Shaw Conference Centre
The Edmonton Convention Centre is a City of Edmonton-owned convention and event venue operated by Explore Edmonton Corporation, hosting 450+ events and 500,000+ guests annually across 150,000+ sq ft of meeting and exhibition space.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersEdmonton, AB, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Shaw Conference Centre does
The Edmonton Convention Centre (formerly the Shaw Conference Centre, opened 1983) is a municipally owned convention and event venue in Edmonton, Alberta. The facility is owned by the City of Edmonton and operated under Explore Edmonton Corporation, the city's destination marketing organization. It offers more than 150,000 square feet of meeting, banquet, and exhibition space and hosts more than 450 events and 500,000 guests annually.
The venue generates revenue through event space rental, food and beverage service (including a culinary program anchored by 9 Red Seal chefs and led by Executive Chef Serge Belair, 2012 Canadian Chef of the Year), and ancillary services such as parking, audio-visual, and event planning. Pricing begins at $45 per person for meeting packages, with banquet, wedding, trade show, and concert events priced at premium tiers. The business serves a diversified customer base spanning corporate meetings, association conferences, trade shows, weddings and galas, and live entertainment.
The asset functions as a destination marketing and economic development instrument for the City of Edmonton, with the source material attributing approximately $40 million in regional economic impact annually to the venue (a catalyzed visitor-spend figure, not venue revenue). Competitive positioning is reinforced by a sustainability credential stack (Green Key Level 5, the first venue in Canada to achieve this; Climate Smart; BOMA Best) and the 2018 IAVM Venue Excellence Award.
Shaw Conference Centre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shaw Conference 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
- The Edmonton Convention Centre is a City of Edmonton-owned convention and event venue operated by Explore Edmonton Corporation, hosting 450+ events and 500,000+ guests annually across 150,000+ sq ft of meeting and exhibition space.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shaw Conference Centre industry classification
Industry- 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), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Conference & Convention Center Catering (THAHAKAB)
Keywords
Where Shaw Conference Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edmonton, AB
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shaw Conference Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Event Space Rental and Services: Core revenue from renting versatile event spaces including Hall D, Riverview Room, Exhibition Halls, and Meeting Level spaces. Revenue includes room rental fees combined with ancillary services such as catering, audiovisual equipment, and event coordination.
- In-House Catering and Culinary Services: Comprehensive catering services featuring award-winning culinary team with 9 Red Seal chefs led by Executive Chef Serge Belair. Services include banquet meals, cocktail receptions, wedding cakes, and custom menus. 45% of food suppliers are local producers with over $750,000 reinvested into local economy.
- Meeting Packages: All-inclusive meeting packages starting at $45 per person, including food, beverage, and room rentals for corporate gatherings and full-day sessions.
- Advertising and Sponsorship: Digital advertising opportunities through indoor and outdoor LED screens reaching 500,000 guests annually. Sponsorship packages available for event exposure.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | All-Inclusive Meeting Package starting at $45/person |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Shaw Conference Centre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shaw Conference Centre (Edmonton Convention Centre) rents 150,000+ square feet of flexible event space for conferences, conventions, banquets, trade shows, concerts, sports events, weddings, and meetings, with integrated in-house catering, audiovisual services, and event management. The venue accommodates groups from 5 to 5,000+ guests across Hall D, the Riverview Room, Assembly Level Exhibition Halls, and 20 Salon meeting rooms. Supplementary offerings include digital LED screen advertising, virtual tours, sustainable event programming, and all-inclusive meeting packages starting at $45 per person.
Product overview
Edmonton Convention Centre (formerly Shaw Conference Centre) is a physical convention centre venue offering a comprehensive suite of event hosting services across 150,000+ square feet of customizable event space. The core offering centers on hosting diverse event types including banquets & galas, conferences & conventions, meetings, trade shows, concerts & sports, and weddings. The venue's integrated service model combines in-house catering (9 Red Seal chefs, 45% local suppliers), sustainable event practices (Green Key Level 5 certified), and comprehensive event management. Key venue spaces include Hall D (23,600 sq ft), Riverview Room (4,000 sq ft), Assembly Level Exhibition Halls (80,000 sq ft), and 20 Salon meeting rooms. Additional services include digital advertising, virtual tours, sustainable events programming, and all-inclusive meeting packages starting at $45/person.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 500,000+ guests hosted annually across 450+ events
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Shaw Conference Centre
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Shaw Conference Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Shaw Conference Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GEScoreGES is the exclusive material handling and dock marshaling provider for the Edmonton Convention Centre. They coordinate all shipping, receiving, and logistics for exhibitors and event setup.
- EncorecoreEncore Canada (formerly Freeman Audio Visual Canada) serves as the exclusive internet provider and event technology provider. Offers event technology, staging, creative and production services.
- Showtech Power and LightingcoreShowtech Power and Lighting is the exclusive provider of rigging and electrical services at the venue, handling temporary power distribution, exhibit lighting, and staging production.
- TicketmastercoreCanada's largest ticket sales manager and distributor managing the entire ticketing process for concerts and events.
- ShowpassminorCustomer-centric ticketing and discovery engine for events, activities, and things to do.
