WestJet, Tourism Calgary launch stopover program
New initiative encourages international travellers on layovers to extend stays in Calgary with hotel deals and attraction passes.
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Tourism Calgary and WestJet launched a new program Wednesday aimed at turning airport layovers into overnight stays and tourist dollars.
The Calgary Stopover Program is the first of its kind in Canada, letting international travellers book multi-city trips through WestJet's booking tool without paying extra airfare. Visitors can add up to seven days in Calgary to their journey, then continue to their final destination.
The pilot targets passengers on WestJet's year-round service from London Heathrow and seasonal routes from Edinburgh. Participating travellers get access to special offers at 19 local hotels and the Calgary Attractions Pass for discounts at participating venues.
"Every year, 19 million passengers travel through YYC airports and 36 per cent of those travellers only see the inside of this beautiful airport," said Tourism Calgary CEO Alisha Reynolds. "While it is beautiful, they should see more of our city."
The initiative builds on strong momentum. Visitor spending jumped 15.6 per cent year-over-year in Q1 2026, alongside 9.6 per cent growth in international passenger volumes. Calgary welcomed a record 10.5 million visitors last year with $3.3 billion in spending. The city aims to reach $6 billion in annual visitor spending by 2035.