Business View Magazine | July 2019

163 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE JULY 2019 Centre is Canada’s first purpose-built, full-service convention centre. Owned by the City of Calgary and operated by the Calgary Convention Centre Authority, the two-building facility first opened its doors in 1974, and was expanded in 2000 with the addition of the north building. Today, there are 122,000 square feet of dedicated convention space, 47,000 square feet of exhibit space, five pre-function areas, and 36 meeting rooms. It’s become a hub for local, national, and international conventions, congresses, meetings, and events, attracting more than 175,000 visitors, annually. Conveniently located near shops, dining, businesses, services, and a variety of attractions, the Convention Centre is connected to Calgary’s Light Rail Transit system and the city’s Plus 15 Skyway Network, an elevated pedestrian bridge that connects to a network that runs throughout the city. There’s also direct access to three four- star hotels: the Hyatt Regency Calgary, the Fairmont Palliser Calgary, and the Calgary Marriott Downtown Hotel. “Connected to our Centre, either through the Plus 15 Network, or physically connected to the Centre, are just over 1,100 hotel rooms,” says Court. “So, a guest could be here in the winter when it’s minus 40 degrees, and, virtually, never go outside.” “There are also a number of different attractions they can go to because we were purposely built within the center of the city and on the historic Stephen Avenue (pedestrian) Mall,” he adds. “So we’re also connected to the shopping network. They were very smart when they built the facility.” Other nearby attractions include the world-class Glenbow Museum, Studio Bell which is home of the National Music Centre, the Arts Commons with its theater and symphonic offerings, and Calgary Tower. Court says the change in customer desires and expectations has been accompanied by the entry of a fusion of spaces in the market, such as restaurants and bars that have reinvented themselves to become flexible event spaces. “From a competition perspective, the market, itself, and what conventions are looking for, has really THE CALGARY TELUS CONVENT ION CENTRE