Edmonton Convention Centre

What Edmonton Convention Centre does

The Edmonton Convention Centre is a government-owned municipal convention and event venue in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, operated as a division of Explore Edmonton Corporation. Originally opened in 1983 as the Shaw Conference Centre and rebranded to Edmonton Convention Centre on January 1, 2019, the venue spans more than 150,000 square feet of customizable event space, including Hall D (approximately 23,600 square feet), the Riverview Room (approximately 4,000 square feet), three Assembly Level Exhibition Halls totaling roughly 80,000 square feet, Salon Ballrooms, and approximately 20 flexible meeting rooms on the Meeting Level. The venue hosts 450+ events annually serving 500,000+ guests across corporate meetings, conferences, trade shows, galas, weddings, concerts, sporting events, and holiday parties, and is cited as generating approximately $40 million in annual economic impact for the Edmonton region.

Core operations center on in-house catering led by Executive Chef Serge Belair (2012 Canadian Chef of the Year, 2023 Canadian Culinary Championship top three), supported by nine Red Seal chefs and an award-winning pastry team. Supporting infrastructure includes a preferred supplier ecosystem with exclusive partners such as GES (material handling), Encore (internet and AV), Showtech (rigging and electrical), Ticketmaster and Showpass (ticketing), and the Art Gallery of Alberta (catering). Sustainability features include urban beekeeping with 50,000+ rooftop bees producing approximately 20 pounds of honey annually, rooftop permaculture gardens, an indigenous medicine wheel garden, and a stated pursuit of 90% waste diversion under a Zero Waste Facility goal. The venue holds Green Key Level 5 certification (first conference venue in Canada to receive this rating), Climate Smart certification, BOMA Best certification, and ASTM recertification.

The business model combines event space rentals (one-time licensing), in-house catering and culinary services, LED digital advertising on indoor (60' x 3') and outdoor (24' x 5' Grierson Hill) screens, and on-site parking across the Canada Place Underground Parkade (approximately 500 stalls) and Grierson Hill lot. Pricing includes all-inclusive meeting packages starting at $45 per person with custom quotes for larger events. Distribution is sales-led through a dedicated direct sales team supplemented by destination-marketing support from parent organization Explore Edmonton Corporation, leveraging Edmonton's broader $5 billion+ in planned downtown capital investment and 2,000+ nearby hotel rooms within walking distance.

Name

Edmonton Convention Centre

Legal name

Edmonton Convention Centre

Website

https://edmontonconventioncentre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Edmonton Convention Centre is a 150,000-square-foot government-owned event venue in downtown Edmonton that hosts 450+ events annually for corporate, association, government, and individual clients. Operated by Explore Edmonton Corporation, it offers in-house catering, multiple event spaces, and sustainability-focused services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convention and Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Sports & Arena Event Venues (Stadiums, Arenas) (THAHAAAF), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

Keywords

• Convention venue services
• Event space rentals
• Conference and meeting hosting
• Catering and banquets
• Trade show facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton, Alberta

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Event Space Rentals: Rental of versatile event spaces including Hall D (23,600 sq ft), Riverview Room (4,000 sq ft), Exhibition Halls (80,000 sq ft), and 20+ meeting rooms on Salon Level. Revenue generated from hourly/daily space rental for events of varying scales.
2. Catering and Culinary Services: In-house culinary team providing food and beverage services for events. 9 Red Seal chefs led by Executive Chef Serge Belair (2012 Canadian Chef of the Year). Menu customization, fine dining experiences, and bar services included in event packages.
3. Digital Advertising: LED screen advertising opportunities showcasing brands to 500,000 annual guests. Indoor LED screen (60' x 3') in atrium and outdoor LED HD screen (24' x 5') on Grierson Hill.
4. Parking Services: On-site parking facilities including Canada Place Underground Parkade (500 stalls) and Grierson Hill surface lot. Revenue from hourly and daily parking rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Edmonton Convention Centre operates as a 150,000-square-foot event venue providing flexible space rentals, in-house catering and culinary services, and event management for conferences, conventions, trade shows, banquets, galas, meetings, concerts, weddings, and holiday parties. It is owned by the City of Edmonton and managed by Explore Edmonton Corporation, hosting 450+ events annually for 500,000+ guests.

