With a relaxed style and casual business persona, Calgary has become widely recognized as a leader of business in Canada. As the heart of Alberta’s oil and gas industry and the providence’s capital city, Calgary is recognized as a hub for international business and is a popular tourist destination. BlueOrange Travel, a New York City-based corporate travel agent, knows the ins and outs of the city and is ready to share the best travel advice and favorite Calgary points of interest.
Calgary Points of Interest and Travel Tips
Traveling To Calgary
With regular flights to Calgary from around Canada and internationally, it is simple to travel to here for business or pleasure. Air Canada and British Airways offer direct services between London Heathrow and Calgary, making the city accessible from international destinations as well. This convenience translates into efficiency and less travel time for your business.
Getting Around the City
Visitors are pleasantly surprised that Calgary is so easy to navigate. Planned on a grid system, numbered streets run north to south, while numbered avenues run east to west. Each address includes a suffix that corresponds to one of the city’s quadrants, making it easy to always know where you are and where you are traveling to.
Public transit includes busses and light rail cars. If you’re here on business, you might consider renting a car, but be prepared to pay high parking prices. Renting a car, though, might be the best way to see all that Calgary has to offer. The city’s sheer size, over 320 square miles, means that simplifying your transportation methods might be essential.
Where to Stay
Because of the business focus of Calgary, the city’s hotel accommodations fill quickly with conference attendees. Book early and consider alternative dates for your business travel to lessen costs. It is also helpful to carefully consider where you will be working in the city and plan to stay nearby.
Where to Stay
Consider the luxury of The Fairmont Palliser. Called the city’s premier hotel, The Fairmont offers an ideal location within walking distance to the city’s most exciting retail destinations, art galleries, entertainment venues and more. The modern elegance of this hotel, paired with delicious dining options and modern amenities, make this hotel the perfect place to relax after a day of meetings.
Hotel Elan is a modern, boutique-style hotel located in the Retail and Entertainment District. The suites at Hotel Elan offer meeting space for you and your colleagues, so you can maintain your privacy and comfort while staying close enough to make the most of your travel with colleagues.
Located downtown, Le Germain Hotel is ideally placed to access the TELUS Convention Centre and offers eco-friendly technologies and beautiful hotel rooms. Business travelers will appreciate the soundproof meeting rooms that Le Germain offers. The on-site, state-of-the-art technology and audiovisual equipment makes it easy to be professional and get work done with style and elegance.
Calgary Points of Interest
Calgary offers so much more than business. The city is perfectly situated near the Canadian Rockies, making exploring the mountain terrain or skiing both options for most of the year. Plus, you can take skiing lessons in the heart of the city at Calgary Olympic Park or consider trying bobsleigh or luge during your visit.
Rising 626 feet above the city, Calgary Tower was built in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s Centennial, and it was the home of the Olympic flame during the 1988 games. Now it’s the city’s centerpiece and the perfect place to get a panoramic view of Calgary and the mountains beyond.
To learn more about Calgary’s culture and style, check out Calgary Stampede Park. Each July the park is home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede, a massive festival that features all things wild west. All year round, though, the park is a mecca for cowboy culture and hosts trade and horse shoes.
Business Tips in Calgary
Calgary is a city that celebrates business diversity, both in the types of businesses here and in the people it employs. A firm handshake and eye contact go a long way in business in the city. But it’s also important to remember that Canadians are more reserved than their American counterparts. Harsh, loud and entitled attitudes aren’t appreciated, and name dropping isn’t considered appropriate in Calgary business.
BlueOrange Travel is ready to help you plan your next business trip to Canada. With knowledge of Calgary points of interest and business practices, we are prepared to make your trip effective and memorable. Contact us to start planning!