Alberta's West Edmonton Mall Gets Hollywood Attention as Setting for New Holiday Film Christmas in Wonderland

Alberta attraction proves its claim to be the greatest indoor show on Earth.

Alberta, Canada (PRWEB) June 7, 2007 -- Alberta has a little of everything: magnificent national parks, cultural activities, and exciting urban life. It also has something that no other place can claim--the Guiness World Record's Largest Mall. West Edmonton Mall (http://www.westedmontonmall.com/home/default.asp) is an Alberta sightseeing destination all its own and draws more visitors than any other Alberta attraction with 22 million guests per year.

According to Travel Alberta's recent article "Greatest Indoor Show on Earth: Mall Stars in Hollywood Movie," recent guests of the mall have included Leslie Nielsen, Patrick Swayze, and Chris Kattan -- all starring in this year's Hollywood holiday film, Christmas in Wonderland. The 5.3 million-square-foot, 48 block-long Alberta destination was chosen as the movie's setting because of its "'Land of Oz'" quality, according to the film's writer/director James Orr. The movie, jointly produced by Insight Film Studios and the Academy Award-winning© Yari Film Group, whose movie Crash won the 2006 Oscar© for Best Picture, is slated for release in November.

It is this same Oz-like quality that makes the West Edmonton Mall a favorite Alberta vacation destination (http://www.westedmontonmall.com/play/waterpark.asp). Housing everything from water and amusement parks to the world's largest indoor lake, the mall is truly an all-seasons Edmonton attraction, according to the Travel Alberta article. Visitors also enjoy over 800 stores, several restaurants, an NHL-size skating rink, California sea lions, and an underwater world with some 200 species of fish, sharks, sting rays and more. Edmonton accommodations are even available at the on-site Fantasyland Hotel.

The Edmonton Film Commission, operated by Edmonton Economic Development Corp. (EEDC), along with Alberta Film, Travel Alberta (http://www1.travelalberta.com/en-ca/) and West Edmonton Mall, partnered to bring the film's production to Edmonton. Support was also provided by Edmonton Tourism's Destination Marketing partners and the West End Hotel Consortium.

About Travel Alberta

Travel Alberta is the Destination Marketing Organization for the province of Alberta. Travel Alberta International is contracted by Travel Alberta to execute marketing programs for the North American, European and Asia Pacific markets.

Travel Alberta articles are publication-ready and available to the media and travelers through a monthly e-Bulletin. Featuring various topics related to Alberta vacation and sightseeing destinations, the articles are an innovative travel resource. Travel Alberta also offers electronic and printed media information, images in several formats, vacation guides, Betacam SP and VHS footage (also available in PAL format).

Published Contact Data:

Name:     Twyla Ursaki, Communications Assistant, Travel Media

Phone: 403.774.4336

ZipCode: T5J 2Z4 Calgary, Alberta

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