Product overview

The Edmonton Convention Centre is a convention and event venue offering a comprehensive suite of event hosting services through multiple distinct products and spaces. The core offering includes event types (Banquets & Galas, Meetings, Conferences & Conventions, Trade Shows, Concerts & Sports, Weddings, and Holiday Parties) supported by five named venue spaces: Hall D (23,600 sq ft), the Riverview Room (4,000 sq ft), Assembly Level Exhibition Halls (80,000 sq ft), Salon Ballrooms, and 20 Meeting Level Rooms. Supporting services include in-house Catering & Menus (led by Executive Chef Serge Belair), the Honey Bee Menu, Plant-Based Menu Options, Facility Services Guide, LED Digital Advertising, Event Ticketing Services (via Ticketmaster and Showpass), Preferred Suppliers Program, Sustainable Meetings Program, Event Calendar, All-Inclusive Meeting Packages, and the Lanyard Library Program. The venue spans over 150,000 square feet of customizable event space and is recognized as one of North America's top five performing venues, with Green Key Level 5, Climate Smart, and BOMA Best certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ guests annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Explore Edmonton CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization and destination marketing organization for Edmonton. The Edmonton Convention Centre is a division of Explore Edmonton Corporation, which manages the venue and provides business development services, destination marketing, and connection to Edmonton's hospitality ecosystem. Explore Edmonton assists in attracting sponsorship, increasing attendance, and coordinating with world-class hotels.
• Art Gallery of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial catering and event booking service partner for the Art Gallery of Alberta. Edmonton Convention Centre provides fine dining catering options for AGA events, bringing award-winning culinary experiences to the gallery's stunning space.
• GEScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExclusive material handling and dock marshaling provider for the Edmonton Convention Centre. GES provides event setup, equipment, branding solutions, and logistics coordination for events at the venue.
• Encore (formerly Freeman Audio Visual Canada)coreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive internet provider for the Edmonton Convention Centre. Encore Canada provides event technology, staging, creative and production services as the in-house provider.
• Showtech Power and LightingcoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive rigging and electrical provider for the venue. Showtech handles temporary power distribution, exhibit specialized lighting, sign and banner hanging, staging production, lighting, and rigging services.
• TicketmasterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanada's largest ticket sales manager and distributor managing the entire ticketing process for concerts and events held at the venue.
• ShowpassminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCustomer-centric ticketing and discovery engine for events, activities, and things to do. Provides ticketing services for events at the venue.
• Earth Warrior LifestyleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Edmonton business partnering on the Lanyard Library Program, turning upcycled textiles into reusable lanyards to reduce event waste and promote circular practices.
• BMO Climate SmartminorOthersClimate Smart certification program provider that recognizes businesses committed to environmental sustainability and carbon reduction.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Singapore EXPO: Asia-based convention and exhibition venue hosting international trade shows, conferences, and consumer events; comparable in event hosting and exhibition hall model though serving Asia-Pacific market.
• Calgary TELUS Convention Centre: Major Canadian convention centre operating in Calgary, Alberta, comparable in scale and event types (conferences, galas, trade shows) but serving a different city; competes for Western Canadian association rotations.
• Ottawa Convention Centre: Canadian convention venue in the national capital region hosting conferences, government events, and trade shows; comparable in size and public-sector orientation but geographically separate.

Broad incumbents

• McCormick Place (Chicago): Largest convention centre in North America hosting major trade shows, conferences, and exhibitions; broad incumbent in the same industry with overlapping convention and trade show business.
• Boston Convention & Exhibition Center: Major US Northeast convention facility hosting large-scale conferences, trade shows, and galas; comparable in event types and venue-operated catering model.
• Las Vegas Convention Center: One of the largest convention facilities in North America; competes at the high end for international trade shows and exhibitions, with similar convention/exhibition space rental model.
• Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (New York): Major New York City convention venue hosting trade shows, conferences, and large events; broad incumbent comparable in space-rental and event management model.

Direct peers

• Vancouver Convention Centre: Premier Canadian waterfront convention venue hosting large-scale conferences, trade shows, galas, and exhibitions; direct competitor for national and international association conventions with similar space-rental and catering model.
• Metro Toronto Convention Centre: Largest convention venue in Canada, hosting conferences, trade shows, and galas in downtown Toronto; directly competes with Edmonton Convention Centre for major national and international association events.
• Palais des congrès de Montréal: Major Montreal-based convention centre hosting large-scale conventions, exhibitions, and banquets; similar public-sector ownership model and comparable event hosting capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/edmontonconventioncentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/edmontonconventioncentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edmonton-convention-centre

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Edmonton Convention Centre