Economic Development in Winnipeg

“This is a city that absolutely must be visited.” - Noah Richler, The Toronto Star, February 2009

Winnipeg offers visitors an astonishing diversity of culture, arts, entertainment, cuisine, sports and recreation, architecture and industry. The city’s long-standing tradition of artistic appreciation includes some of the greatest cultural institutions in Canada, such as The Manitoba Museum, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Manitoba Theatre Centre and Le Cercle Molière. Winnipeg is also home to year-round cultural and artistic festivals and venues that feature the world’s top touring acts, as well as community and local entertainment.

During 2007, Winnipeg and Manitoba tourism benefited from very strong growth in the domestic overnight travel market, some growth in the overseas travel market and a very good convention and event year from the capital city. According to the latest city-based tourism data, Winnipeg’s tourism sector experienced the best growth of major cities in Canada during 2007. And, on a provincial level, in 2007, Manitoba’s tourism sector had the best growth of all provinces.

Visitation from residents of the United States continued to decline, as has been the case across Canada throughout the 2000s. However, in Winnipeg, U.S. visits represent approximately 12% of expenditures, a lower share than many Canadian cities negatively affected by the long-term decline in U.S. tourism. The local tourism industry has continued to be amazingly resilient and has experienced relative stability.

The tourism industry is big business in Winnipeg, with approximately 2.8 million visitors each year bringing in well over $500 million indirect annual expenditures and representing nearly 14,000 jobs in the city. These dollars brought into the local economy are a source of “export” revenue that diversify the economy, improve local facilities and amenities for the benefit of the community and visitors, provide substantial tax revenue to all levels of government and generate many jobs for the city.

In 2007, the meetings and conventions business in Winnipeg experienced one of its strongest years on record, with over 190 tracked meetings and conventions and 55,000 delegates. In 2008, the tracked meetings and conventions declined somewhat, but the event business was very strong with 12 national sporting or special events, including the 2008 Tim Horton’s Brier and the 2008 Canadian Country Music Awards. The Winnipeg Convention Centre announced 2008 was its best revenue year ever.

Hotel occupancy in Winnipeg averaged close to 70% in 2008, a 5th straight year of increasing occupancy rates, and above the national average. In a 2009 Colliers International Hotels report, Winnipeg had the second best increase in hotel valuations in Canada in 2008 and very good revenue growth. The Conference Board’s Travel Markets Outlook (Autumn 2008) projected Winnipeg to have nearly 4% growth in 2008 in overnight visitor expenditures and modest growth for 2009.

Winnipeg’s tourism industry benefits from new attractions and facilities and upgrading of existing attractions. Travellers have many more choices and are always looking for new experiences. The addition of the MTS Centre in downtown Winnipeg has become a major venue for sports, entertainment, concerts and special events. The new airport terminal in 2010, with the advantage of being only 15-20 minutes from downtown, is another positive development for Manitoba’s tourism industry.

The announcement of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, now under construction and planned to open in 2012, will be the first federal museum outside Canada’s national capital region. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a signature attraction that puts Winnipeg in a new league for attracting international tourism, particularly student and education markets.