Calgary Conventions Boom: $6B by 2035

0:00Calgary's stepping up big time as a top spot for conventions across Canada. Last year, the city hosted 159 major meetings and events that tourism Calgary helped land, pumping 240 million dollars into the local economy. With the new BMO Center opening in 2024, it's now the largest convention space in Western Canada, letting them snag bigger crowds than ever before. That growth ties right into killer infrastructure, like the Calgary International Airport, which Ackroy calls the best-connected mid-sized hub in, North America, Spring and Fall stay the hottest seasons for these gatherings, and the combo of the Tellus Convention Center and BMO gives organizers options day. Couldn't get here historically. Folks love it because conventions turn into vacations. About two-thirds of attendees stick around to hit the Rocky Mountains, five UNESCO world, heritage sites nearby, or dive into Calgary's food scene and attractions, it's boosting hotels big time and keeping visitors spending longer in town.

1:03Looking ahead, partnerships with universities and groups like the Calgary Stampede are locking in heavy hitters, voucher con in 2026, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2027, the International Society for Autism Research in 2028, and the International Geological Congress that same year, drawing 6,000 geologists from everywhere. This momentum has Calgary gunning to double visitor spending to $6 billion by 2035, matching the province's 25 billion. Goal and crashing the Tier 1 party with Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Now we're the fourth big player with serious space and vibe. This has been Calgary News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with The Story.