ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
SUGGESTED ACCOMMODATIONS
Banff Systems Summit guests are welcomed to stay at the same venue as the event, the Banff Centre.
Nestled on the side of Tunnel Mountain and just five minutes from downtown, Banff Centre hotel features newly renovated rooms and breathtaking vistas. All guests enjoy property-wide complimentary Wi-Fi, parking, admission to Banff Centre's Walter Phillips Gallery, and PLUS Membership at our extensive fitness and recreation facilities.
If you'd like to book your stay at the Banff Centre, at a discounted event rate, please do so using the following link:
Please note: The last day to book using the event rate at the Banff Centre is April 25th, 2024.
Guests are welcome to stay at the Banff Centre for an additional 2 nights at the discounted rate, should they choose to extend their stay in Banff.
Questions about lodging? Please contact us at hello@gravitypull.ca.
ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONS
Fairmont Banff Springs
Located in the heart of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the world-famous Fairmont Banff Springs is a landmark in the picturesque alpine town of Banff, Alberta. Canada's "Castle in the Rockies" has been providing legendary hospitality to guests since 1888. Unrivaled among Banff luxury hotels, the Banff Springs is a pricier option for accommodations.
For more information on the Fairmont Banff Springs, including pricing and booking, please visit the hotel website.
Mount Royal Hotel
Overlooking the mountains, this relaxed hotel in a redbrick-and-stone building dating from 1908 is a 4-minute walk from the Whyte Museum, dedicated to the Rocky Mountains. The warm, relaxed rooms and suites have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and sitting areas. Some offer mountain views.
For more information on the Mount Royal Hotel,, including pricing and booking, please visit the hotel website.
BANFF INFORMATION & SUGGESTIONS
TRANSPORTATION
The Banff townsite is just 3.94 square kilometres, which means it's fairly easy to get around. Locals like to walk and cycle everywhere, or Roam on Banff's great public transit system.
Walking/ Cycling: Roads and trails provide access to most amenities and attractions in Banff. Download the Banff Trails Map (PDF).
Biking: Located at the Banff Train Station, Bike Rentals are just a short walk from downtown Banff, on the Roam transit route, and have ample reserved customer parking available. Banff Bike is your quickest and easiest access to the stunning views of Banff by bike!
Public Transportation: Roam, Banff's public transit bus system gets you just about everywhere in Banff. Visit Roam's website for detailed route information, schedules and fares.
Shuttles: Looking to visit one of the sights not located in the town of Banff? Explore the Park vehicle-free, with shuttle options to access all our main attractions.
Travel from Calgary Airport to Banff, Canmore & Lake Louise on a deluxe motor coach with Brewster Express. We are excited to offer Banff Systems Summit attendees a discounted rate when using Brewster Express. Save 15% on a round-trip booking when you use the promo code BSS2024. For more information and for booking, please visit brewsterexpress.com
ACTIVITIES
There’s no shortage of incredible vistas to experience in Banff and Lake Louise. Soar into the alpine on a scenic gondola ride or take a hike to one of the many vibrant lakes. In Banff National Park, the opportunities for adventure and awe inspiring moments are boundless. The following are some recommendation for activities while in Banff, that are not included in the event.
The sense of anticipation inside your gondola cabin changes as quickly as the view when the Banff Gondola swoops you up above the treetops. For eight minutes, you’ll glide steadily upwards over what feels like an impossibly steep mountainside. Then, 700 metres in elevation gain later, find yourself on the summit of Sulphur Mountain high above the town of Banff. From here, the alpine is yours to discover with vantage points of six different mountain ranges stretching into the horizon
Distance from Banff: 5Km
We are excited to offer Banff Systems Summit attendees 15% off their visit, when they use the promo code BSS2024. For more information and to book, pleased visit banffgondola.com
Parking is limited in the summer. Take the free Banff Gondola Shuttle, Roam Transit or check Banff Now for parking updates.
The vista on display below the torrent of Bow Falls exemplifies the wild diversity of the Rockies. Rocky canyon turns to rushing falls and then to serene river, gliding off down the Bow Valley. The setting is one made famous by Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 film The River of No Return, and it’s no less dramatic today.
