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Edmond Life and Leisure - February 15, 2024
City Source Edmond
Edmond attractions draw in many visitors
Many amenities make Edmond a great place to live and play – and a great place for visitors.
Connecting statewide and regional meeting planners and tournament directors to the Edmond Conference Center, sports facilities and Route 66 are some examples of how the City of Edmond develops, promotes, and grows tourism. And that growth is a key component in the City’s efforts to enhance the quality of life throughout the community.
“When people stay the night in Edmond, they pay a 4 percent lodging tax and also contribute to our sales tax when they shop, dine and play,” said Jennifer Thornton, Tourism Director, whose team just launched a fun new rebranding to help connect residents and visitors even more.
“This is a full circle of economic impact,” said Janet Yowell, Executive Director of Edmond Economic Development Authority. “Edmond attracts visitors who spend their dollars before going home. The circle is completed when they decide to move their family and/or business here.”
But all that growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It takes a commitment to investment and vision and collaboration is key.
Edmond leaders have valuable connections, and it helps when they think of Edmond hosting conferences. For example, former City Council member David Chapman has three academic colleagues from the United Kingdom. The University of Central Oklahoma Real Estate Program has had a wonderful partnership with Coventry University in the UK for almost 10 years. They research together, teach together, present together and solve societal problems together.
They also play together, and they love Oklahoma. And, because of that connection, Chapman pitched UCO as the host for their 2024 conference.
“They like the idea of using 'Experience Route 66' in Edmond as their theme,” said Chapman. “UCO is now the location for the Society for Terrorism Research Conference Sept. 4-6, 2024.”
Edmond Conference Center is also a consistent economic driver. Groups as large as 1,000 enjoy conferences, meetings, celebrations and more. One weekend it will be packed with cowboys from rodeos and another weekend an association will welcome professionals from across the region.
“We have had the best year since the Hilton Garden Inn and Edmond Conference Center opened in 2018,” said manager Gabby Trad.
An important fact is, in addition to room rental, a hotel guest adds about $65 each night to the local economy.
• 26 percent of Hilton Garden Inn rooms sold are from groups attending conferences at the Conference Center.
• The Edmond Conference Center increased the volume of events and revenues by 15 percent compared to last year (500+ events / 36,000+ attendees).
• About 21 percent of Edmond Conference Center visitors were new to market.
• The Hilton Garden Inn Edmond continues to rank in the top 1 percent of the HGI Brand in Guest Satisfaction Scores and was awarded its 3rd consecutive Conrad Achievement Award.
• Edmond Conference Center won a silver award from Northstar Meetings Group’s annual Stella Award for Best Conference Center in the nation.
Another vital part of the tourism draw for Edmond is Route 66, which celebrates its Centennial in 2026.
Celebrations are being planned in cities across Oklahoma along Route 66 in preparation for the 100th birthday. Edmond started early by launching Cycle 66 urban/rural bicycling tour in 2021. In its third year, Edmond welcomed 696 riders from 15 states and one foreign country. Since 2021, Cycle 66 has given more than $60,000 to local charities.
House Bill 4457, passed in May 2022, authorized the creation of the Route 66 Commission Revolving Fund to be used for approved projects in the 46 eligible communities along Route 66 in Oklahoma. Now, $6.6 million is available for distribution each year for five years 2023-2027. The first wave of grants will be announced soon.
Edmond is one of 11 cities collaborating with The Midpoint Corridor Route 66. The goal is to work together to attract travelers along the 100 miles between Sapulpa and Edmond.
“Our first effort was 100 Miles of Christmas,” said Ed Gochenour, owner of Chicken Shack in Arcadia. “Every city had a theme and holiday activities for Route 66 Travelers.”
Edmond’s theme was Miracle on 2nd street. New holiday lights from Arcadia Lake to the University of Central Oklahoma to businesses along 2nd Street showed holiday spirit. It helped give energy to new events like Deck the Downtown with a new 20-foot Christmas Tree at Festival Marketplace.
New Midpoint Corridor Route 66 activities for 2024 include Balloon Festival Sept. 20-22, Chicken Stock Live Music over Fall Break and Roadfest Rally for cars and motorcycles riding from Edmond to Tulsa’s AAA Roadfest on June 22. A board has been formed to lead these efforts that include Edmond, Stroud, Bristow and Arcadia.
From sports facilities to a successful conference center to Route 66. Citizens and visitors alike play recreational and competitive sports, meet in Edmond’s 45 creative venues, and see our historic sites along 13.4 miles of Route 66.
Thanks to sales tax dollars and local partnerships, Edmond has 28 quality sports facilities. Plans are underway to upgrade Service Blake Soccer Complex and renovate KickingBird Pickleball Center and AC Caplinger Sports Complex at Hafer Park. You can find information about those facilities, as well as more about dining and shopping options, fun events, all the City parks and Arcadia Lake has to offer and more at VisitEdmondOK.com.
Learn more about what’s happening around the City at www.edmondok.gov/CitySource.
