ATIS organization and event criteria

Does my tourism offering qualify?

ATIS listings are manually approved based on a list of criteria to ensure they bring value to travellers. It’s important to check that your tourism organization fits our criteria before you create a listing. 

The Travel Alberta team created ATIS criteria with input from partners and operators like you. We’re committed to continuously reviewing, updating and refining these guidelines.

If you have any questions about the ATIS organization and event criteria, please reach out to atisfeedback@travelalberta.com.

ATIS organization criteria

Tourism organizations entered into ATIS must operate within Alberta, with the following exceptions:

• Travel trade organizations with addresses outside of Alberta that have Alberta offerings
• Guided operators with addresses outside of Alberta that offer Alberta tours

Your organization must also meet all of the following criteria:

• It’s market ready
• It’s a tourism offering
• It provides a service to leisure travellers

To qualify for the Arts & Performing Arts or the Sports Event category, your business must also:

• Be a professional or semi-professional organization
• Involve managing and running an event, production or festival that produces a minimum of one regularly-scheduled, ticketed event per year with a combined attendance of at least 500

If your listing meets any of the following criteria, it won’t be approved:

• It’s travel insurance
• It’s an online or virtual service that doesn’t have a physical premises
• It’s a chain restaurant or retail outlet with more than nine locations

ATIS event criteria

Before you list your event on ATIS, it’s important to check that it fits our criteria:

• It’s market ready
• It’s a tourism offering
• It takes place in Alberta
• It takes place either as a single, time-sensitive event or as a series of organized events over a short period
• It can attract travellers based on its own merit rather than just local residents (like a community breakfast)
• The event has a spectator component and can accommodate at least 100 attendees

Events may involve a listed local attraction, such as a special exhibit at a museum. Holiday or seasonal events qualify if they contain a varied entertainment program.

If your event repeats, each instance must vary substantially to qualify for a separate listing. For example, a weekly farmers’ market would only need one listing. But a pop-up local market with a changing theme (craft vendors one week, plant vendors the second) might benefit if treated as separate events.

If your event meets any of the following criteria, it won’t be approved:

• It doesn’t have a physical location (such as a virtual event)
• It’s a garage or retail sale
  • An event like a Christmas Craft Show can be approved if at least two additional tourism draws are offered (like sleigh rides, food vendors or light shows)
• It’s a trade show or trade focused
• It’s a seasonal camp
• It’s a religious service
• Its sole purpose is fundraising and doesn’t have a spectator component that appeals to a general audience
• It’s a food sale or happy hour
• It’s a K–12 school event or performance (national or international level championships may be exempt)
  • Sporting or performing arts events must be produced by a professional or semi-professional organization