Calgary tourism sector pumped for visitors at Stampede

Organizations involved with helping tourists in Calgary are excited about the upcoming Stampede, as they anticipate huge numbers at this year’s event.

The Calgary Stampede says the outdoor show will become the “third-largest city in Alberta.” and will have plenty for people to do over the 10 days.

Last year over 1.2 million people showed up, which was the second busiest time for the Stampede. The most people to ever visit the Stampede was in 2012, during its centennial year, with over 1.4 million people.

Those involved believe that number could be crushed this time around.

Cindy Ady, CEO of Tourism Calgary, anticipates a huge jump in people showing up and profit for the local economy compared to the last few years.

“We believe all indications — all numbers that we’re seeing — is that we will exceed that number this year,” she told CityNews.

“I just spent the morning at a pancake breakfast with a lot of the general managers of hotels, and they’re going, ‘It’s just so good. It’s just so good.’ And so, everybody is really going to have to dig deep to get through this Stampede because the numbers are there.”

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The Stampede was cancelled for the first time in 100 years and 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, it’s been a slow return to normalcy.

Meanwhile, Sol Zia, the executive director of the Calgary Hotels Association, says it’s looking like this month will be the biggest on record for bookings.

“One of the biggest drivers of demand and the biggest change we’ve seen over last year kind of just emerging out of COVID … is the return of international travel,” Zia explained.

“So, the biggest change for the hotels, and hopefully we’ll see that on the grounds, is the return of travellers from Europe.”

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While Zia says international travellers are returning to the city, it’s not yet at 2019 levels.

However, domestic and American travellers are making up for those numbers, adding this year will be a good summer for hotels.

“When you take two and a half years of very little or no revenue, it will take awhile … one great summer doesn’t relieve that revenue impact over two and a half, but it does help them recover, and the balance sheet recover, and cash flow, and those things that are important to any commercial operation,” Zia said.

“We will hit a record for rooms sold over Stampede and likely for the month of July. So it is a strong return back to traditional times over Stampede,” Zia said.

In the meantime, Ady says this is a time when Calgarians and visitors alike have a blast and take part in the spirit of the festival.

“Calgarians have fun during Stampede, and wherever the Calgarian is having fun, the visitors having fun, that’s the part we do know,” she said.

“If this is your first Stampede, I would embrace it. Once you get your cowboy boots on, you will find that there is an energy in the city like none other.”