INTERNATIONAL Sites, Cities, and Services Edmonton A driving force in Alberta’s meetings and conventions
As one of Alberta’s gateway cities, Edmon- ton offers diverse venues to meet all event needs. Whether it’s Western Canada’s largest exhibition space, a spectacular art gallery’s Northern Lights–inspired architecture, or a breathtaking nearly panoramic view of North America’s largest urban parkland, meeting attendees in Edmonton enjoy world-class facilities, amenities, and activities. One such activity is the Edmonton Indy,
western Canada’s premier race event. Each year, the IZOD IndyCar Series welcomes thou- sands of fans to the capital city for the race, which was held this year on July 20–22. Fea- turing world-class drivers like Marco Andretti, Helio Castroneves, Paul Tracy, Danica Patrick, and Graham Rahal, this elite, international motor-racing event draws attendees from around the globe. A walk through the pit or paddock areas is a surefire way to get up close and personal with some of the most famous drivers racing at the airport track. Edmonton is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, with one of the continent’s strongest regional
economies — perfect for hosting international events. Alberta’s capital is known as Canada’s
“Festival City,” celebrating a variety of artistic disciplines including music, visual arts, dance, performing arts, sports, and film. Edmonton’s Tourism team helps to incorporate Edmonton experiences into meetings and conventions, including pre- and post-event tours, socially and environmentally responsible planning, and vibrant festival theming — all of which leave attendees raving. Edmonton’s Shaw Convention Centre
(SCC) has established itself as one of Canada’s premier meeting, entertainment, and con- vention venues. The SCC has won recognition for its architecture, cuisine, and environmen- tal stewardship, hosting hundreds of events per year and more than 10 million visitors throughout its history. Events take place on three levels throughout the center, each over- looking the North Saskatchewan River Valley.
Travel Alberta — Brian Slot, Director of Meetings, Conventions & Incentive Travel; (403) 648-1080; brianslot@travelalberta.com; travelalberta. com/meetings
Shaw Convention Centre • Location: the heart of downtown Edmonton, with more than 70 percent of the building built into the bank of the North Saskatchewan River
• Total event space: 110,000 square feet • Total exhibit space: 82,000 column-free square feet
• Meeting rooms: 20 on the meeting level, ranging from 395 to 3,720 square feet
Hotels • Total rooms: 9,800 • Total downtown rooms: 2,000
Attractions • Edmonton Indy • Edmonton dogsledding tours • Fort Edmonton Park • TELUS World of Science at Edmonton • North Saskatchewan River Valley
Air transportation
Edmonton International Airport is located 20 minutes from the downtown core. Serviced by 20 airlines, the airport offers nonstop flights to more than 50 domestic and international destinations, including cities such as Mexico City and London.
Edmonton Indy IndyCar fans flock each year to Edmonton to see world-famous drivers like Marco Andretti, Danica Patrick, and Helio Castroneves at the premier race event.