Edmonton Tourism launches its summer campaign this week, which aims to increase Greater Edmonton’s share of tourists from rubber-tire markets within Alberta as well as from B.C., Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Yukon.

“Visitors to our region can expect to see savings this summer. Our partners are working hard to offer extra value to their customers,” says Ken Fiske, EEDC Vice-President, Economic & Tourism Development. “Many travellers are staying closer to home this year, providing an incredible opportunity to promote the variety of exciting and affordable local attractions.”

The campaign targets visitors through a multi-media approach that includes direct mail, e-marketing, print and radio advertising. Messages will be timed to profile Edmonton’s vast array of festivals, attractions and events.

The messages will direct audiences to the campaign website www.edmonton.com/liveallyear for a comprehensive guide on visiting Greater Edmonton. While there, visitors will find vacation packages, promotions, valuable coupons and opportunities to win exciting prizes.

The website entices locals to become tourism ambassadors for the region. Residents can invite family and friends to experience Greater Edmonton through the Visiting Friends & Relatives (VFR) program. Participants could win a $500 West Edmonton Mall shopping spree by sending out e-postcard invitations. By visiting the same site, residents who host their family and friends have an opportunity to win monthly prizes through the Thank You Edmonton promotion as a reward for being a tourism ambassador.

A simultaneous summer campaign aimed at travellers in national and international markets is running through Air Canada and WestJet. Both airlines are promoting Greater Edmonton as a tourist destination in their in-flight magazines and websites. Air Canada is also featuring Edmonton during its in-flight broadcasts.

The summer campaign is a successful partnership between Edmonton’s Destination Marketing Hotels, the
Edmonton and Area Tourism Destination Region, Edmonton Tourism, Travel Alberta and 15-plus tourism industry partners.

This programming augments the recently launched Edmonton Stories awareness campaign, a partnership between the City of Edmonton and EEDC. Locals and visitors alike are being asked to share their Edmonton experiences with the world at www.edmontonstories.ca to promote the experiences of our city to attract visitors and newcomers.

Media Contact:
Cathy Ennis
Communications Manager
Phone: 780.917.7894
Email: cennis@edmonton.com

Edmonton Tourism, a division of Edmonton Economic Development Corp. (EEDC), is responsible for marketing Greater Edmonton as a preferred destination for leisure and business travel as well as film production.