Follow the Bow Falls trail for a view from above the cascading waters or sit on the rocky river shore and watch rafting trips take off into the calm waters below the falls.
Distance from Banff: 1Km
Cave & Basin National Historic Site
The cultural significance of the Cave & Basin can be felt from the first steps into the rocky cavern, home to a legendary natural hot spring. Steam rises from geothermally heated waters, and earthy mineral scents fill the air.
No visit to Banff is complete without a trip back in time to the true birthplace of Canada’s first national park. Amidst the delicate ecosystem of the cave, the excitement of witnessing a natural marvel is palpable. This energy can be felt throughout the surrounding boardwalks, thermal pools and hiking trails that lead onwards to the Marsh Loop and Sundance Canyon.
Distance from Banff: 2Km
Banff Park Museum National Historic Site
Stepping through the polished log-hewn doors of the Banff Park Museum is akin to stepping back in time. Inside the museum, the rich diversity of natural history that inspired the creation of Canada’s first national park is on display.
The 5,000 specimens held within the museum are captivating to anyone who crosses the threshold. In addition, the log building is a National Historic Site and the oldest federal building still standing in any Canadian national park.
Distance from Banff: 1Km
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Meals, snacks and coffee will be provided as part of your registration, but we also strongly encourage participants to explore the town, and the many strong local businesses that support and sustain Alberta's mountain communities.
Breakfast & Coffee
Not so much a restaurant, but it is an amazing coffee shop. Whitebark has been known to deliver the best coffee in Banff for a while now. On our first trip to Banff, we stopped by for several top-ups before we made the move here. They serve fair-trade organic coffee from Moja Coffee in North Vancouver and loose leaf teas from Banff Tea Co.
Location: 401 Banff Ave
Cuisine: Coffee
Price: $
Farm & Fire's brunch menu features the dishes you wake up thinking about — classic breakfast plates, French toast and Canadian eggs benny to name a few. The acclaimed restaurant is nestled inside the Elk + Avenue Hotel right on Banff Ave., making it a prime spot to visit on your way into the town centre or out.
Location: 333 Banff Avenue
Cuisine: Canadian fusion
Price: $$
Lunch & Snacks
A beavertail is right up there, with poutine as a quintessential Canadian food item. Of course, it’s not some beautiful culinary feat as it comes from a chain found throughout Canada. However, the crispy, spongey, and sweet fried “beavertails” are delicious. The novelty of having a beavertail is not lost on visitors and the two shops on Banff Ave.
Location: 201 Banff Ave
Cuisine: Grab & go Canadian
Price: $
Banff's best pizza, as seen on You Gotta Eat Here. Our signature pizzas, sandwiches & cast iron specialties will satisfy any hungry Banff adventurer. Make yourself at home in a cozy booth and enjoy a beer, or a bear sized cocktail and finish with a ridiculously good pizza.
Location: 211 Bear Street
Cuisine: Pizza
Price: $
Dinner & Pubs
A Banff Staple. The Grizzly House is a little quirky. However, the food here is delicious, and they do offer some great fondue. The fondue experience is paired, followed by a meat course with a wide selection from beef to elk, bison, or even ostrich.
Location: 207 Banff Ave
Cuisine: Fondue / Steak House
Price: $$$
Reservations: Call Ahead (403-762-4055)
If you’re after the best pizza in Banff, head to High Rollers for some bowling. It’s your old-school bowling alley that feels grungy; instead, you’ll find modern decor, craft beer, wings, and delicious NY-style pizza. Don’t miss out on their super tasty waffle fries or poutine.
Location: 110 Banff Ave
Cuisine: Pizza / Bowling
Price: $ – $$
Book a Lane: Online
The Banff food here follows the theme of the camp and Canadian mountain food, along with many vegan options. You’ll find everything from tofu bowls to cornbread, short ribs, burgers, and baked beans, or a modern twist on s’mores for dessert on the menu. They also have an extensive cocktail list of inventive cocktails made with their spirits. Visit Park Distillery for either lunch or dinner.
Location: 219 Banff Ave
Cuisine: Modern Camp Food / Canadian / Distillery
Price: $$
Make Reservations: Opentable
