All-Season Resorts: A once-in-a-generation opportunity

Read time: 4 minutes

Alberta has long been known for its expansive landscapes and grand ambitions. Now, the province has made one of its boldest moves yet: Enabling all-season resort development through legislation designed specifically for the next wave of world-class tourism products and experiences.

For the first time, investors have the opportunity to imagine and build all-season resorts on public land. And they can do so backed by regulatory clarity, long-term leases, and hands-on support from Travel Alberta’s Investor Services team.

All-Season Resorts Act provides coordinated process, clarity for tourism development

The All-Season Resorts Act is an investor-friendly framework tailored to Alberta's unique position.

"Global investors we speak to are always surprised to learn that, despite the spectacular natural assets here, we don't have many all-season resorts yet,” says Jon Mamela, Chief Commercial Officer at Travel Alberta. “That incredible opportunity has now arrived at prime locations in Alberta."

The act was designed to enable year-round opportunities on Alberta’s public land. It provides clear timelines and creates a more efficient system for applicants. Crucially, it outlines how provincial public land can become designated as All-Season Resort Areas, unlocking new year-round opportunities.

Alberta’s first designated land for all-season resorts has been selected

The first three areas in Alberta designated for all-season resort development each offer a unique blend of history, culture, and a reputation for outdoor adventure. All three areas have decades-long histories of providing outdoor recreation for Albertans and for visitors from around the world, but have been limited to winter-only operations.

Fortress Mountain, which previously operated as a ski hill and is now a popular area for cat-skiing and filming Hollywood blockbusters, is set to expand its offerings. It will focus on creating unforgettable adventure experiences while maintaining the rugged wilderness that defines its character.

Castle Mountain, operated since 1996 by a collective of passionate skiers, is renowned for its challenging terrain and commitment to environmental stewardship, ensuring that its breathtaking landscape can be enjoyed by future generations. 

Nakiska has welcomed families and outdoor enthusiasts for years, serving as the venue for all alpine events during the 1988 Winter Olympics and as Canada’s official alpine training centre.

Through strong leadership and the right partnerships, these sites have the opportunity to evolve from one-season operations into fully integrated all-season resorts. They’ll exemplify Alberta’s natural beauty and recreational legacy in all seasons, offering visitors opportunities to explore, relax, and connect with the province’s iconic landscapes. Interested in being part of these areas’ growth? Connect with our Investor Concierge team today to learn more.

99-year leases for long-term visionaries

One of the most compelling features of the new framework is the introduction of 99-year leases. This enables long-term certainty for long-horizon investors, multi-phase master planning, and strong financial viability.

This legislation is Alberta’s way of saying it’s serious about all-season resort development, and we’re making it easier for investors to succeed.

Why all-season resorts matter: A path to $25 billion visitor spend

Alberta’s visitor economy is growing fast. But reaching the province’s target of $25 billion in annual visitor spend by 2035 requires the kind of developments that drive community prosperity and unlock year-round recreation demand.

All-season resorts are exactly that.

These developments could include:

• Luxury and mid-market hotel accommodations
• Four-season attractions, from gondolas to alpine coasters to lift-assisted mountain biking and guided experiences
• Spa and wellness facilities
• Retail, dining, and après-village experiences
• Secondary and recreational home ownership, a proven driver of year-round visitation
• Expanded ski, mountain bike, and lift infrastructure

These development platforms create opportunities for Albertans to enjoy the high‑quality, year‑round experiences they seek—right here at home. All‑season resorts can diversify regional economies and attract global travellers who spend more, stay longer, and visit in all seasons.

And right now, Alberta has zero built-from-the-ground-up, fully integrated all-season resorts on provincial Crown land. This is a rare, first-mover opportunity in one of North America’s most desirable outdoor markets with Canada’s most-enticing business environment.

Travel Alberta’s Investor Concierge: Your partner from concept to construction

All-season resort development in Alberta requires strong partners. As the first point of contact for investors interested in this extraordinary opportunity, our Investor Concierge team works directly with resort proponents to:

• Provide visitor data, demand modelling, and competitive insights
• Facilitate key connections with stakeholders, industry leaders and communities
• Act as a one-window point of contact for investing in Alberta

Bold business operators can finally build the types of four-season destination resorts that travellers already expect in headline outdoor destinations around the world.

A made-in-Alberta approach

While Alberta’s approach seeks to provide exceptional clarity in the steps needed to gain approvals, it doesn’t cut corners.

All proposed developments will follow existing legislation and processes for Indigenous consultation and environmental impact assessment, and will include opportunities for the public, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and environmental experts to engage and provide feedback. 

The window is open. Alberta is ready.

All-season resorts are essential to Alberta’s ambitious tourism growth strategy. The All-Season Resorts Act is a clear signal that Alberta is committing to long-term tourism growth, global competitiveness, and the creation of world-leading destination resorts. 

Travel Alberta’s Investor Services team is ready to support you. Explore the opportunity, request market data, and start your development conversation today.