With an incredible wilderness waiting to be explored, infinite recreational options, and cosmopolitan city centers stocked with state- of-the-art meeting facilities, Alberta — Cana- da’s vast and varied Western province — is a natural choice for meetings that attendees will applaud. Alberta’s gateway cities of Calgary and
Edmonton are each, in their own way, a unique mix of Western hospitality and entrepreneurial spirit. Both cities serve as the headquarters of some of the country’s largest companies, spawning a contagious atmosphere of innovation and energy. And with two international airports and no provin- cial sales tax, meeting in Alberta is not only an inspired decision, it’s a smart one. Meeting planners will find plentiful resort
and recreation options in Alberta’s world- famous Banff and Jasper National Parks,
both of which are set against the dramatic backdrop of the Canadian Rockies. Whether a group prefers rustic mountain lodges or full-service luxury resorts replete with spas, championship golf, world-class skiing, and all-star amenities, Alberta has it all. In Jas- per National Park — a UNESCO World Heri- tage Site — the 700-acre Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is renowned for its spa and golf facilities. Condé Nast Traveler named the property’s 10,000-square-foot spa Canada’s No. 8 resort spa, and the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Golf Club — ranked Canada’s No. 1 golf resort for eight years running — has been a must-play course since 1925. Championship golf courses designed by
some of the world’s most renowned course architects are abundant all over Alberta. Golf-loving groups can play on three Stan- ley Thompson–designed courses, including
the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, as well as the Robert Trent Jones–designed Mt. Lorette and Mt. Kidd courses in Kananaskis Valley, the heart of the Canadian Rockies. And the par-72 course at Silvertip Resort, which sports dramatic elevation changes, is ranked as one of North America’s most challenging courses.
For more information: Travel Alberta; Brian Slot, Director, Meetings, Conventions & Incentive Travel; (403) 648-1080; Brian.Slot@TravelAlberta .com; travelalberta.com/meetings
Hit the links Alberta is home to more than 350 world-class golf courses — more per capita than any other province in Canada. In the summer, visitors can squeeze in as many as three rounds during daytime, even teeing off as late as 9 p.m., and finishing the round in daylight.