'Priceless' exposure: Tourism officials eye long-term gains from G7 buzz
Article content
With the summit concluding Tuesday, tourism and hospitality officials are optimistic the global exposure will translate into long-term economic benefits.
Article content
'It's priceless,' said Jorg Rodig, senior vice-president of Pomeroy Lodging, which operates Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. 'The G7 being in Alberta, and particularly in Kananaskis, put a big spotlight on the region.'
Article content
Rodig, who has been on site since May to prepare for the summit, said the resort has seen a surge in interest since Sunday, with web traffic up by more than 500 per cent on Tuesday.
Article content
'While Calgarians, Albertans and British Columbians have enjoyed Kananaskis for a very long time, we think that (the global exposure) will bring more people into the region,' he said.
Article content
Rodig anticipates an increase in domestic visitors this summer, with longer-term growth coming from international markets.
Article content
Article content
'We believe that, in the long term, there will potentially be more people from the U.S. and internationally (who) pick Kananaskis as a destination,' he said, noting positive feedback from G7 delegates at the site.
Article content
'The general sentiment was: 'What a stunning location,'' he said.
Article content
'We look forward to continuing to welcome the world'
Article content
At the River Retreat Kananaskis, owners Jaxy and Todd Broadbent said they've seen a significant surge in web traffic and inquiries to their boutique lodge leading up to and during the G7 summit.
Article content
'It's fantastic for our area,' said Jaxy Broadbent. 'It is absolutely exposing the world to different parts of Alberta.'
Article content
Broadbent expects this exposure will 'absolutely' boost their business in the long term.
Article content
'We have more exposure because of it — it's huge,' she said. 'We find it quite exciting.'
Article content
Tourism Canmore Kananaskis CEO Rachel Ludwig said the summit will help elevate the region's profile in key international markets. 'While we are becoming a world-class, bucket-list destination, we do anticipate the G7 Leaders' Summit to only brighten the spotlight on us more,' Ludwig said in a statement. 'We know that international guests are more likely to stay longer and spend more.
Article content
Article content
'As the Summit wraps up, we look forward to continuing to welcome the world, from families to couples to solo travellers to world leaders to Canmore and Kananaskis.'
Article content
Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno is hopeful the exposure will not only boost visitors but spread it more evenly throughout the year beyond its peak summer season.
Article content
'Although the timing of the G7 is happening during our summer season, we also encourage folks to make plans to visit Banff in our less busy fall and winter season,' DiManno said in an emailed statement. 'It's just as spectacular and there are so many activities and adventures unique to Canada's first national park to experience.'
Article content
As the summit wraps Tuesday, the long-term tourism impacts remain to be seen, but the global reach is undeniable, with social media users around the world taking note of what the region has to offer.
Article content
What part of Canada is this….looks incredible pic.twitter.com/aH32TPujeE
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) June 16, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Carney heads to Europe on Sunday for NATO, Canada-EU summits
Published Jun 18, 2025 • 1 minute read Prime Minister Mark Carney attends the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alta., Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Photo by Suzanne Plunkett / Pool / Getty Images OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Europe on Sunday to attend a pair of summits on NATO and Canada-EU relations. The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the travel plans today, after Carney wrapped up the G7 leaders' summit in Alberta. Carney will head to Brussels on Sunday to meet with European leaders. The Prime Minister's Office says the leaders will work to 'deepen the Canada-EU relationship across all sectors,' including trade and defence. Carney will then head to The Hague in the Netherlands for the NATO summit. The Prime Minister's Office says Carney will engage with allies at the summit to 'meet evolving threats in a more dangerous and divided world.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account NHL Columnists Editorial Cartoons Toronto Maple Leafs Sunshine Girls
Edmonton Journal
an hour ago
- Edmonton Journal
Varcoe: Amid geopolitical dangers, G7 leaders wrap up Kananaskis summit touting energy security and critical minerals
Article content A discussion about critical minerals and energy security — taking place in the heartlands of Canada's oilpatch, as global oil prices jumped amid the escalating Iran-Israeli clash — seemed particularly relevant, given the complexities confronting the world today. Prime Minister Mark Carney called the Tuesday afternoon session about energy security and critical minerals the most important session of the conference, as it included leaders of several non-G7 countries, such as Brazil, South Africa and India.
Canada Standard
3 hours ago
- Canada Standard
Delhi Minister Sirsa hails PM Modi's Canada visit, expresses happiness on resumption of visa services between two countries
New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Canada visit and expressed his happiness over the resumption of high commission and visa services in both countries. The Delhi Minister asserted that Canada cannot question India's 'sovereignity, respect and decision', which is India's 'biggest win' in the past 30 years. He mentioned that it clears India's position on the world stage and also its ability to decide with whom to negotiate or not. 'When the Prime Minister of India, Modiji, meets the Prime Minister of Canada, Carney, a historic decision is taken that now High Commissioners will be reinstated in the country, and visa services will be restored. Along with this, Canada cannot criticise India's sovereignty, respect, and decision-making on any matter. This is the biggest historic victory in the last thirty years. This shows two things become clear: on which pedestal India stands. India decides who to negotiate with and who not to', Manjinder Singh Sirsa said in a self-made video. Furthermore, Sirsa highlighted that the way Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney invited PM Modi for the G7 summit showcases that the country is moving towards becoming the 'biggest power in the world. He mentioned that PM Modi kept the nation ahead always and politics behind, which proves that the country always comes first for him. 'Secondly, what is the strength of the Prime Minister of India in the world today, the Prime Minister of Canada himself invited him, which makes it clear that today India is moving towards becoming the biggest power in the world and if I look at it in a statistical way, where we are at the third-fourth position economically, we have also achieved the same strength as a country. I want to congratulate the country's Prime Minister for this that you kept the respect of all Indians above all these things, kept India, the country, first and politics behind. This shows that for them, the country comes first and everything else comes later', Sirsa added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Notably, this was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after Canada's recent general elections. During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties and agreed to take constructive steps to restore stability in the relationship, with the early return of High Commissioners to each other's capitals, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said in a statement on Wednesday. As per the MEA, the meeting between PM Modi and PM Carney provided an opportunity for both sides to hold frank and forward-looking discussions on the state of India-Canada relations and the way ahead. The leaders reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties, based on shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law and commitment to upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. They underlined the need to pursue a constructive and balanced partnership grounded in mutual respect for concerns and sensitivities, strong people-to-people ties, and growing economic complementarities. (ANI)
