[IanO]

Further to that, I hope that if/ when finally changed the LRT going past the Expo Center that there will be an LRT stop right at the front door of that building. There should also be a hotel ideally right at the Expo Center as well.

There's a station a block north and a block east, that's suitable as is.

HOWEVER, how about some neat art and lighting from the hotel/RHW area to this to uplift the experience.

 

[David A]

I am really getting sick and tired of the defeatist and unimaginative, "but the mountains are not close enough" line. Relying on such excuses is exactly the sort of thing that holds us back.

 

[MacLac]

I am really getting sick and tired of the defeatist and unimaginative, "but the mountains are not close enough" line. Relying on such excuses is exactly the sort of thing that holds us back.

Who said this? You said it, none of us said it. I’m perfectly happy with YEG.

 

[Gronk!]

I've been harping on about this for awhile now. We:

1. need to fully renovate the Convention Centre
2. ADD a dramatic Hall E and restaurant overlooking the valley.
3. ADD a hotel with direction connect.
4. ADD a nordic spa

That is all. GO.

View attachment 740639

The nordic spa needs to be part of the Rossdale plant and Hall E better not be a repeat of Hall D, otherwise I approve of this idea.

 

[supaflyryguy]

Jasper remains the best potential driver. If it wasn't for that Edmonton's tourism draw would max at Saskatchewan levels.

But Jasper is nowhere near convenient enough, and because you can't see the mountains from Edmonton the Jasper angle needs major marketing efforts. And major access improvements. Think 3x daily 200kph+ rail link.

We'll never get that kind of rail infrastructure. That leaves driving and the drive to Jasper is nearly the same amount of time from either Edmonton or Calgary. From a tourist perspective, starting in Calgary takes the visitor up Highway 93 which is one of the most beautiful drives on Earth, and can include stops in Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise. Calgary has far better international connections and more local attractions for tourists starting our ending their journey to Jasper.

From a lucrative international tourism perspective, Edmonton can't compete with Calgary for Jasper. I wish it wasn't so, but that's how it is.

As a lifelong Edmontonian, I've always felt Edmonton was the better place to live because it's a city built for the people who live here, not for tourists at the expense of the people who live here. Not every city is meant to be or needs to be a tourism hotspot.

 

[Star Strider]

The hotels in Calgary are also being driven by having actual business travellers, it is not solely relying on tourism. For example, next week is the annual O&G conference, and nearly all Calgary hotels are full at HUGE rates. Many hotels who have corporate rates with business clients have blackout rate periods for the conference and Stampede. In addition, Stampede is not fully driven by tourism, but also tons of business travellers who come annually from Canada and internationally.

As mentioned by others, it doesn't make sense to compare ourselves to Calgary in this regard, they have lapped us and we will never catch up due to our city not being a real business city and overly reliant on government jobs. Edmonton could easily support another ~4 star property like a JW, Germaine, Fairmont and another smaller hip hotel like an Alt (both in the DT core).

It's all a feedback loop though. Calgary got the businesses, in part, because executives liked being closer to the rockies. That in turn gave their airport more weight for better flights, and more hotels downtown. That gravity of flights and hotels helped attract attract more conferences.

And around and around it goes...

Right now, thanks in large part to the social disorder issues, Edmonton can't even keep a 7-11 in the city center, never mind attract a new hotel.

It's unfortunate, but trying to put more carts in front of the horse doesn't help anyone.

Yes, geography is destiny and Calgary has lapped us. But there are some limits to their success, and there is both spillover and budget tourism for the rockies that Edmonton could capture.

But that won't do anything to improve downtown until the junkies are out, and more regular people are in.

More businesses and hotels will follow once that's done. But the empty lots need to be filled first, and the zombies have to go.

 

[David A]

Who said this? You said it, none of us said it. I’m perfectly happy with YEG.

Not you, but Post 2,781

 

[Star Strider]

We'll never get that kind of rail infrastructure.

Well not with that attitude! Lol

I'm not talking greenfield HSR here, it could be done with improvements to the freight rail line.

See the rail baltica initiative underway in Europe as an example.

And while it would take a lot more work upfront, a Edmonton / Rockies route could have one thing that Calgary doesn't, a pit stop at a big lake resort at Wabamum.

Between the city the mountains and the lake there's some great tour package potential to be sold.

 

[David A]

Post #2,764, #2,680 ...

 

[Star Strider]

Not you, but Post 2,781

Other than complaining, I notice you didn't suggest what else Edmonton could do to realistically pull more tourists.

You do have some ideas right?

Converting old offices into hotels isn't going to magically make customers come, just for the fun of it.

 

[David A]

Other than complaining, I notice you didn't suggest what else Edmonton could do to realistically pull more tourists.

You do have some ideas right?

Converting old offices into hotels isn't going to magically make customers come, just for the fun of it.

Yes, I would start by not having such a negative attitude. What is your problem?

 

[policyenthusiast]

Other than complaining, I notice you didn't suggest what else Edmonton could do to realistically pull more tourists.

You do have some ideas right?

Converting old offices into hotels isn't going to magically make customers come, just for the fun of it.

Knack's proposed approach is continued economic competitiveness + investing more heavily in attracting festivals.

Practical, plays on existing strengths, isn't a 180 from our trajectory, likely to increase tourism revenue. I may not agree with all of his calls, but the tourism development strategy is solid.

 

[Star Strider]

Yes, I would start by not having such a negative attitude. What is your problem?

Realistic assessments aren't the same as negative attitudes.

I've made a number of suggestions on how things could be improved, that's not negative. But they aren't quick or easy fixes.

The trends WEM and Calgary migrations started, Amazon and globalism doubled down on.

Central Edmonton has a tough road ahead still. Best bet remains to make it a strong neighborhood first, so it has a chance at becoming a destination again.

 

[Star Strider]

Knack's proposed approach is continued economic competitiveness + investing more heavily in attracting festivals.

Practical, plays on existing strengths, isn't a 180 from our trajectory, likely to increase tourism revenue. I may not agree with all of his calls, but the tourism development strategy is solid.

Economic competitiveness sounds like another way of saying being cheaper than other cities, which is a valid draw. Until people realize why that is.

Festivals could help, events certainly draw tourists, but most of the support still has to be local. Back to my comments about focusing on rapid residential development in the center.

 

[David A]

Knack's proposed approach is continued economic competitiveness + investing more heavily in attracting festivals.

Practical, plays on existing strengths, isn't a 180 from our trajectory, likely to increase tourism revenue. I may not agree with all of his calls, but the tourism development strategy is solid.

Yes I agree it is a good idea to look at some new festivals and events, something I have also noted before. Something like the Fringe started because of individual initiatives, but grew and was supported by our city.

Its not like we are doing nothing now, but we are currently relying a lot on certain existing events and attractions that have been around for a long time so it time to look at some new ideas.

We need to make the city more tourist friendly too, we have no direct transit connection from downtown to the airport and our train station is not well located, both I have also noted before.

I don't think much of this is quick or easy fixes, but in general it means paying more attention to and focusing on developing tourism more particularly downtown and throughout the city. There is more to Edmonton than WEM.