Travel

The Banff Centre is located in the town of Banff, Alberta, approximately two hours west of Calgary. Banff is the biggest city in Canada’s oldest National Park and is known as a resort town for skiers in the winter and for nature lovers all year round.

Most conference participants will fly into Calgary International Airport we recommend that you take advantage of the Banff Airporter shuttle bus that departs from the terminal and will drop you off at the Banff Centre campus, or in the town of Banff, depending on the accommodation you book.

Receive a 15% discount on the Banff Airporter's daily shuttle service between the Calgary Airport and Banff. Click Banff Airporter and then Book Now. Proceed through the reservation and type - LMDA - in the "Promo Code" section on the final payment page to receive the discount. This special rate is valid for travel dates between June 19-28, 2023. We recommend reserving seats two weeks prior to the travel date to ensure availability

The Airporter website lists a number of drop off points in Banff; please click “Banff Centre For Arts (Prof.Development Centre)” if you’re staying on the Banff Centre campus, or select your hotel from their drop down list.

Participants traveling in groups might also consider sharing the cost of a rental car for greater flexibility.

For those arranging travel and accommodation, please plan to arrive by late afternoon on Thursday June 22nd. Our conference welcome will take place that afternoon, and the first conference event will take place after supper. Sessions will continue Friday June 23 and wrap up on the evening of Saturday June 24. Departure is Sunday June 25th. All sessions will be held on the campus of the Banff Centre.

Accommodation

For this year’s conference, there are two main accommodation options: an on-campus option at the Banff Centre, and a range of off-campus options in the town of Banff. 

On-campus accommodation: 

The Banff Centre has two hotels located right on campus, a short walking distance to conference events, dining halls, Banff Centre amenities (such as a fitness centre with swimming pool, gym and climbing wall), and extensive hiking trails. The Banff Centre is a ten minute walk from the centre of the town of Banff. 

There are 60 rooms available at the Banff Centre for LMDA Conference participants. There are both single room and double rooms (ideal for those that want to share a room to reduce their expenses) options available (a total of 75 beds). Room rates range from $213 CDN to $233 CDN per night plus taxes. Banff Centre rooms are only available the nights of June 21, 22, 23, 24.

To book a room on-campus go to the Banff Centre’s hotel booking website, where more information on the room types and the Banff Centre is available.

For detailed information on Banff Centre hotels, its campus and Banff itself, see the Hotel Guest Directory.

Off-campus accommodation:

Hotels:
The town of Banff has a variety of hotels within a 10-20 minute walking distance to Banff Centre. 

LMDA has arranged with The Banff Lodging Company that conference participants can access a 10% discount code at each of their Banff hotels, valid from June 20 - 27, 2023. To access this discount, please enter the code “LMDA”.

This option may be well-suited for larger groups, families or folx who would like to arrive prior to or extend their stay after the conference dates. While hotel rooms in Banff are generally more expensive, The Banff Lodging Company has many options and different room types at a variety of pricing levels.

Visit the The Banff Lodging Company for information on its hotels and to book a room.

Hostel:

There is also a hostel option at the HI Banff Alpine Centre. These rooms book up quickly, so book early! 

Bed & Breakfast:

AirBnB does not operate in Banff, but there are a variety of B&B options that may be suitable to your stay. 

Camping

For those of you who like camping, by June it should be reasonable weather with appropriate gear. Campsites can be booked directly through the national park - and Tunnel Mountain Village I, II, and III are closest to Banff Centre. It’s highly recommended you book campsites well in advance. A full breakdown of camping fees can be found here. 

Camper Vans

For the more adventurous, you could rent a camper van. We’ve had great experiences with Calgary’s Karma Campervans – their pickup point is very near the airport. Boondocking is not permitted within the Banff townsite - but you can find more information about where to park here. This is also a viable option for folks who might wish to extend their stay! 

Canmore

Canmore is a nearby mountain town about 20 minutes by car from Banff, and is home to many hotels and condos available at slightly cheaper rates. You can take public transit from Canmore to Banff for $6.00. We’d recommend this option for folx who are traveling in groups, and might seek a multi-room place – or for people who want to extend their stay, but don’t feel the need to stay in Banff proper. Our conference committee has had good experiences with Falcon Crest Lodge, but there are plenty of other places. 

• Visit this link for more information on the Town of Banff.
• Visit this link for more information on Banff National Park.
• Here’s a handy currency converter for those of you not operating in Canadian funds.