Business Development Update: April 2023

Team Richmond and local industry hotel partners attended the 2023 Venue Series Alberta events as exhibitors and sponsors on March 2^nd (Edmonton) and March 3^rd (Calgary).  The event is an invite-only, highly qualified planner event for the Alberta markets. Each is set at a high-interest venue and includes a series of 1:1 meetings as well as networking and optional destination-hosted events.  This year’s theme titled “Whisked Away” brought over 80 meeting planners over the two days and included high-profile prizes such as a trip to Richmond which included airfare, a two-night stay, and local attraction passes.   

Tourism Richmond was joined by four Richmond hotels including, the Richmond Conference Centre (Marriott, Sheraton, and the Hilton), River Rock, the River Rock Casino Resort, and the soon-to-open Radisson Blu.  Delegates were keen to learn more about Richmond and the individual properties with several meeting planners indicating specific future event opportunities they would be interested in having Richmond bid on.

Tourism Richmond also had the opportunity to host a private lunch at the Calgary Petroleum Club for a qualified group of Calgary clients. This provided opportunities for Tourism Richmond and each property to present their product and for planners to gain a deeper understanding of Richmond as the ideal destination for their next meeting and event.  

The collection of events provided the opportunity to re-introduce Richmond to key cities in the Alberta market while building new relationships and gaining valuable insight into business activities and current travel sentiments. Overall, the experience was a positive first trip to the Alberta market since pre-pandemic times. 

Team Richmond looks forward to continuing these conversations and bringing more Alberta business to Richmond. Tourism Richmond’s next event will be the Canadian Meetings and Events Expo (CMEE) in Toronto August 15-16^th, 2023.