- Earth Warrior LifestyleminorLocal Edmonton business turning upcycled textiles into reusable lanyards for the Lanyard Library Program, a sustainability initiative to reduce event waste.
- Art Gallery of AlbertacoreEdmonton Convention Centre is the official catering and event booking service partner for the Art Gallery of Alberta. The culinary team provides fine dining catering options at AGA's stunning space.
- Edmonton Food Bank (Second Helping Program)coreDonates leftover food to the Edmonton Food Bank through the Second Helping Program. In 2024, donated 1,893 kg (over 4,000 meals) to support community food security.
- Erdmann's Gardens & GreenhouseminorLocal producer supplying fresh ingredients for the venue's farm-to-fork culinary program.
- Forest Scene FarmsminorLocal producer supporting the venue's commitment to 45% local food sourcing.
- MeuwlysminorLocal Alberta producer providing quality ingredients for the venue's award-winning culinary team.
- Dustin Bajer (Beekeeper)minorEdmonton-based educator, master gardener and beekeeper with over a decade of experience caring for the venue's rooftop beehives. Also manages hives across the city including at Edmonton Valley Zoo.
- Explore Edmonton CorporationcoreParent organization managing the Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton EXPO Centre. Provides destination marketing services, sponsorship attraction, marketing support, and room block sourcing with nearby hotels.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Shaw Conference Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vancouver Convention Centre: One of Canada's largest convention venues operated by a municipal/BC Pavilion corporation. Comparable in offering conventions, trade shows, and galas with similar integrated services. Competes for the same Western Canadian and international association market.
- Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (now BMO Centre at Stampede Park): Direct regional competitor in Alberta. Calgary's convention centre recently underwent a major expansion (BMO Centre) significantly increasing capacity, making it the primary alternative for planners choosing between Alberta venues. Same target market of corporate, association, and trade show clients.
- RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg: Direct competitor in the Western Canadian convention market. Similar size, municipal operation, and target customer base of association conferences and corporate events. Comparable model of integrated venue management.
- Palais des congrès de Montréal: Major Canadian convention venue operated as a public corporation. Offers convention and trade show hosting with integrated services. Competes for international association conferences and provides a benchmark for municipally-operated convention venue performance.
- Metro Toronto Convention Centre: Canada's largest convention venue, municipally-owned, hosting conventions, trade shows, and galas. Same core business model of integrated venue + catering + event services, and competes for many of the same national association conferences.
Regional players
- TCU Place (Saskatoon): Smaller Western Canadian convention and arts venue. Operates in similar geographic and demographic market as Edmonton's venue, serving comparable association and corporate clients in the Prairies region.
Broad incumbents
- Cobo Center (Detroit) / TCF Center: Major North American convention facility operating in a similar mid-tier city market. Comparable operating model as a public assembly venue hosting conventions, trade shows, and major events. Useful for benchmarking convention center economics.
- Colorado Convention Center: Larger North American municipally-operated convention center. Comparable operating model and target market for association conferences, trade shows, and corporate events. Useful benchmark for similar mid-sized convention center operations.
Others
- Explore Edmonton Corporation: Parent organization that manages the Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton's destination marketing. While not a direct competitor, it is highly relevant for understanding the venue's strategic positioning and the broader Edmonton destination ecosystem.
- Freeman (Encore): Exclusive event technology and AV partner for the Edmonton Convention Centre, but also the dominant North American provider of event production services. Comparable exposure to the MICE industry and useful benchmark for event services economics at convention venues.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shaw Conference Centre social profiles
Digital presenceShaw Conference Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shaw Conference Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Shaw Conference Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shaw Conference Centre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shaw Conference Centre
What does Shaw Conference Centre do?
Shaw Conference Centre (Edmonton Convention Centre) rents 150,000+ square feet of flexible event space for conferences, conventions, banquets, trade shows, concerts, sports events, weddings, and meetings, with integrated in-house catering, audiovisual services, and event management. The venue accommodates groups from 5 to 5,000+ guests across Hall D, the Riverview Room, Assembly Level Exhibition Halls, and 20 Salon meeting rooms. Supplementary offerings include digital LED screen advertising, virtual tours, sustainable event programming, and all-inclusive meeting packages starting at $45 per person.
Is Shaw Conference Centre a public or private company?
Shaw Conference Centre is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Shaw Conference Centre founded?
Shaw Conference Centre was founded in 1983. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Shaw Conference Centre based?
Shaw Conference Centre is headquartered in Edmonton, AB, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Shaw Conference Centre make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Event Space Rental and Services are the primary driver. The others are in-House Catering and Culinary Services, meeting Packages and advertising and Sponsorship.
Who are Shaw Conference Centre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vancouver Convention Centre, Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (now BMO Centre at Stampede Park), RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg, Palais des congrès de Montréal and Metro Toronto Convention Centre. TCU Place (Saskatoon) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Cobo Center (Detroit) / TCF Center and Colorado Convention Center. Others are Explore Edmonton Corporation and Freeman (Encore).
Does Shaw Conference Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shaw Conference Centre.
What industry is Shaw Conference Centre in?
Shaw Conference Centre's product category is Convention and Event Venue Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAAAA, Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers), with a secondary code of THAHAAAB, Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues. Its NAICS code is 71131 and its SIC code is 7990.