Latest news with #TourismCalgary
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Host committee blames Tourism Calgary for loss of 2027 Indigenous Games
The Calgary host committee for the North American Indigenous Games is speaking out after the right to host the games in 2027 was taken waway. It's blaming Tourism Calgary, in part, for the failure. Last week, the games' council announced it was retracting Calgary's hosting rights, saying critical benchmarks were not met. The celebration of sport and culture was supposed to bring 5,000 athletes from across the continent to Calgary. Today, the local host society issued a statement, saying it faced shifting requirements and unreasonable demands. It said Tourism Calgary withheld operational funding from the City of Calgary, leaving the society without needed resources. The society called the actions a step backward for reconciliation in sport and culture. Tourism Calgary said the society did not meet key milestones and conditions, but wouldn't give any specifics -- and a spokesperson for the host committee, CEO Lowa Beebe, told CTV News they wouldn't give them any specifics either. The society says it's moving on and will rebrand, to try to organize another type of sporting event for Indigenous youth in Calgary.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
North American Indigenous Games withdraws Calgary's hosting rights for the 2027 Games
The North American Indigenous Games Council has withdrawn Calgary's hosting rights for the 2027 Games, said the Games' hosting society, which 'cited it faced shifting requirements and unreasonable demands'. Article content The hosting society accused Tourism Calgary of withholding committed operational funding from the City of Calgary, 'leaving the Host Society without the resources needed to plan and deliver the Games as envisioned.' Article content Article content Article content 'As Indigenous people, we recognize these challenges within the broader context of systemic barriers that continue to limit our self-determination,' added the hosting society, which was formed after the bid to host the Games in Calgary was won. Article content Article content 'Given the challenges that emerged throughout the planning process, we support the NAIG Council and its difficult decision to withdraw the 2027 Games from Calgary.' Article content
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘A real Canadian experience' says Tourism Calgary as Shania Twain leads parade, PM Carney attends
Watch Tourism Calgary's Alisha Reynolds on the high-energy kickoff to the Stampede and expected crowds over 10 days.
Calgary Herald
03-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Financial Post Economic impact from Calgary Stampede at heart of growing tourism targets
Tourism Calgary has its eyes on the prize of growing the city to $6 billion in annual visitor revenue by 2035, more than double last year's $2.9 billion. Article content Massive economic impact from the Calgary Stampede has become the cornerstone of that target. With more international eyes on Calgary than it has seen in decades during the recent G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis, the city hopes to stick the Stampede landing and translate the worldwide attention into long-term economic growth. Article content Article content Article content Calgary has already been a hot spot for travel so far this summer. According to Tourism Calgary CEO Alisha Reynolds, the city is coming off a 'record-setting hotel revenue month in May, where occupancy citywide hit a 13-year record at 73.2 per cent.' Article content Article content 'Stampede visitations and hotel stays specifically are looking very strong, and are pacing where they were last year in the record-setting year, and in some cases ahead,' Reynolds said. Article content Deborah Yedlin, CEO and president of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, says the yearly Stampede canvas auction has always been an indicator of Calgary's economic outlook. The event allows corporate sponsors to bid on the chance to advertise on chuckwagon tarps over the course of the Rangeland Derby. This year, it broke records for the highest average bid and combined to the second highest all-time pot at $3.84 million, just below the Stampede's centennial anniversary in 2012. Article content Article content More premium seating planned at grandstand Article content Article content Calgary Stampede CEO Joel Cowley says tickets for the rodeo and evening show are outpacing last year's record, with premium grandstand seating already on an extensive waiting list. They're tearing down a structure on the north end of the GMC Stadium to build more, as soon as this year's Stampede ends. Article content 'We'll add seven new suites and a party deck on top to help meet that demand,' Cowley said. 'That's going to be ready for 2026.' Article content The building currently houses broadcast production, judges and EMTs in the space, although Cowley says the new construction will house all three in addition to the new suites. He says that no regular seating is being sacrificed for the sake of premium spaces, and that the only thing being relocated is a room that the Calgary Stampede chuckwagon and relay committee uses to host during the rodeo and evening shows.
Calgary Herald
03-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
National youth volleyball tournaments 'set' to bring 45,000 visitors to Calgary next spring
Calgary is 'set' to host the Volleyball Canada Youth National Championships next spring — a series of tournaments that will attract roughly 45,000 visitors, according to the city's top tourism official. Article content Alisha Reynolds, president and CEO of Tourism Calgary, said the 2026 national youth volleyball championships will take place over three weekends from May 15 to 31. The tournaments, hosted at the BMO Centre, will feature around 1,450 boys' and girls' club volleyball teams from across the country for the 15U to 18U age divisions. Article content Article content Article content Article content The BMO Centre will be adapted to house temporary volleyball courts in the trade show area, Reynolds said, adding the tournaments will bring 18,000 players and approximately 27,000 spectators to Calgary, spread out across 17 days. Article content An official from Volleyball Canada said the event is expected to support 1,150 businesses and generate an estimated $22 million in direct economic impact. Article content 'Calgary has long been an important partner for Volleyball Canada, and we're incredibly excited to bring our flagship national championship back to the city,' said Sandra de Graaff, Volleyball Canada's director of domestic competitions. Article content Article content 'When we host these events, we tend to take over the city and leave an impact.' Article content De Graaff added Volleyball Canada hosted a tournament in the BMO Centre back in 2015 and is excited to see what the convention centre looks like now, after its $500-million expansion. Article content 'For us, the expansion has given us space for even more courts to bring a bigger tournament,' she said. Article content Hosting events of such magnitude will help Tourism Calgary achieve its goal of doubling the value of the city's visitor economy from $3 billion to $6 billion by 2035, Reynolds said. Article content With recent large-scale tourist draws in the rear-view mirror, including the Global Energy Show, G7 Leaders Summit and Rotary International convention in June, and with the Stampede set to welcome north of one million people this year, Reynolds said Calgary is on track to welcome a record 8.7 million tourists in 2025. Article content In May and June, Tourism Calgary brought in 48 meetings or conventions, she said.
