The Vancouver Convention Centre is exceeding its forecasted economic benefits in the wake of booking some of the largest conventions the city has ever seen.

There are 413 events for this year confirmed so far. The conventions, conferences, trade shows, banquets and meetings include the approximately 10,000 delegates from around the world who attended May's Risk and Insurance Management Society's Annual Conference and Exhibition. This was one of the largest conventions held at the centre to date, bringing in an estimated $23 million in direct spending to the province, but soon to be topped when international computer graphics and interactive technology professionals converge this summer.

In August, the convention centre will host over 20,000 delegates for the SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques) conference. This five-day event will be the convention centre's largest to date, attracting exhibitors and delegates from around the globe.

Since the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games last year, the convention centre has reached a new level of international recognition and awareness which is attracting new business. The convention centre is currently in negotiations to bring several more large international events to the city through 2020.

At a time when many North American convention centres are suffering from declining business, the economic impact generated from activity at the Vancouver Convention Centre was $17 million higher than the $699 million anticipated at the start of fiscal 2010-11.

Why It Matters:

Conferences and events at the Vancouver Convention Centre bring increased business to hotels, restaurants, services and attractions across the city and province. Out of town delegates spend an average of $485 per convention day on accommodations, meals, transportation and shopping.

Quick Facts:

• The addition of the Vancouver Convention Centre's West building tripled the capacity of the facility, from 12,400 square metres (133,000 square feet) to 43,340 square metres (466,500 square feet).

Events in 2011 that could not have been accommodated without the expansion include:

• Risk Insurance Management Society 2011 Annual Conference and Exhibition: nearly 10,000 delegates over five days in May.
• NAFSA 2011- Annual Conference and International Education Expo: 8,700 delegates over six days in May.
• Special Interest Group on Graphics and Interactive Techniques (SIGGRAPH): estimated 20,000 delegates over five days in August.
  
• Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2011: estimated 4,200 delegates over five days in October.
• To date, the convention centre has booked 449 major events (conferences, consumer shows, trade shows or special events) since the expansion opened in April 2009. These events are expected to generate $3.75 billion in economic activity. Ninety-eight of them could not have been accommodated in the original facility.
• The Vancouver Convention Centre is the only two-time winner of the International Association of Congress Centres' APEX award for "World's Best Convention Centre".

Learn More:

About the award-winning Vancouver Convention Centre at: http://www.vancouverconventioncentre.com/

Media Contacts:

Marisa Adair
Communications Director
Ministry Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 920-8500

Jinny Wu
Communications Manager
Vancouver Convention Centre
604 647-7353