allows them to make decisions on how an event will feel in real life without the extra effort or cost of creating multiple physical spaces. n

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

Setting the stage

Whatever the occasion, these edgy and engaging acts will keep guests talking about your event long after the date has passed. By Danielle Mohr

Let Them Entertain You! Consider hiring a circus act for your event! Firefly Theatre and Circus in Edmonton brings an eye-popping aerial acrobatic routine to the stage. Their entertainers will wow your guests both in the air and on the ground (fireflytheatre.com). Safire Dance based out of Calgary specializes in movement and dance arts. You can choose from hula hooping, juggling, stilts, and spinning shows (safiredance.com). Or, introduce your guests to Edmonton’s Rapid Fire Theatre improv actors. They’ll wow the audience with an interactive show while incorporating your theme or message into the performance (rapidfiretheatre.com).

Get in on the Action

Interactive entertainment allows your guests to become participants, rather than just spectators, which can facilitate networking and conversation. Skip the usual icebreakers and get right to the activities with rentals like sumo suits, jousting equipment, dunk tanks, mini golf, and other fun games for children and adults alike! (Red Deer: thekingofbounce.ca; Calgary: tubbys.ca; Edmonton: bounceroo.ca) For a cutting-edge activity that will get your guests’ blood pumping, hire a mobile axe throwing unit (Calgary: axethrowingcalgary.ca; Edmonton: axehole.ca).

DJs are a dime a dozen, but some offer special services that bring the focus back to your guests. Mr. Entertainment in Edmonton offers Bingo Tunes, Karaoke, and Trivia packages alongside their DJ services, making your music so much more than just background noise (mrentertainment.com).

Something to Talk About

Alberta is brimming with talent! Oneof-a-kind acts will be the talk of the office after a conference, Christmas party, or meeting. Custom performances by Pegasus Murder Mysteries & Theatrical Performances can be designed to fit into your theme, honour a special guest, or get your guests laughing (pegasus-performances.com), while Val Hilliker’s jaw-dropping ventriloquist skills will entertain a crowd of any age (valhilliker.com). To dial up the magic, bring Sheldon Casavant’s world-renowned illusionist performance to the stage (sheldoncasavant.com). And, if a warm and light ambiance is what you’re after, The Harp Angel (aka Deborah Nyack) creates beautiful musical backdrops for weddings and Christmas parties in the Rocky Mountains (harpangel.com).

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Fun Takeaways

Thank your guests by offering entertaining activities rolled up into party favours. A caricature artist is a great way to engage your attendees, while also providing them with a keepsake that will remind them of the event for years to come. Catherine McMillan of The Quirky Art Cafe in Edmonton has been producing flattering and fun images for over 27 years (quirkyartcafe.ca). The Nose also offers several artists with a range of styles across Alberta (the-nose.com). For a different kind of treat, you can bring a spa right to your venue. Mobile spa services offer massage, facials, pedicures, and more on-the-go treatments. Let the relaxation experts at Feel Fabulous Mobile Spa pamper your guests (feelfabulous.ca) so they leave feeling recharged and inspired. n

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

Out-of-the-box entertainment

MEETINGS MADE EASY Our Business Day meeting package ($75 per person, per day) includes: Continental breakfast, Sandwich Board buffet lunch, beverages (coffee, tea & pop), AV equipment (including screen & projector), wireless or hardwired connection, rental and more. Service charge, GST and Parking included. Alcoholic beverages available at regular menu prices. Flip charts available at no charge.

Please contact us at 780.471.7364 or salesinfo@northlands.com for further information and to reserve your date.

Make your meeting or special event unforgettable by surrounding your guests with aviation history! Imagine dining under the wings of fully restored, rare military, bush and commercial aircraft, or mingling with conference attendees while experiencing one-of-a-kind interactive displays. Open daily • Special events welcome • Meeting rooms • Classrooms • 10,000 sq. ft. of trade show area available 11410 Kingsway NW, Edmonton, AB T5G 0X4 T 780-451-1175 | info@albertaaviationmuseum.com

albertaaviationmuseum.com MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

Setting the stage

Innovative ideas: going old school Bringing a bit of nostalgia to your meeting or conference could pay off in a big way â&#x20AC;&#x201D; something that departs from the norm is exactly what attendees will want to share on social media, and it will keep them talking long after the event is over. By Lindsay Shapka Nothing gets people smiling, laughing, and interacting like a song that immediately transports them back to their high school dance. Nostalgic music is the perfect way to break the ice and keep things interesting at your event. This can be as simple as setting up a throwback playlist to play during transition times and before meals, or booking a cover band (like ABBA The Show, pictured above) that both sounds and looks the part.

