Latest news with #RotaryInternationalConvention
Calgary Herald
03-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: Calgary's X-Factor for global event bids: A passionate and dedicated volunteer force
Article content In an important time for international relations, it wasn't the G7, United Nations or NATO summits emulating peaceful fellowship among an overwhelming contingent of global representatives (140 countries to be exact). At least, not in the way the Rotary International Convention did last week in Calgary. Article content Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe and in our communities. Article content Article content Article content The first Rotary Club of Calgary was chartered in 1914. Article content Article content This has evolved into an organization bringing together people with a multitude of social interest-led projects. From raising funds to support humanitarian programs, joining forces for economic development or providing global health and disaster relief, hundreds of thousands worldwide continue looking outward for ways to make this world a little brighter. Article content Like Rotary's primary mission to eradicate polio and with an ambitious mission for peaceful multinational engagement — facilitated by a small but mighty bid committee — in 2017 a then newly formed Calgary host committee generated the bid for the 2025 convention, even before we knew there would be an expanded BMO Centre. Our goal back then was to put Calgary on the map to create a legacy for Rotary, Calgary, and Rotary in Calgary. Article content Article content This global network descended on our city last week with 16,000 delegates. In thanks to Rotary International, and Calgary and southern Alberta's Rotary Clubs, all involved view the convention — objectively and with the passion Rotarians are known for — as an extraordinary success. Article content From the moment delegates landed at Calgary's International Airport, met by world-famous white cowboy-hatted volunteers, and made their way to way to the Stampede grounds, you knew something special was happening. There was no mistaking that Rotary was in town. And even less doubt the city was engaged alongside us. Article content All involved shined, not only in the past week but over years of planning. Article content This list starts with our friends from Tourism Calgary. Led by CEO Alisha Reynolds, a standard for how destination-marketing organizations interact with third-party conventions was set. Shelley Zucht-Shorter and Cassandra Graves set a clear tone, simultaneously ensuring every detail was attended to, every opportunity to raise our city's profile was capitalized on and every investment dollar leveraged the economic power of our convention.
Vancouver Sun
27-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Calgary airport limiting access to two hours before flight through U.S. customs
Travellers bound across the U.S. border will have to keep their eyes on the clock come travel day; Calgary International Airport will now be denying access through American customs any earlier than two hours before takeoff. In a statement about said changes, the Calgary Airport Authority referenced implementing the metering measures in December 2024, attempting to manage flow 'during specific peak travel times.' The statement further described the time restrictions as being 'used at several major Canadian airports to improve efficiency and minimize bottlenecks during high volume periods, as needed.' No specific period has been described for the new measures, and the changes appear to be indefinite. The shift in timing was officially announced on the airport's blog in mid-May, but a notification announcing the change has since been displayed across the top of the entire website. The red banner coincides with several large-tourism events in Calgary, namely the Rotary International Convention, and the upcoming Calgary Stampede. Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Passengers are still encouraged to arrive three hours before their flight time, 'to account for travel conditions and to allow sufficient time for check-in with their airline and check their bags,' according to the original announcement post. Should guests make their way through check-in and still have time to spare, the announcement points to the pre-security dining options as ways to wait. Impacts to businesses within the post-security area are as of yet unclear. The airport's statement said they were offering support to businesses on both sides of customs clearance by introducing a pre-ordering method through their online store directory. However, only two of the 13 food and beverage locations in the area after customs currently have the online function available. Neither of those two are any of the several sit-in dining restaurants — like Vino Volo or the Wolfgang Puck Kitchen + Bar — businesses that may be impacted more than others by the constrained timeframes. A July 2024 study in the Journal of Air Transport Management researched the correlation between time and dollars spent within an airport. The study found that 'a 10 per cent increase in dwell time is associated with an increase of 8 per cent and 6 per cent respectively, in food and beverage as well as retail revenues.' According to the airport's 2024 earnings report, non-aeronautical sales were a large driver of the wider 4.3 per cent increase in total revenue. It is unclear what segment businesses within the U.S. departures gate represent of the $100.6-million in concession sales across the airport. Despite those increases, the airport still operated at a $30.5-million net accounting deficit.
