The economic spinoff and promotion for Banff National Park from TV personality Kelly Ripa filming her popular daytime talk show in Banff is said to be huge.
Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen said media exposure from Live! With Kelly alone is believed to be worth more than $20 million, not to mention all the coverage in the month leading up to the taping in April.
“You almost can’t calculate the benefits to Banff to have this program shooting in our destination. I don’t think we’ve ever had anything this big,” said Sorensen.
“We have had different celebrities for different events. We’ve certainly had other TV shows shot here, but to have this kind of exposure showing off Banff is incredible.”
Live! With Kelly will shoot two shows April 1 and two more April 2 from The Banff Centre’s Eric Harvie Theatre. They will air April 2-5.
CTV’s Ben Mulroney, co-host of etalk, will be Ripa’s co-host for the Banff finale on April 5. Other co-hosts include Ripa’s husband Mark Consuelos April 2, The Bachelor host Chris Harrison April 3 and Twilight Star Peter Facinelli April 4.
Guests for the Banff shows, which were announced Tuesday (March 20), include Jason Biggs, the American actor best known for his role as Jim Levenstein in the American Pie movies; Glee star Jayma Mays; comedienne Caroline Rhea; electro-pop group Far East Movement; The Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki; David James Elliott from the ABC series GBC and Canadian R&B artist Melanie Fiona.
Sorensen said Live! With Kelly – which is viewed by 3.8 million people each day – will showcase the Banff area as a winter destination, as Ripa has indicated she’ll be taking to the slopes to ski and snowshoeing.
“It will be airing us as a winter destination, which is where we need the most help,” said Sorensen.
“The fact that it’s so highly based on the American market, where, of course, we’ve seen a downturn, is exactly the market where we need this exposure.”
In a TV interview with Canadian media last week, Ripa, a 41-year-old mother of three, said she learned to ski at the age of 38 and is passionate about snowshoeing.
This is her first time in Banff, though along with Regis Philbin before his departure last November, the show was filmed in Prince Edward Island in 2010 as well as Niagara Falls, Ont.
“This is my first time to Banff. I’m very excited about it,” said Ripa.
Ripa said wherever she travels she always Googles information and photos before she goes.
“The pictures are incredible, for people who don’t know how gorgeous the mountaintops are,” she said.
“It seems like it’s where Santa’s elves should live. It’s the most spectacular place I’ve ever seen.”
Travel Alberta – the tourism marketing agency of the Alberta government – set aside $1.5 million to get Ripa to bring her show to Banff.
Travel Alberta is paying $850,000 directly, with the rest coming from tourism partners like Air Canada, Brewster and Fairmont Hotels.
According to Travel Alberta, this province attracts about 810,000 visitors a year from the United States, which spend more than $560 million a year.
To be part of the audience and get free tickets, go to Live’s website, www.LiveWithKelly.tv