Interactive Gifts

Adult colouring books are everywhere now, being hailed as great stress-relievers and speaking to how the nostalgia trend is permeating our everyday lives. A colouring book themed for your event is the perfect giveaway for guests, as it is something they can use and is a great 26

departure from more typical attendee gifts (we all have enough branded pens and USB keys). There are multiple companies, like Put Me In The Story (putmeinthestory.com), that offer customizable adult colouring books that can easily be ordered online.

Create a Game Zone

A great way to get attendees out of their shell is to set up an area with games that will get people interacting and bring out some friendly competition. If you have outdoor space why not set up a lawn bowling competition? Or, have a few tables covered in retro multi-player games like Jenga or Life. If space allows, another great option would be creating a gaming lounge with foosball, air hockey, and pool tables where people can network between sessions or before dinner.

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE â&#x20AC;˘ Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Retro Food

Make sure your event hashtag is clearly posted throughout your venue so attendees will use it when they tweet or post photos. This will help you easily track down this shared media post-event.

Nothing brings back great memories like scent and taste, and the perfect way to get guests excited, is to offer them food that will remind them of being a kid! Why not have a diner night, where guests can order their choice of milkshakes, burgers, and fries? Or, stock your candy bar with nostalgic treats like sour soothers, pixie sticks, and jawbreakers. And, offering hot chocolate with marshmallows along with the regular coffee and tea will be sure to have guests smiling and snapping photos to share on social media! n

PHOTO COURTESY CS ENTERTAINMENT

Nostalgic Tunes

Need to know

How much do I need?

One of an event planner's worst nightmares may be imaginging their guests starving or cramped in a too-tight room. These food and space estimates will ensure that everyone at your event goes home happy! By Matthew Stepanic

Space

50 Guests

100 Guests

500 Guests

Standing

300 sq. ft.

600 sq. ft.

3,000 sq. ft.

Round Table Banquet

600 sq. ft.

1,200 sq. ft.

6,000 sq. ft.

Rectangle Table Banquet

500 sq. ft.

1,000 sq. ft.

5,000 sq. ft.

Theatre Seating

400 sq. ft.

800 sq. ft.

4,000 sq. ft.

50 Guests

100 Guests

500 Guests

Sandwiches

150

750

Fruit/Veggie Platters

Appetizers (Before Meal)

300 pieces

600 pieces

3,000 pieces

Appetizers (Without Meal)

600 pieces

1,200 pieces

6,000 pieces

Cupcakes

150

750

150

300

1,500

75 per hour

150 per hour

750 per hour

Non-Alcoholic Drinks

16 litres

32 litres

160 litres

Ice

25 lbs.

50 lbs.

250 lbs.

200 per hour

400 per hour

2,000 per hour

Food

Alcoholic Drinks

Napkins

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

Need to know

Floor plans & seating arrangements By Lindsay Shapka No matter what the event, one of the biggest concerns is figuring out the maximum seating capacity for a space, and which table setup will be most conducive for your gathering. Can you fit in more people if you use smaller tables? Should you use rounds or rectangles? Classroom seating or theatre seating? Here are some visuals to help you decide what will work best for you!

Banquet • Tables can be either round or rectangular and seat 6-10 people • Perfect for receptions luncheons, networking dinners, small groups, or weddings • Standard table height is 29-30 inches

Classroom

• Perfect for lectures, seminars, or educational sessions requiring the use of laptops, note taking, or handouts • Each attendee should have a minimum of 2 feet of table space

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

PHOTO COURTESY WESTIN HOTEL EDMONTON

• Tables are either long and narrow or round with chairs on only one side

Need to know

Theatre

Boardroom

• Perfect for events or performances that require minimal note taking

• Perfect for small meetings (approx. 25 attendees) where discussion is the priority

• Rows of chairs are lined up facing a stage, podium, or screen • Offset each row so attendees can see over the person in front of them

• Usually a single oval or rectangular table is used • Ensure there is at least 2 feet of table space for each attendee

Hollow Square, U-Shape & T-Shape • Ideal for smaller groups where there is a speaker in the middle or at one end • Also great for small meetings or weddings • Ensure that you can fit enough chairs around the tables without having to place anyone at the joint where the tables meet

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

Need to know

Industry terms & acronyms A

BOH: Back of the House

D.T. Labour: Double Time Labour

Products that can be purchased separately

Breakout Room

a la Carte

Action Station

An area where guests can interact with the chef and watch their meal being prepared

Air walls

Moveable walls used to separate large rooms into smaller rooms

American Plan

When three meals a day are included in the price of a meal plan at a resort or hotel

Ambient light

Support and service areas usually not seen by guests of a hotel or venue A smaller room used when a large group breaks out into small group sessions

Call Brand

A specified brand name a customer requests when ordering a drink, as opposed to a house brand

CMP: Certified Meeting Professional

A well-respected certification for event planning professionals

Any outside light coming through windows, or overhead room light

Concurrent Sessions

Attrition rate

Count

The rate at which an event decreases in size, or the number of no-shows on the day of the event divided by the number of attendees registered for an event.

