The Shaw Conference is proud to bring together leaders from across the meetings and events industry on April 12 by hosting and supporting Global Meetings Industry Day. This day reminds us of the important role convention centres play in our community. While some may see the Edmonton Convention Centre as only a venue that hosts world-class events, we actually have a much larger impact in economic development and community building.
Firstly, we’re a champion for Edmonton. Our staff not only promote the unique offerings of the Edmonton Convention Centre, but work with community stakeholders to sell the Edmonton experience regionally, nationally, and internationally. We live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and are proud to showcase everything from our scenic river valley and vibrant arts scene to restaurants, nightlife and more.
Our goal is to bring these events to our city and ensure that Edmonton is seen as a destination for both business and leisure. We work with local businesses to deliver a consistent, exceptional experience through every touch point our delegates have with our city; upon their return home they not only tell their friends how great Edmonton is, but come back with their families and experience everything our community has to offer.
This activity acts as a major economic driver for the city. Think about the range of goods and services needed to accommodate, feed, entertain, and transport visitors. This spending isn’t just restricted to the Edmonton Convention Centre; hotels, restaurants, attractions, taxis, retail outlets and more make up the delegate experience. In fact, convention delegates spend three times more than other tourists do on a daily basis. In our case, that’s more than $40 million in direct spending coming into the economy and spinning off into a range of benefits.
Many of these conventions also attract some of the brightest minds in their fields in every discipline imaginable. When hosting these events, our leaders are given direct access to this knowledge which they can then bring back to you, the community member. They are also given the ability to showcase their own work and receive critical feedback from experts in their field. This only improves our quality of life and ensures Edmonton is always at the forefront of knowledge and innovation.
The next time you see a conference or convention coming to our city we hope you’ll take part. If you’re striving to gain greater knowledge in a particular field, take advantage of the opportunities available. If you’re a business or service provider strive to deliver that exceptional experience. And, if you’re a member of our community be an ambassador by taking an extra moment to welcome our delegates with something as simple as a smile. We all play a part in making our city a better place to work, play and do business. Together, we can ensure Edmonton continues to be a must visit destination for the world.
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