Summary

Banff Western Connection (BWC), a bi-annual conference, is Canada’s premier gathering of over 650 real estate professionals. BWC provides unique, high caliber educational opportunities that inspire leadership, professionalism, and offers tangible benefits for REALTORS®. Socially, BWC provides unique opportunities for networking, building relationships, and sharing information with key influencers in real estate.

Spanning 4 days, the conference includes pre-conference meetings and sessions hosted by the Canadian Real Estate Association. The main conference program is 2-days inclusive of five plenary sessions, twenty breakout sessions, an exhibition hall, two networking receptions, and a gala dinner.

Our Role

BUKSA was the first external event planner to support this event.

As the lead project manager, BUKSA led the committee management, organized and executed the sponsor and exhibitor sales strategy, built the program structure, coordinated requirements for over 50 speakers, coordinated the gala dinner and social events including entertainment, an on-site 50/50 fundraiser, facilitated the brand development and graphic design of all materials, and managed full venue logistics including accommodations.

Value Add

Come Together (Committee Management)
BWC’s conference planning committee is made up of several stakeholder associations from four different provinces. It was important for the BUKSA team to efficiently manage the committee through effective time management and a clear governance structure establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and proper decision-making processes.

Show Me the Money
Pulling from past successes, industry best practices, and the team’s creativity, BUKSA revamped the conference’s sponsorships prospectus which led to an increase of 150% in overall sponsorship. The renewed sponsorship packages were tailored to the group’s industry partners and provided custom experiences for sponsoring organizations.

The BWC group places immense value on giving back to the community of Banff, which has hosted their event for many years. Our team coordinated a fun 50/50 fundraiser that successfully raised $10,000 for YWCA Banff thanks to the generosity of event attendees – the masquerade masks were a big hit!

Home Away from Home
The picturesque Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (BSH) provided the comfort and accommodations for the event. Our team simplified the hotel reservation process for our guests by ensuring that all special arrangements and preferences were arranged with the BSH before the guests’ arrival. Effective teamwork with the expert reservations team at the BSH and BUKSA’s streamlined processes allowed for a positive experience for all.