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You're Welcome Edmonton Nominee Interviews
Date: Thurs. March 19, Fri. March 20, Sat. March 21, and Mon. March 23
Time: Thurs. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Mayfield & Research Park)
Thurs. 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Shaw only)
Fri. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (All Locations)
Sat. 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Shaw only)
Mon. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (All Locations)
Where: Shaw Conference Centre, Mayfield Inn & Suites, and the Edmonton Research Park
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Industry Partner Breakfast Mixer
Date: Wed. March 25
Time: 8:00am – 9:30am
Where: Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel
10155 105 Street
Cost: $25(+GST) for Partners
$30(+GST) for Non-partners
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You’re Welcome Edmonton Awards Gala
Date: Wed. April 22
Time: 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Where: Winspear Centre
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You’re Welcome Edmonton Frontline Training
Date: Wed. May 27
Time: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Where: World Trade Centre Edmonton
9990 Jasper Avenue
Cost: $105 (+GST) for Partners
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Reminders and RSVP links for all events will be sent out prior to the event date.
For more information on Industry Partner events contact Christine Merrick at Edmonton Tourism at (780) 917-7651 or cmerrick@edmonton.com.
Her fax number is (780) 425-5283.
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Our Featured Partner...
Because your comfort and satisfaction are our top priorities, we are proud to announce that the Ramada Conference Centre has gotten a new look! Our $8 million renovations include a major... read more |
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Partner Tidbits
Northlands opens new office in the heart of downtown
| Northlands announced an exciting corporate initiative earlier this year that will enable one of Edmonton’s leading business and community leaders to deliver exceptional business, tourism and entertainment experiences from its new office location – Northlands Downtown – at the World Trade Centre in the heart of Edmonton’s downtown. Jim Taylor, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Association believes that this signals a strong relationship between Northlands and the Downtown Business community. Ken Knowles , Northlands President is also a strong believer in these relations and hopes Northlands Downtown will increase the awareness and profile of Northlands as a business and community leader. Northlands Downtown can be contacted at 201 World trade centre Edmonton, 9990 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1P7. |
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Get Hooked Fishing Adventures featured
on national fishing programs
| As Edmonton’s only full time all-inclusive guided fishing service, Get Hooked Fishing Adventures had a busy 2008 season playing host to not only locals and visitors but to filming crews. Get Hooked Fishing was recently featured on 3 World Fishing Network Shows including: Dave Mercers “Facts of Fishing” and Mariko Izumi’s “Hookin Up”. Keith Rae, owner and operator of Get Hooked, will also soon be featured on Bob Izumi’s “Real Fishing Show” scheduled to be seen on Global stations across Canada the weekend of March 28th. For information about Get Hooked Fishing Adventures please contact Keith Rae at keith@gethookedfishing.com. |
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Board members selected to govern new Travel Alberta Corporation
Seven Albertans have been appointed to Travel Alberta’s board of directors. The province’s tourism marketing organization will be governed by the board once it is established as a legislated corporation on April 1. The members will have terms of up to three years and can serve on the board for maximum of three consecutive terms. The new board members will join Chair Quincy Smith and Vice Chair Bob Normand on a transition committee until the legislation officially comes into effect in April. Members of the board are: David Bayne of Banff, Bryon Dickie of Calgary, Jan Fisher of Red Deer, Steven Glover of Canmore, Ruth Kelly of Edmonton, Rick LeLacheur of St. Albert, and Sandra Thornton of St. Albert. Full biographies of the new board are available online at www.tpr.alberta.ca/newsroom.
Telephone Historical Centre returns to the Prince of Wales Armouries
| After a long stint away from home the renovations are complete and the Telephone Historical Centre has returned to the Prince of Wales Armouries along with fellow occupants the Edmonton Archives and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. Join them as they celebrate this grand re-opening on Saturday April 25 from 1-4. Please visit their website at www.telephonehistoricalcentre.com for event information or contact Bert Yeudall at (780) 433-1010. |
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Tourism Industry applauds $800 million in tourism and travel investments announced in 2009 budget
Earlier this year, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) welcomed the announcement of a number of key funding initiatives worth more than $800 million to help support the competitiveness of Canada’s tourism and travel sector. Among the funding initiatives for the tourism sector announced in the federal budget were:
- $40 million over two years to the Canadian Tourism Commission ($20 million for domestic marketing and $20 million for emerging markets)
- $100 million for marquee festivals and events over two years
- $150 million for Canada's national parks system over two years ($75 million for visitor facilities and $75 million for national historic sites)
- $25 million to create new hiking trails across the country
- $407 million for improvements to passenger rail service in the Montreal to Toronto corridor operated by VIA Rail
- Additional funding of projects which will assist in the development of vital tourism infrastructure
- $24 million over two years for cruise ship tourism
- $60 million over two years for local and community cultural and heritage institutions (i.e. theatres and museums)
- $140 million over five years for Northern Economic Development, a substantial portion of which will be directed towards tourism projects
These funding initiatives by the federal government address many of the issues raised by the industry in TIAC’s June 2008 Report, The Report on Canada’s Tourism Competitiveness.
