—Air Canada and WestJet promotions also part of drive to attract visitors
Edmonton Tourism launches its fifth winter campaign this week with the first phase aimed at increasing Greater Edmonton’s share of leisure visitors from across Alberta.

“Our award-winning winter campaign features the best of the capital region with ideas on what to see and do, plus plenty of savings now through February 2010,” says Ken Fiske, EEDC Vice-President, Economic & Tourism Development.

Using a multi-media approach, the campaign includes direct mail, e-marketing, promotional offers and  an anchoring website. People considering a holiday in Edmonton are encouraged to go online to www.edmonton.com/liveallyear where they are eligible for an ‘instant-win’ opportunity and can look up visitor information and vacation packages, find online coupons and enter to win an Edmonton getaway experience. Phase one of the campaign runs until Dec. 31 and focuses on the holiday season. Phase two runs from mid-January to the end of February and expands its reach to include key markets in Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories and northern British Columbia.

An important piece of these campaigns is the Visiting Friends and Relatives component. Residents are encouraged to invite friends and family to visit Edmonton by sending them an e-postcard. Those who
do, become eligible to win a $500 West Edmonton Mall shopping spree for themselves and their invited friend or family member.

Provincial campaign will influence national & international markets
Business and leisure travellers in national and international markets are also being encouraged to visit Greater Edmonton by way of simultaneous campaigns running with Air Canada and WestJet. In-flight advertising expands the campaign’s reach to national and U.S. travel markets throughout winter. Air Canada and WestJet magazines and websites, plus Air Canada’s in-flight video messages entice visitors
to consider Greater Edmonton as a travel destination.

The 2009/2010 winter tourism campaign is a partnership between Edmonton Tourism, Destination Marketing Hotels, the Edmonton and Area Tourism Destination Region, and Travel Alberta.

Media Contact:
Cathy Ennis
Communications Manager, External Relations
Edmonton Economic Development Corp. (EEDC)
780.917.7894
Cennis@edmonton.com

Edmonton Tourism promotes Greater Edmonton as the destination of choice for tourism, conventions, major events and film production and is a division of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC).

For more information, visit www.edmonton.com.

Learn more about Edmonton through the stories of people who've experienced it at www.edmontonstories.ca.