Sessions that occur at the same time

A document from the venue that outlines all of the event details, logistics, and instructions in order to carry out a successful event

Bid Document

A proposal submitted by a potential vendor offering services

A package of information, including the rules and forms relating to a specific exhibition

Familiarization Trip (Fam Trip)

Reduced-rate or free travel offered to travel industry professionals to introduce them to an area, its attractions, hotels, and facilities

Family-Style Service

Force Majeure Clause

Actual number of meals served

BEO: Banquet Event Order

Exhibitor Kit

Covers

Temporary post used during installation to help support the weight of an overhead structure

The lead person, appointed by the venue, charged with overseeing food service at an event

No meals are included in the price of a resort or hotel

Food served on platters at the centre of the table so guests can serve themselves while seated

Banquet Captain

European Plan

The total number of guests at any point during the planning process

A/V or Audio-visual

All of the sound, lighting, and projection equipment used at event

Work performed on overtime, usually at a rate twice the usual cost

Dead Man

DMC: Destination Management Company A company that specializes in local knowledge like a travel agency, event planner, tour operator, etc.

DOS: Director of Sales

Director of Sales of a hotel, venue, or supplier

Drayage

The fee a venue charges for receiving and moving your shipments

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE â&#x20AC;˘ Fall/Winter 2016/2017

A clause included in most venue contracts that prevents the facility from being held liable should it not be able to hold up their end of the agreement due to circumstances that are not within their control.

Green Room

A private room for speakers, VIPs, and performers to relax and prepare away from the crowd

Head count

The real number of guests attending an event

Honorarium

A fee paid to a guest speaker or lecturer

Connecting technology. Connecting people.

Live events that create a connection As Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading event technology partner, FMAV links you with your audience in ways that resonate. From our offices in Edmonton and Calgary, whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s virtual or in-person, we build strong connections.

To learn more, visit fmav.ca

LOVE TAKES CENTRE STAGE Whether an intimate gathering or an all-out lavish affair, let the Winspear Centre set a stunning stage for your perfect wedding. Call 780-401-2522 or email weddings@winspearcentre.com for more information.

WinspearCentre.com/Rentals MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

Need to know House Brand

Any brand of liquor served when a customer requests a drink by its generic name

House count

The number of guest rooms occupied in a hotel on any given night

I&D: Installation and Dismantle Can also be called Set Up and Take Down

Lavalier, Lapel, or Pendent Microphone

A wireless microphone that can be attached to the lapel of a speaker

Load In/Load Out

The amount of time needed to unload and reload equipment and/or the time and date that the venue will allow the unloading and reloading

Marquee

A large tent, usually without sides, used during outdoor events

Masking drape

Fabric used to cover storage or areas that should not be displayed

Master Account

An account set up to which authorized charges incurred by a group can be charged

Master Key

One key that opens all doors, including guest rooms and facility spaces

Overset

Refers to the number of seats or meals a venue will plan for beyond the guaranteed number. Most venues will overset by 2-10% of the final count.

Paid Out

A form that authorizes cash withdrawals which will be charged to a master account or guest

Pay Own

When each guest pays their own charges

Plus Plus (++)

Roving Microphone

A microphone that can be passed around the audience for questions and audience participation

Tax and gratuities are identified as “++” when they are not included in the price

Podium

The period of time that falls between high and low season

A platform on which a speaker may stand

Pre-Convention Briefing (Precon)

A meeting for the planner to review with facility personnel the details of the convention

Press Kit

A folder assembled for the media, usually includes press releases, product announcements, and general company information

Press Release

An announcement of an event, performance, or other newsworthy item that is issued to the press

Prix Fixe

French for “fixed price;” a multi-course meal allowing no substitutions

Pro Forma Invoice

An invoice sent to a buyer prior to shipment that details the kinds and quantities of goods to be shipped

Shoulder Season

Skirting

The fabric that is affixed around tables, stages, and risers to hide cords, materials and storage space

Spouse or Partner Programs

Activities planned for guests of meeting participants

Stay Over

Guests who opt to remain at a hotel past the departure date

Strike

Taking down exhibits and staging

T&M: Time & Materials

A type of billing in which a customer is charged for labour costs (time) and materials

Technical Rehearsal

A run through of any technical elements like lights, sound, and projection

Technology Butler

A hotel’s standard guest room rate

Throw Distance

Rack Rate

RFP: Request For Proposal

A written request from the event planner to the venue covering the preliminary details of the event in order to receive pricing information or a proposal

Riser

A platform used to create a stage

A staff member who assists guests with technology questions and problems The distance between the projector and the stage

Traffic Flow

The movement or flow of attendees through an exhibit, or how they travel from room to room

Truss

Roll-In Meal

Structural element hung above for the purpose of suspending lighting equipment

Rooming List

Buffet presented on a moveable cart A list of guest names and any special room requests that is given to a hotel prior to the event

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

Walk or Being Walked

When a guest with a confirmed reservation is sent to another hotel due to overbooking n

Need to know

Important information By Lindsay Shapka

Are you new to Alberta? Or do you have guests arriving from out of town? Here is some helpful information that they will need to know to make the most of their stay.

