Calgary, Alberta Hotels and City Guide

Calgary - Business Tips

Calgary Local Economy

Calgary is one of Canada's four primary business centres, alongside Toronto, Montreal and Vancover. It's prime position between the Rocky Moutains' front range and the grasslands of Alberta ensures that ecotourism, agriculture and cattle faming are major economies for the city.

Calgary's major economic industries though are petroleum and oil, with the first discovery of oil in Alberta in the early 1900s. Much of the city's economic development since then has been due to this discovery, as it attracted many other industries and organisations to the city. Today Calgary is home to the headquarters of several nationwide firms such as Imperial Oil and the Canadian Pacific Railway. Other industries burgeoning alongside Calgary's economic backbone, the petroleum industry, include technology and production.

The confluence of these diverse economic sectors has resulted in the construction of a labyrinth of glass and steal skyscrapers in downtown Calgary, a strange site when viewed against the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies in the west. The farming and cattle industries also add a unique cowboy cultural element to Calgary, one which attracts much tourism in its own right. This is cultural aspect is often contrasted against Calgary's cosmopolitan 'big city' vibe as the city hosts events such as the Calgary Stampede, an annual display of cowboy and cattle-ranch culture. 

Calgary Business Etiquette

Calgary Dress Code
Dressing for business or pleasure is much the same casual-smart mix that you'll find in any North American city. But when packing for a visit to Calgary, remember the Alberta climate and its extreme temperature differences. Due to the dry air, it is advisable to take skin moisturisers and lip lubricants.

Greeting Someone in Calgary
The people of Calgary pride themselves on their down-to-earth friendliness and you should notice this within just a few hours of arriving in town. For people who are visiting to work, a relaxed handshake and first-name terms are the norm although the proffering of a well-presented business card never goes amiss.

Calgary Business Hours and Banking
Business hours in Canadian cities vary from one industry and sector to another but in general, most office environments operate between 09:00 and 17:30, Monday to Friday. The majority of banks are open between 10:00 and 15:00, Monday to Friday, with some occasionally staying open later.

Calgary Smoking
An issue that is traditionally one of great controversy in North America, smokers are warned to be very careful when choosing a place to light up as most public places have banned smoking altogether. The best advice is to smoke only in like-minded company.

Hotels in Calgary, Alberta