Industry.
WELCOMING THE WORLD TO CALGARY
Hotels are the hub of Calgary’s tourism network — and tourism is the lifeline of hotels. Our members work closely with partners including Tourism Calgary, Calgary Economic Development, Travel Alberta, the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association, Calgary Attractions, WinSport, the Calgary Stampede, the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and many others to drive visitation and elevate the city’s profile as a premier destination.
Between 2019 and 2024, Calgary saw nearly $600 million in new hotel development, adding modern capacity and revitalizing the city’s accommodation landscape. In 2024, visitor spending reached approximately $2.9 billion, up 10 per cent from the previous year, as the city welcomed growing numbers of leisure and business travellers. Calgary hotels achieved an average occupancy of around 64 per cent, with an ADR exceeding $200 and a RevPAR above $130, reflecting steady recovery and strong rate performance across the market.
Despite broader economic challenges, attracting leisure travellers and extending stays remain key priorities. Together with our partners, the Calgary Hotel Association continues to create opportunities that strengthen the visitor economy, support local jobs, and ensure Calgary’s hospitality sector thrives year-round.
Calgary's Hub.
COLLABORATION & INVESTMENT
In 2024, Calgary continued to demonstrate the powerful impact of collaboration and strategic investment across tourism, events, and creative industries. Through partnerships supported by the Calgary Hotel Association, 122 meetings and conventions were hosted, generating an estimated $127 million in economic impact and delivering a remarkable ROI of $69 for every $1 invested. The city also welcomed 64 major sport, cultural, and community events, contributing an additional $138 million to the local economy with a $39:1 ROI.
Calgary’s Travel Trade sector secured 147,016 room nights, representing an estimated $63.2 million in economic impact (Travel Alberta ROI Calculator). The Calgary Stampede alone attracted 1,477,953 attendees, reinforcing the city’s global reputation as a premier year-round destination.
Calgary’s screen industry also thrived, with 136 productions generating $372.1 million in local spending and creating 4,483 jobs across the region. Reflecting this momentum, Calgary was ranked 8th in MovieMaker’s 2024 list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Movie Maker — a testament to the city’s growing creative economy and its thriving visitor ecosystem.
Advocacy & Industry Issues
Destination Marketing
Since 2005, the Calgary Hotel Association’s Destination Marketing Fund (DMF) — supported by nearly 60 participating hotels contributing 6% of gross room revenue — has invested over $150 million to market Calgary and attract visitors.
Most DMF funding supports Tourism Calgary and Meetings & Conventions Calgary, with additional investments in cultural events, festivals, and destination-building initiatives. These efforts fuel year-round tourism, support more than 7,000 local jobs, and generate at least $69 in local spending for every $1 invested.
By funding high-impact events and collaborating with government on issues such as property taxation, infrastructure, and destination competitiveness, the DMF continues to strengthen Calgary’s reputation, grow the visitor economy, and expand opportunities for CHA members.
Home-sharing services
We believe in consumer choice. We all have a role to play in providing the public with accommodation options. We also believe that it’s important to apply a level playing field to all competing industries. Home-sharing services should be expected to have a business license, pay taxes, and adhere to common rules of regulation. Through a level playing field, we can compete for consumers in a way that’s fair. We’re also willing to share our best-practices know-how to home-sharing individuals to help them provide higher quality customer service. By working together, we can create an even stronger tourism ecosystem and live up to our collective identity as the Ultimate Host City.