Edmonton and Ottawa are vying for the prize of fastest-growing major Canadian airport
| With the likely exception of Montreal (which has yet to report December traffic data), all of Canada’s top 10 airports managed to achieve traffic growth in 2008 compared with 2007. However, only Edmonton managed to report traffic growth in every month of 2008, though both Ottawa and Victoria saw passenger numbers drop during just a single month. |
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Edmonton and Ottawa are vying for the prize of fastest-growing major Canadian airport with both achieving greater than 6% traffic growth. Edmonton has reported growth of 6.15% while Ottawa’s growth is fractionally behind at 6.13%.
WestJet managed to increase ASMs (available seat miles) by almost 18% in 2008, Canada’s biggest carrier, Air Canada reduced mainline capacity by just over 1%. However, thanks to improved load factors, RPMs (revenue passenger miles) improved marginally by 0.1%.
| Region |
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RPM change |
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ASM change |
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Load factor
(change) |
| Canada |
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+1.4% |
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+1.6% |
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81.3% (-0.2) |
| US Trans-border |
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-9.7% |
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-10.7% |
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79.2% (+0.9) |
| Atlantic |
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-0.4% |
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-2.5% |
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84.9% (+1.8) |
| Pacific |
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-2.1% |
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-4.4% |
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84.4% (+2.0) |
| Latin America & Other |
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+18.2% |
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+16.4% |
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79.7% (+1.2) |
| Total Air Canada Mainline |
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+0.1% |
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-1.2% |
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82.3% (+1.1) |
| Air Canada Jazz |
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-4.0% |
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-1.7% |
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72.6% (-1.7) |
| Source: Air Canada |
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International growth was limited to Latin America where capacity was up over 15%. Domestic capacity was up less than 2%. Transborder traffic to the US was down around 10%.
Ends of the Earth Exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum
| Visitors definitely will not want to be left out in the cold by missing the Royal Alberta Museum’s newest and coolest exhibition. Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins is a 6,000 square-foot traveling exhibition developed and produced by Science North and will run until April 26. This family-friendly exhibition is loaded with interactive elements designed to introduce children to the fascinating landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctic. Other features include artefact-based displays and multimedia experiences that explore the unique nature of the Earth’s Polar Regions, the current science being undertaken in there and how these regions are indicators of climate change on our planet. For more information on this exhibit please visit www.royalalbertamuseum.ca. |
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The Art of the Brick at the TELUS World of Science
Some artists use paint, others bronze – But for Nathan Sawaya he chooses to build his awe-inspiring art out of toy building blocks. LEGO® bricks to be exact.
Sawaya’s art is currently touring North American museums in a show titled, The Art of the Brick. It’s the only exhibition focusing exclusively on LEGO as an art medium. This exhibit can currently be seen at TELUS World of Science Edmonton in the Explorer Gallery until May 3. For more information about the exhibit please visit www.telusworldofscience.com/edmonton. |
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Quality Inn West Harvest is now open
| Formerly the West Harvest Inn, the hotel underwent over $1 million in renovations to convert to a Quality property. Known worldwide for superior hospitality, Quality brand hotels have served travellers for 60 years with a full range of services and amenities. Quality properties are mid –priced hotels that consistently provide guest essentials with friendly service in an accommodating environment. Upgrades include new guestroom furniture and bathroom makeovers, including granite countertops, undermount sinks and ceramic floor tiles. Renovations to the property’s five meeting rooms began in June and are ongoing. The Quality hotel is only a short 4 minute drive to West Edmonton Mall and 10 minutes from downtown Edmonton. It also provides easy access to local points of interest like the TELUS World of Science Edmonton, Fort Edmonton Park, and Rexall Place. For additional information about the property please visit www.choicehotels.ca or contact Lillian Pushor, General Manager, at (780) 484-8000. |
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Snow Train to Jasper for the ultimate weekend
Travel in superior comfort aboard VIA's Snow Train to Jasper. Admire breathtaking 360-degree views of the Rockies while travelling in the fully-domed Panorama car. Enjoy fully reclinable seats, spacious leg room, and added extra comforts like pillows and blankets. En route, ask the VIA Attendant about attractions in the Jasper area, and even purchase lift tickets, rental equipment or lessons from their friendly Marmot Ambassador. New this year, in an effort to make the experience even more enjoyable, VIA Rail is now offering complimentary weekend parking at the Edmonton station. Hot and cold beverages, snacks, and light meals are also available for purchase onboard. Take advantage of this experience before it is too late! The Snow Train to Jasper will make its last run on April 12.
For ticket and route information visit http://www.viarail.ca/classes/en_serv_clas_snow.html.
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