Liquor Laws

The legal age for the consumption of alcoholic beverages in Alberta is 18. It is unlawful to consume liquor in a public place other than a residence or licensed premise.

Rules of the Road

A distracted driving law is in effect for all of Alberta. This makes nearly every form of driver distraction illegal — such as personal grooming, reading, texting, other hand-held cellphone use, and GPS programming to name a few. Infractions are subject to hefty fines.

Tax

Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) adme.org

Global Business Travel Association— Canada (GBTA) gbta.org/Canada

Business Events Industry Coalition of Canada (BEICC) beicc.com

Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) hcea.org

Canadian Association of Exposition Management (CAEM) caem.ca

Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) incentivemarketing.org

Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) canadianspeakers.org Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners (CanSPEP) canspep.ca Canadian University and College Conference Organizers Association (CUCCOA) cuccoa.org Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) ceir.org Connected International Meeting Professionals Association (CIMPA) cimpa.org Convention Centres Canada conventioncentrescanada.com Convention Industry Council (CIC) conventionindustry.org

Alberta has no PST (Provincial Sales Tax). GST (Goods and Services Tax) is five percent.

Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA) cemaonline.com

Tipping

Destination Marketing Association International destinationmarketing.org

Diners should be advised that a 15 to 20 percent tip is considered standard; though dining establishments may include gratuities in the cost of the meal for large groups.

Time Zone

The province is in the Mountain Time Zone — one hour ahead of Pacific Time and one hour behind Central Time.

Numbers to Note

PHOTO BY ADOBE STOCK

Associations You Should Know

Emergency........................................................911 Directory Assistance.....................................411 Road Reports...................................................511 Environment Canada Weather Service: Banff........................................403-762-2088 Calgary................................... 403-299-7878 Edmonton.............................780-468-4940 Jasper........................................780-852-3185 Red Deer.................................403-342-7474

Destination Marketing Association of the West (DMAWest) dmawest.org

International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) iacconline.org International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) aipc.org International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) iaee.com International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) fairsandexpos.com International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) iapco.org International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) iavm.org International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) ifea.com International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) ih-ra.com International Live Events Association (ILEA) ileahub.com Meeting Professionals International (MPI) mpiweb.org

Exhibit & Event Marketers Association (E2MA) e2ma.org

National Association of Consumer Shows (NACS) nacslive.com

Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) edpa.com

Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) pcma.org

Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) esca.org

Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) rcmaweb.org

Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA) espaonline.org

Society for Incentive Travel Excellence—Canada (SITE) sitecanada.org

Financial & Insurance Conference Planners (FICP) ficpnet.com

Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) siso.org

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

Parting thoughts

It’s over! Now what?

Your job isn’t done once the event is! Post-event evaluation, follow-up, and future planning are just as important as the event itself. Here are some tasks to add to your post-event to-do list. By Lindsay Shapka

Send Personal Thank You’s

While an email will suffice, something a little more heartfelt like a hand-written note, flowers, a gift card, or some other token will make your venue, staff, volunteers, speakers, facilitators, performers, and even attendees feel valued.

Ask for Feedback

You can do this during the event, but sending out a survey to attendees via social media or email gives them a chance to reflect on what they learned and gives some additional time to write more detailed answers.

Update Your Website

Just because the event is over, doesn’t mean that the information is stale. Update the site to show photos, tweets, speaker summaries, and save-thedate announcements for upcoming meetings.

Share!

Use social media to share videos, quotes from speakers, photos, and more with attendees and those that didn’t make it to your event. This will keep people engaged and may even grow your attendance in the future.

Look Over the Numbers

Debrief

Speak to your staff and clients to find out what worked and what didn’t from their perspective. Make sure to celebrate the best parts of the event, and gather honest feedback about what can be improved upon next time.

Relax

Make sure to take some time to breathe before you dive into your next job — you earned it!

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE • Fall/Winter 2016/2017

PHOTO BY ADOBE STOCK

In order to know where you need to make changes for your next event, it is important to spend some time balancing your budget and seeing if you met or exceeded your target spending.

MEETINGSALBERTA.COM

hotelsreddeer.ca 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. 2000+ Accommodations | 350,000+ Meeting and Event Space Options Host 10 to 10,000 ppl | Expanding Red Deer Regional Airport Start new partnerships in a great location.

ALBERTA MEETING & EVENT GUIDE â&#x20AC;˘ Fall/Winter 2016/2017