One of Canada's fastest-growing cities, with an appealing local culture, stunning natural surroundings, and a world-class convention center, Calgary is getting attention from event planners for good reason. It's also earning a reputation as an incubator of business, with more tech start-ups than any other Canadian city and one of The Economist's top five cities in the world to live in.
"Calgary is a great convention city," says Clark Grue, CEO of the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and Meetings + Conventions Calgary. "We have an intimate downtown, convenient air access, and a centrally located convention center," he says, adding that the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre is connected to the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel, Fairmont Palliser, Hyatt Regency Calgary, and Le Germaine Hotel Calgary, all nestled in the central entertainment, restaurant, and shopping neighborhood and next to the city's bustling business community, creating "the perfect convention district."
Successful Meetings sat down with Grue to learn more about what meeting groups should be sure to see in Calgary.
What's new in the city for groups?
In the last two years, Calgary has brought three new venues to the market in the downtown core: Studio Bell, Home of the National Music Centre (NMC), Hudson Loft and Hudson Flat, and a world-class, architecturally renowned Central Public Library.
NMC is dedicated to telling the story of music in Canada through interactive and experiential collections and rotating exhibitions. NMC also houses recording studios including one very cool permanent feature, the Rolling Stones Mobile. The music center also offers unique space that can host up to 300 people.
Hudson has 18,000 square feet of flexible space on the sixth floor of the iconic Hudson's Bay Company store situated right on Calgary's pedestrian street, Stephen Ave. Hudson's Bay Company was formed in the 1600s as a trading post which helped to form Canada. The new space is a mix of original building features with modern luxury finishing.
The opening of the Calgary's Central Public Library in November 2018 has already received a lot of attention, landing as one of Architectural Digest's 12 most-anticipated buildings of 2018. The geometrically designed exterior will draw residents into the public activities happening inside the library, while secured upper levels allow for a quieter traditional library experience and meeting space.
What's a "hidden gem" for visiting groups?
For the next five years, the Calgary Zoo will be the home to four giant pandas: adults Er Shun and Da Mao and twin cubs Jia Panpan and Jia Yueye. This will be a unique experience for any group meeting in Calgary from 2018-2023. The Calgary Zoo, known for being one of the best zoos in the country for preservation, is honored to be chosen as the host for the pandas. The goal is to help increase the number of pandas in the world and through a breeding process there is hope that perhaps "Calgary made" cubs might make an appearance within the five years.
Winsport, once known as Canada Olympic Park, was originally built in hopes that Calgary would host a Winter Olympic Games which we successfully did in 1988. Since then, the campus has grown from just a ski hill to so much more, including summer activities. Want to luge in the summer? No problem! Skyline luge is a unique wheeled gravity ride on a purpose-built track that take riders on a 1.8 km journey of twists and turns. Or you can experience the ultimate zip line adventure where you start on Calgary iconic ski jump tower and then zip down North America's fastest zip line.
Yes, Calgary is landlocked, and yes, you can surf in Calgary. Due to flooding back in 2013, there is now a permanent wave in the Bow River that you can surf. River surfing is where you face upstream and can surf up and down a wave and side to side. Calgary is a young, vibrant, and active city and Calgarians love that they can surf right in their downtown.
What's a good outing for a group looking to get a sense of the city's culture or history?
Heritage Park is a living museum where guests can interact with nearly 100 years of history. The park features over 180 attractions and exhibits that reflect the challenges, lives, and victories experienced by the generations responsible for the settlement of Western Canada. In many cases, the houses, stores, and machinery at each exhibit are original. Costumed interpreters add another dimension to the immersive historical experience and bring attractions and exhibits to life.
Established in 1875, Inglewood is Calgary's original main street. Today, Inglewood promotes an arts- and culture-filled district with more than 220 businesses, including shops, boutiques, and eateries attracting locals and tourists alike. It is the home of Music Mile, Jazz YYC, Sunfest, Night Markets, Fringe Festival, Bleak Mid-Winter Film Festival, and multiple events are hosted in Inglewood throughout the year.
The Calgary Tower was built in 1967, partially in celebration of Canada's Centennial and as part of an urban renewal plan. The tower spans 191 meters and has 801 steps. From the Observation Deck, you see a panoramic view of the city and mountains. Interactive screens provide you with information on interesting facts on Calgary's past and present.
Where should a group go to get a truly local culinary experience?
Calgary is full of amazing culinary experiences. From the days of meat and potatoes to contemporary cuisine, Calgary definitely measures up. Dean House [http://www.deanehouse.com] gives a dining experience of old meets new. Located in a redesigned heritage home where vintage Canadian novels line the bookshelves, the kitchen serves up modern Canadian cuisine and local fare.
People come from around the world for a steak in Calgary because of our world-famous Alberta beef. Caesers, Hy's, and Ruth's Chris Steak House at the base of the Calgary Tower is where you will get the authentic Calgary Steak House experience.
Good luck getting a reservation at The Nash, one of Calgary's newer restaurants in the heart of Inglewood. Working with local growers and producers, The Nash prepares and presents meals with passion and creativity.
Take a walk through Princess's Island Park and experience Calgary urban parks and pathways. If you get hungry, the River Café is the perfect stop for a relaxing and delicious meal. Located directly off the Bow River and serving seasonal Canadian cuisine, River Café is truly local culinary experience.
Anything else that makes Calgary a great destination for groups?
Groups will find Calgary's downtown easy to explore and wonderfully compact. Calgary's wide range of top-rated restaurants, shopping, entertainment, theater, and beautiful downtown architecture are the perfect complement to their major meeting venues: the downtown Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and the east side BMO Centre at the Calgary Stampede. Not to mention the Calgary International Airport is only a 20-minute drive from the downtown and connects to 80 non-stop destinations.