Calgary TELUS Convention Centre Ask Kurby Court what a convention centre actually sells, and square footage is not the first words out of his mouth.
“For associations, knowledge transfer is the true purpose of any business meeting,” says the President and CEO of the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (CTCC). “While presentations and speakers matter, the most valuable outcomes often come from the conversations that happen between sessions.”
It’s a distinction Court returns to more than once. The building itself, he argues, is less a container than a catalyst; it’s actually “a vessel for those collisions of exchanges, creating an environment where ideas, partnerships, and innovation can take shape.” That philosophy shows up in the floor plan as much as in the pitch deck: dynamic gathering areas, networking spaces set deliberately adjacent to session rooms, and circulation designed to produce what he calls spontaneous interactions. “Our spaces are designed for connections, not just meetings,” he says.
The centre’s downtown Calgary location, with more than 1,100 hotel rooms attached and restaurants and amenities within walking distance, is presented in the same terms, really as an extension of the program itself. “Conversations continue long after sessions end,” Court says.“Delegates can connect outside the event, resulting in deeper relationships and ideas exchanged throughout their stay.”
Legacy, Redefined
For associations weighing international congress bids, legacy has moved from a nice-to-have to a genuine selection criterion – and Court is candid about what that shift demands of a host venue.
“Legacy has become one of the most important considerations in destination selection,” he says.“Associations are no longer measuring success solely by attendance numbers. They’re asking what remains after delegates go home.”
Increasingly, he argues, that question is being answered through young people. The CTCC works with organizers to connect students and emerging professionals to events through volunteering, mentorship and networking access – exposure, Court says, that “can influence career paths, strengthen the local talent pipeline, and create benefits that extend far beyond the event itself.”
Legacy at the CTCC also runs through its Indigenous Client Program, including Elder blessings, drumming and dance performances, Indigenous artisan markets and cultural knowledge sessions offered to congress delegates. Court is careful, however, not to present this as decoration. “The CTCC team of professionals will always guide these highly important engagements to ensure ceremony and lifeways remain honoured and respected,” he says, an approach he sums up as “educate before celebrating.”
The point, for associations, is that legacy has to be designed in from the start rather than bolted on. “It can’t be treated as an afterthought,” Court says. “We work with associations early in the planning process to identify opportunities that align with their objectives.”
Tapping the Local Ecosystem
Calgary’s economic base (life sciences, energy, aerospace, defense, agribusiness) gives the CTCC a specific kind of leverage with associations in those fields, and Court describes the centre’s role less as landlord than as connector. “We help associations connect with Calgary’s best and brightest,” he says, pointing to a network of universities, research institutions and industry bodies the centre draws on to line up speakers, panelists, technical tours and partnerships.
The clearest example he offers is aviation. In supporting Calgary’s successful bid to host the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2027, the CTCC worked alongside the Calgary Airport Authority and local carrier WestJet, which has made Calgary its exclusive global connecting hub.
“Through local champions and industry partners, we were able to showcase Calgary’s aviation expertise, infrastructure, and talent,” Court says, “helping demonstrate why our city was the right fit to host a global event of this scale.”
“We don’t just provide meeting space,” he adds. “We’re a conduit for associations to tap into a network of people and organizations that can elevate program content, create meaningful connections, and leave a lasting impact long after the event concludes.”
Beyond the Checklist
On accessibility, Court pushes back on the idea that it can be reduced to a set of features. “Accessibility is a philosophy, not a checklist,” he says. “We believe every attendee should be able to participate fully, independently, and with dignity.” In practice, that means CTCC event managers are brought into floor plans, seating and registration design at the earliest stages of planning, rather than reviewing them once they’re finished.
One partnership Court is keen to flag is with Pedesting, a wayfinding platform founded by Nabeel Ramji, which lets delegates map accessible routes through both the venue and downtown Calgary before they ever arrive. “It removes one of the most common barriers to attending a large event in an unfamiliar space,” he says.
Much of the rest, he suggests, is invisible until you need it: sensory backpacks and quiet retreat spaces for neurodivergent guests, adaptive cutlery, accessible buffets, trained staff. “It’s the details planners won’t see on a website that make the difference,” Court says, before adding a line that could serve as a mission statement for the building as a whole: “Accessibility is a journey, not a destination.”That framing – process over property, relationships over rooms – runs through everything Court says about the CTCC.
For associations sifting through bid proposals, it’s a useful reminder that the strongest pitch isn’t always about what a venue has, but about who it can put a delegate next to, and what’s still standing after everyone has gone home.