Calgary businesses look forward to 'big surge' from Stampede

Calgary business owners are feeling a bit moreoptimistic for an economic upswing from the Stampede this year, an industry watcher says.

Businesses are seeinga bit of an increase from last year in party bookings and some are hiring more staff,Maggie Schofield, executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association, said in an interview this week.

"Ithink they're just hopeful that we're going to get a lot of tourists," she said. "We're really looking forward to a big surge of people locally, as well as some of the international guests."

Attendance down in recent years

Stampede attendance has dropped the past two years, which organizers blamed on rainy weather more than the econmoic downturn. Popular bars also found events weren't selling out as usual last summer.

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Schofield says the low Canadian dollar, sitting Thursday at $0.77USD, has been attractive to foreign visitors this year. She noted the business association is starting to see tour groups coming through the city, as well.

'The whole city benefits'

Calgary's mayor, Naheed Nenshi, says the economic spinoffs from the Stampede are even more important this year, in order to boost what he says is much-needed optimism.

"I think the whole city benefits from that halo, from that image," he said.

Calgarians have had a tough couple of years, but Nenshi says he's seeing things look up. This year, the mayor has invited business people from around the world to a Stampede investment forum, to encourage more investment inCalgary.

"These sorts of effects are really important and things that we continue to work on," he said.

The Calgary Stampede says visitors to Stampede Park alone spend roughly $345 million within Alberta.

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