G7 leaders will get a 'truly Albertan experience' says Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge GM

Calgary Herald

16 hours ago

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A one-hour drive from Calgary, the lodge boasts stunning views of the Kananaskis valley, with five restaurants and a Nordic spa.
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For Rachel Ludwig, CEO of Tourism Kananaskis, the prospect of world leaders visiting the region is encouraging. 'We're actually trying to attract more international visitors to the area because we know they are spending more money and staying longer,' she said.
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The region has been seeing growing popularity since 2019, she said, a trend that she hopes 'will continue.'
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'It's the mountains that really defines us as an area,' she said. 'We're not only in the mountains but we are with the mountains, and those mountains transform the way we live.'
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Little has been revealed about the menu to be served to world leaders. According to a spokesperson for the lodge, the cuisine will focus on regional and local ingredients such as premium Alberta beef, coast-to-coast seafood and local berries, foraged vegetables, regional cheeses, and nuts and seeds.
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At the 2002 summit, food was served buffet-style so foreign dignitaries could pick and choose what they wanted on their plate, and edged away from ethnic specialties that couldn't be replicated as in their countries of origin.
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Hovey-Smith said the lodge's aim is to introduce guests to Kananaskis.
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'Tying in local food and drinks, and highlighting local suppliers and working with local artists . . . introduce the group to a truly Albertan experience in the Rockies,' she said.
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Hovey-Smith said she couldn't offer specific details on what it's like to plan for the G7 summit. But often for events of this size, where the client has occupied the entire property, preparations begin a year out with close to 400 staff involved in planning.
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The summit begins Sunday and continues until Tuesday — and with guests already arriving, Hovey-Smith said staff are on alert.
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'They've done quite a bit of training with the team around a number of different expectations to make sure that everyone is able to deliver the level of service that's expected,' she said, 'just as we would with any client.'
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But with the official event looming, there is 'a lot of nervous anticipation,' she said.
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'Earlier in the week when the controlled access zone started, there were a lot of questions,' she said. 'But now everyone's kind of settled down and understands how the security processes work and has their pass around their neck all the time. I think the team is feeling really excited.'
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For some employees who aren't from Canada, it may be about getting to see their country leaders up close.
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'It's very exciting for them to see their heads of state being invited to Canada,' she said.
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Hovey-Smith says once they move from planning to hosting, it will be the same as any other event. The goal remains the same — 'To make sure that people are leaving here with a great experience, and, you know, ready to tell all their friends about the great time they just had in Canada,' she said.