Age: 37
Occupation: President and CEO, Tourism Calgary
“That was the best day ever!”
Those are the words 17-year-old Alisha Reynolds heard on her first day working at a golf and country club 20 years ago. It also happened to be the moment she knew she wanted to pursue a career in hospitality and tourism.
While Reynolds worked briefly as a corporate lawyer, she switched to hospitality in 2017, working her way up to a VP position at national hospitality company Northland Properties. In 2024, she became the president and CEO of Tourism Calgary, where she plays a big part in helping many people experience their best days ever.
Under her leadership, Tourism Calgary won the hosting rights to the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, launched the new Blue Sky City brand campaign and offered the most robust Calgary Attractions Pass yet. In 2025, Calgary welcomed more than 200 events to the city, including the Rotary International Convention, one of the largest conventions in Calgary’s history. Last year was the biggest year for Calgary’s visitor economy yet, with a record-breaking 10.5 million visitors generating $3.3 billion in spending.
“My vision is, ultimately, that people come to this city and feel loved and that they belong, they’re welcome and they’re in a place that’s friendlier than anywhere else in the world,” says Reynolds.
Reynolds echoes that message across all of her roles. As a CEO, mother of three, wife and community member, kindness is at the root of everything she does. And she believes her work thrives when she does it in tandem with the community. Reynolds has served on various non-profit and charitable boards, including Horizon Housing Society, the Calgary Hotel Association and Parks Foundation.
With community and collaboration at the heart of her work, Reynolds is not only setting ambitious goals to grow Calgary into the best city it can be, she’s making it happen. The city is set to reach Tourism Calgary’s target of doubling the visitor economy by 2035 — that’s a lot more memories and best days ever to come.
“Calgary is this place with open arms and blue skies and big hearts that brings people together to laugh and enjoy and connect. And that gives me such great pride and such gratitude,” says Reynolds.
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