Frontline tourism workers add to record breaking visitors to Calgary
Posted Apr 24, 2026 7:53 am.
Last Updated Apr 24, 2026 7:59 am.
For the first time ever, Calgary welcomed 10.5 million visitors and $3.3 billion dollars in visitor spending in 2025.
With the city is on track to repeat — if not exceed — those numbers this year, some attribute that success to those 84,000 Calgarians on the visitor frontline.
“Those doors belongs to this ionic Palliser Fairmont Hotel. There’s so many history here, and this door here we are welcoming guests from all over the world creating a memorable experience for guests coming to the Palliser Hotel, this special place, coming to Calgary, our home,” said Neal Hemraj.
Hemraj, a 27-year doorman at the downtown hotel, is a two-time White Hat Award recipient, a Calgary honor recognizing exceptional service and the embodiment of the city’s signature western hospitality.
“I love what I do,” he told CityNews. “I come to work every day to make a difference… whether it’s an experience or creating that lasting memory for our guests.”
Another visitor frontline worker is Judy Uwiera, whose tour bus company continues to welcome international visitors year-round.
“I really believe Calgary is different than most cities because of the western hospitality and the western culture that we have in this city,” she said. “It’s a city of entrepreneurs, it’s a city of pulling together and helping each other.”
Twenty-five minutes west of downtown is Heritage Park, where for 2 decades Trevor Matheson continues to entertain guests as an artistic coordinator, drawing in visitors daily
“For me it’s just focusing on details to be honest with you, staying true to being in character in between scenes,” he said. “I think the best explanation I can think is to think globally but act locally.”
Locally, the record-breaking number for visitors to the city, is translating into jobs with tourism-related employment, in Calgary alone, topping 84,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers with more visitor growth expected.
“Even this year, I have received a lot of requests from international affiliates, and I received more requests this year than even last year.” said Uwiera.
