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Prairie preferred
May 16, 2011
View of South Saskatchewan River and downtown Saskatoon. Photo courtesy of Tourism Saskatoon.
Warm Western hospitality and cosmopolitan attractions ramp up the reasons to meet in Canada’s Heartland
Saskatchewan and Manitoba have a wealth of options for virtually any type of meeting. Rolling hills, lovely lakes and beautiful parks with sprawling grasslands and forests encompass the metropolitan cities of Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg.
The three cities are serviced by national and international air carriers, while VIA Rail’s transcontinental service, The Canadian, stops in Saskatoon and Winnipeg.
In central Saskatchewan, Saskatoon boasts more than 750,000 square feet of state-of-the-art convention space, with easy access to 3,300 hotel rooms just a few steps away from shopping, dining and entertainment.
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Big-city amenities and superior small-town hospitality, top facilities, great events and attractions, and a dynamic economy all make Saskatoon a choice destination for meetings and conventions. The University of Saskatoon maintains a younger demographic to the city.
“Saskatoon is creating quite a buzz,” says Brad Peters, director of convention and event sales at Tourism Saskatoon. “Saskatoon is being recognized as a hot Canadian convention and events destination. With one of the hottest Canadian economies, this beautiful, vibrant university-city is infused with enthusiastic, friendly hospitality, a rich, diverse culture, and an array of professional services.”
Saskatoon hosted several national conferences recently, including the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineers for 1,000 delegates, Canadian Association of HIV/AIDS Research for 800 delegates, and the Agriculture Biotechnology International Conference for 1,000 delegates.
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Peters says there are a number of attractions in close proximity to hotels and meeting venues: River Landing, Persephone Theatre, the Dakota Dunes Casino & Resort, and the Western Development Museum, as well as award-winning golf courses.
Saskatoon is set to host the Canadian Society of Association Executives in September, the Tim Hortons Brier in March 2012, and the Canadian Country Music Awards in September 2012.
“From meetings to conferences, event organizers will find that in Saskatoon we go to work immediately to ensure the very best for visiting clients and delegates,” says Peters.
Regina rocks
Located in the heart of the Canadian prairies, Regina has more than 3,000 hotel rooms and approximately 500,000 square feet of convention and meeting space. The city has a reputation for providing warm prairie hospitality alongside first-rate accommodations, state-of-the-art facilities and abundant attractions.
“Regina is a dynamic and exciting city full of pride to be Saskatchewan’s capital city,” says Alison Fraser, conventions, meetings and tradeshow manager, Regina Regional Opportunities Commission. “The citizens of Regina have earned a reputation worldwide for their warm, friendly, accommodating nature.”
Regina has several unique spaces to hold networking events. Whether delegates prefer white glove service in a decorated tent on the lakeshore by the Legislative building, a reception in one of the attractions or an exceptional cultural experience, the ingredients are ready to concoct a remarkable event distinctive to the culture of Regina and the needs of delegates.
Free nights and down time can be spent within Regina’s diverse culinary scene, featuring a mecca of mouthwatering gourmet delights, or shopping at the nearly 200 shops downtown. The city offers a range of nightlife options for delegates, from first-class gaming at Casino Regina to a variety of brewpubs, taverns, nightclubs, live entertainment, wine bars, and pool halls centrally located both downtown and in the nearby “Dewdney Strip” in Regina’s Warehouse District.
“The amazing thing about Regina is we have an incredible relationship with our members in the community,” says Fraser. “We come together as team and take ownership of the conferences we host in Regina.”
Winnipeg – the warmest place to meet
In Winnipeg it’s easy to mix business with pleasure, character with convenience, and opportunity with affordability. Home to warm and friendly hospitality, a burgeoning arts scene, vibrant nightlife, traditional and unique venues, and cosmopolitan cuisine, Winnipeg comes together to offer tremendous value, making it the ideal city to host your next meeting or convention.
The heart of the continent
As the vibrant capital city of Manitoba, Winnipeg is conveniently located at the geographic centre of Canada and the heart of the continent, making it easily accessible by air, road and train. Scheduled to open later this year is the magnificent new state-of-the-art terminal at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport The $585-million building will be one of the ‘greenest’ in North America, achieving LEED certification for energy efficiency, incorporating the latest technologies and offering the ultimate in traveller convenience and comfort.
The right place, the right space
Winnipeg boasts a variety of competitively priced hotel and meeting facilities, many conveniently located in Winnipeg’s downtown, just minutes from restaurants, museums, galleries and nightlife. The Winnipeg Convention Centre is the city’s premiere meeting destination with 160,000 square feet of meeting and event space over three floors, including 78,000 square feet of pillarless exhibition/function space. There are more than 6,200 hotel rooms citywide including 2,600 rooms downtown within easy walking distance of the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Winnipeg also has many unique off-site venues from art galleries to fur trading forts, a western ranch to outdoor stages in city parks.
Cosmopolitan cuisine
With one of the highest restaurants per capita ratios in North America and a rich amalgamation of more than 100 ethnic groups, the flavours of the world rest upon the tip of Winnipeg’s fork. From prairie bison and freshwater fish to forest mushrooms and wetlands wild rice, Manitoba’s local growers and producers ensure that award-winning chefs are able to serve the freshest of ingredients, further positioning Winnipeg as a leading gastronomical destination sure to please even the most discerning palette.
Cultural capital of Canada
Music, theatre and art of all genres pulsates throughout Winnipeg 365 days of the year. Magnificent prairie sunsets are the perfect backdrop to world-class performing arts including dynamic theatre, exhilarating dance, poignant tragedies and classical music. At venues like the MTS Centre and Winnipeg Casinos headliner entertainment ranges from Celtic dance troupes and Irish singers to popular country artists and rock bands. At the Centennial Concert Hall see captivating performances by the internationally acclaimed Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Manitoba Opera and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Enjoy award-winning dramas, comedies, musicals and classics in the intimate setting of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre or cross the river to Winnipeg’s French Quarter where North America’s longest running theatre company, Le Circle Moliere, performs “en français”.
Winnipeg is a striking blend of old and new, traditional and avant-garde, a cultural oasis without pretension. Forever changing the Winnipeg skyline is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the first ever federal museum to be built outside of the National Capital Region. With construction well underway at The Forks, a historic meeting place for thousands of years, the evolving web of glass, steel, concrete and stone is beginning to take shape. The museum will place a global spotlight on human rights education, stories and visions and present meeting planners with new possibilities following the April 2013 opening.
Filed under: Canada
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