Calgary Herald
27-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Calgary airport limiting access to two hours before flight through U.S. customs
Article content Travellers bound across the U.S. border will have to keep their eyes on the clock come travel day; Calgary International Airport will now be denying access through American customs any earlier than two hours before takeoff. Article content In a statement about said changes, the Calgary Airport Authority referenced implementing the metering measures in December 2024, attempting to manage flow 'during specific peak travel times.' The statement further described the time restrictions as being 'used at several major Canadian airports to improve efficiency and minimize bottlenecks during high volume periods, as needed.' No specific period has been described for the new measures, and the changes appear to be indefinite. Article content Article content Article content The shift in timing was officially announced on the airport's blog in mid-May, but a notification announcing the change has since been displayed across the top of the entire website. The red banner coincides with several large-tourism events in Calgary, namely the Rotary International Convention, and the upcoming Calgary Stampede. Article content Article content Passengers are still encouraged to arrive three hours before their flight time, 'to account for travel conditions and to allow sufficient time for check-in with their airline and check their bags,' according to the original announcement post. Should guests make their way through check-in and still have time to spare, the announcement points to the pre-security dining options as ways to wait. Impacts to businesses within the post-security area are as of yet unclear. The airport's statement said they were offering support to businesses on both sides of customs clearance by introducing a pre-ordering method through their online store directory. However, only two of the 13 food and beverage locations in the area after customs currently have the online function available. Neither of those two are any of the several sit-in dining restaurants — like Vino Volo or the Wolfgang Puck Kitchen + Bar — businesses that may be impacted more than others by the constrained timeframes. Article content Article content A July 2024 study in the Journal of Air Transport Management researched the correlation between time and dollars spent within an airport. The study found that 'a 10 per cent increase in dwell time is associated with an increase of 8 per cent and 6 per cent respectively, in food and beverage as well as retail revenues.'
Calgary Herald
22-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Danielle Smith touts Alberta supremacy at Rotary International Convention in Calgary
Premier Danielle Smith welcomed thousands of Rotary International delegates to Calgary on Sunday, using the stage to tout Alberta's economic strength, energy ambitions and approach to addiction recovery. Article content More than 15,000 Rotary members from more than 120 countries are expected to gather in Calgary this week for the Rotary International Convention, a five-day event that runs through Wednesday at Stampede Park. Article content Article content Article content Speaking at the official opening ceremony at the Scotiabank Saddledome, Smith — a former Rotarian herself — described Alberta as 'Canada's economic engine,' pointing to the province's population growth, economic climate and natural resource wealth. Article content Article content 'I want to take this opportunity to do just a little bit of bragging about this beautiful province,' she said. 'That is one of the perks of my job. I get to be the lead cheerleader for my favorite place in the world.' Article content Smith cited recent Statistics Canada data showing that Alberta led the country in population growth during the first quarter of 2025, gaining more new residents than the rest of Canada combined. Between Jan. 1 and April 1, Alberta's population grew by 20,562, while four provinces and one territory saw population declines, including record quarterly losses in Ontario and British Columbia. Article content Article content Alberta also had the highest net gain from interprovincial migration during that time. Article content Article content Smith attributed the growth to economic opportunity and a 'welcoming and free society,' drawing people to the province. Article content 'Alberta has drawn in people from near and far for a few very good reasons,' she said. 'Investors see our low corporate taxes, our skilled workforce, and our business-friendly climate as an increasingly attractive package and our tech sector is growing as a result.' Article content Article content 'Since 2019, our government has added around 10,000 addiction treatment spaces, including detox treatment and long-term recovery spaces,' she said. 'We recognize that we have a lot more work to do, but the Alberta recovery model is showing early signs of success, and we're very proud of what we have accomplished so far.'
Calgary Herald
19-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Calgary begins welcoming first of thousands of Rotary International Convention delegates
Andre and Walter Marria can't resist a good Rotary International Convention. Article content They arrived in Calgary Thursday as some of the earlier arrivals of the 15,500 out-of-town delegates who will attend the June 21-25 event. Article content Article content 'Last year we were in Singapore and next year we'll be in Taiwan,' said a beaming Walter Marria, 78, who hails from Thomasville, Ga. Article content 'I'm expecting to be inspired to meet new people and make new connections.' Article content Article content Pushing a cart crammed nigh with luggage at the Calgary International Airport, his wife said there was little reason to skip Calgary. Article content Article content 'We heard about this and the Stampede,' she said. Article content Delegates from more than 120 countries began arriving last week for the gathering to be held at the BMO Centre on Stampede Park. Article content The massive convention is expected to pump $81 million into the city's economy and follows closely on the heels of another international event that put the Calgary area in the global spotlight — the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, which wrapped up Tuesday. Article content It's been a record late spring-early summer season for Calgary's hospitality industry, said Alisha Reynolds, president of Tourism Calgary. Article content 'This is an opportunity to put Calgary on the world map and put Calgary on the world stage . . . this is an opportunity to share with the world that Calgary has its arms open,' she said. Article content Article content May was already a record-setting month for hotel occupancy in Calgary, up 7.7 per cent over the same month in 2024 due to the early impacts of G7 and the Rotary convention, said Reynolds. Article content She noted the last time Calgary hosted the convention was in 1996 and drew 25,000 people, which set a high bar in delegate satisfaction. Article content 'Pressure makes diamonds, we're ready,' said Reynolds, adding the city began lobbying to hold the event a decade ago. Article content Article content It's expected to be rainy and cool through Sunday, with the sun returning amid below-average temperatures on Monday, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
