Although the hundreds of millions in economic impact from the Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup run may be tough to overstate, tourism is on the rise in the city for visitors coming to see more than just the ice. Read More
Visitors from the U.S. are down, but tourists from other parts of Canada are up 10 per cent and Explore Edmonton is feeling the momentum
Visitors from the U.S. are down, but tourists from other parts of Canada are up 10 per cent and Explore Edmonton is feeling the momentum
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Although the hundreds of millions in economic impact from the Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup run may be tough to overstate, tourism is on the rise in the city for visitors coming to see more than just the ice.
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With summer in full swing and the long hockey season concluded, Explore Edmonton says the city’s tourism continues to shine. Apart from hockey, the city’s events, festivals, and concerts continue to attract people to the city, making for a strong visitor economy that local hotels say is already boosting business. And while tariffs take a toll on the nation’s economy, some Canadians seem to be using it as an excuse to explore their own backyard, prompting a bump in Edmonton visitors from Canada while American visitors wane.
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“We’ve been doing quite well this year,” said April Kanash, office manager of the Metterra Hotel on Whyte (10454 82 Ave.).
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Kanash said the Metterra and its affiliated hotels, the Varscona Hotel on Whyte (8208 106 St.), and the Matrix Hotel Downtown (10640 100 Ave.), were very busy last month, highlighting the impact of the playoffs on business in June.
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“Let’s put it this way, we didn’t think we were going to make budget for June, and we exceeded it. So, yeah, we’re happy. I mean, I’m disappointed the Oilers didn’t win. But you know what? Maybe third time will be the charm,” said Kanash.
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But it isn’t just the Oilers that drive tourism, according to Kanash. She said the hotel sees a swell in activity whenever there are events in town, whether its the Fringe Festival nearby in August, or a concert.
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“If it’s a concert and it’s Edmonton and not Calgary, a lot of times we’re quite busy,” said Kanash, which is the case for next month’s Tate McRae performance at Rogers Place. The pop superstar will forego a performance in her hometown of Calgary for one night in Edmonton on Aug. 7.
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The Oilers’ playoff run unsurprisingly brings the single biggest economic impact, bringing an estimated over $260 million into the city. What’s worth noting, however, is that unlike the playoffs, other events don’t run for months at a time, which automatically gives the Oilers an outsized impact. Last year, KDays, the Hydrogen Convention, Animethon and Disney Immersive, which are held over the course of either a single day or roughly a week at a time, combined for a total addition of $44.6 million into the local economy.
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Recently, the Volleyball SuperNations hosted at the Expo Centre and the FIBA 3×3 basketball tournament combined for more than $55 million in economic impact to the city, according to Explore Edmonton. The activity has the group feeling “optimistic” about the future of the visitor economy in the city.
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“We have the momentum of the recent playoff run on our backs, and then also the year of the Lonely Planet Best in Travel Top 10 City designation. So we’re feeling very optimistic and are excited to see the further positive results it’s going to yield for our visitor economy,” said Michele Fowler, interim marketing accounts director and consumer and business development with Explore Edmonton.