Vancouver tops in North America
Vancouver Sun
11 June 2005

Vancouver is now North America's top destination for meetings of international associations, says the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) of Amsterdam.

In 2004, the city hosted 31 conventions of international associations, more than any other city on the continent.

"This establishes Vancouver's appeal among meeting planners and delegates from around the world who look for an exceptional meeting experience mixed with the tourism appeal of an outstanding destination," said Tourism Vancouver President and CEO Rick Antonson.

The ranking makes Vancouver the 30th most popular destination for conventions in the world, up from 34th spot two years ago. Most of the cities that ranked higher in the ICCA report were European cities, reflecting the fact that 64 per cent of international associations are based in Europe.

In terms of North American cities, Montreal was 35th, followed by Chicago (41st), and Toronto and Washington, D.C. (tied at 60th). New York was 70th.

Barbara Maple, general manager of the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre said the achievement was a great indicator of the success of Vancouver's convention industry.

"This accomplishment is a result of the strong profile and cooperation of Tourism Vancouver, the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre (VCEC), the hotel community, and tremendous work by our city's professional conference organizers and destination management companies," said Maple.

"At the same time, it's an exciting indicator of what's ahead, with our expansion about to triple the size of the VCEC. We're looking forward to hosting larger groups -- and more of them -- in 2008 and beyond."

Over the past three years, Vancouver has averaged 21 citywide meetings with more than 1,000 delegates each. In 2004, the convention industry contributed more than $1 billion to the local economy.

awesome........if only we could change the design of our convention centre. the current design is hideous.

congrats vancity!

i dont find this surprising...everyone would like to come to van..

Great to hear. However, we better not let our guards down, else other North American cities will steal our share of the lucrative Convention pie.

It always seems hkskyline knows the details before anyone from Vancouver!
With the exception being RT! :)

Asian travellers boost B.C. tourist industry
They're offsetting the decline in U.S. visitors to this province

Wency Leung, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Travellers from Asia are giving a boost to B.C.'s tourism sector as the number of U.S. visitors declines, according to a Scotiabank Group report released Tuesday.

B.C. now attracts as many non-U.S. visitors each year as Ontario, with Asia its fastest-growing market, the report said.

The number of U.S. visitors to Canada still hasn't recovered to levels last seen in 2000, as terrorist attacks, the war in Iraq, and the SARS outbreak have dampened tourism, Scotiabank analyst Adrienne Warren said.

U.S. citizens continue to be put off by a stronger Canadian dollar as well as new regulations, including a planned requirement for American visitors to Canada to carry passports, Warren added.

"U.S. tourism hasn't rebounded, but we are seeing increased tourism from other parts of the world," Warren said in a telephone interview, adding that Asian travellers are offsetting the losses in U.S. tourism dollars.

Canada attracted some 1.5 million visitors from Asia last year, the report said. China, in particular, has been gaining clout, with 100,000 Chinese tourists visiting Canada last year.

Some estimates show the number of Chinese tourists could climb to 700,000 annually in coming years as Canada seeks "approved destination status" from Beijing, the report said. "Approved destination status" would allow Chinese visitors to obtain visas to Canada more easily.

The 2010 Winter Olympics will also be a significant draw, the report added.

In general, Chinese citizens are travelling to more regions around the world, as the country's middle class grows and travel restrictions ease, Warren said.

Developing the Asian market is critical for Canadian tourism operators, especially in light of the decline in travel by Americans, she added.

Earlier this month, Tourism BC reported that 4.1 million tourists stayed overnight in B.C. between January and December. U.S. visitors fell 2.8 per cent to 2.9 million, while visitors from the Asia Pacific region rose 1.8 per cent to 700,000.

The tourism marketing agency is taking active measures to meet the demands of the Asian market, said Cindy Gobin, Tourism BC's market development manager for Asia. Its strategy, however, "is pretty much different for each country," she said.

The agency is targeting an older Japanese market as that country expects a large wave of retirees in 2007. It is also helping tour operators plan itineraries and market tours for Chinese visitors. And it's helping to package independent travel plans for South Koreans, who are increasingly shirking tour groups to travel on their own, Gobin said.

While U.S. visitors tend to make short trips to B.C., Gobin said: "The Asians and Europeans tend to stay longer and spend more."

In spite of the spike in Asian travellers, it is unlikely the number of Asian visitors will match the volume of U.S. travellers anytime soon.

"The U.S. market is still No. 1 in the international market," said Ray LeBlond, director of communications at Tourism BC.

LeBlond said that means Tourism BC won't be shifting its resources away from the U.S. market in favour of Asia. "The U.S. market is still one of our best opportunities," he said.

wleung@png.canwest.com

ASIA IS BRIGHT LIGHT OF TOURISM:

Asia's international travel receipts surpassed those of North America for the first time ever in 2004, according to Scotiabank's NAFTA Quarterly report. Asia is now the No. 2 travel-destination region after Europe.

- Travel Quadruples: China's share of global travel receipts has quadrupled over the past two decades, to four per cent last year.

- Spending Increases: Chinese tourists accounted for just over three per cent of international tourism expenditures last year, up from less than one per cent in 1994.

- Fastest Growing: Asia is Canada's fastest-growing source of tourism dollars, attracting 1.5 million visitors to the country last year.

- 100,000 Visitors: China is Canada's 12th-largest tourism market, attracting roughly 100,000 visitors to the nation last year.

Source: Scotiabank, Vancouver Sun


According to the Scotia report, U.S. tourists still accounted for 72 per cent of foreign visitors to B.C. last year.

Good job. I wonder what rankings for North American/national conventions would be like.

Vancouver ready to host gambling summit in April
Economic impact of about 1,500 delegates worth some $4.88 million

Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, December 15, 2005

Between 1,200 and 1,500 Canadian gambling industry representatives are expected to converge in Vancouver next year for the 10th annual Canadian Gaming Summit and Exhibition -- the first time the $13-billion industry's main trade show will be held in B.C.

City tourism officials estimate conference delegates will account for 4,800 hotel room nights throughout the city and directly spend about $2.05 million, creating a total economic impact of $4.88 million.

The newly formed Canadian Gaming Association bought the event from founder Ivan Sack and has partnered with professional event managers MediaEdge Communications to expand the annual conference into a major event, modelled after the hugely popular Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.

"It made sense to acquire the event instead of going up head-to-head against it," CGA president William Rutsey said in an interview. "After that, the next logical step was to bring professional event management to the show."

The CGA, an industry trade association formed in March this year, represents an industry that includes casinos, lotteries, bingo operations and horse racing facilities and directly employs more than 50,000 people across Canada (100,000 if you include horse racing).

The number of people attending the event at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre between April 24 and April 27 is expected to be at least 50 per cent more than the total attendees at the last conference in Niagara Falls.

CGA vice-president Paul Burns said the size of the B.C. gambling market, the attractiveness of Vancouver in the spring and the city's proximity to Las Vegas -- where many industry vendors and suppliers are located -- should ensure strong attendance at the 2006 event.

Suppliers expected to participate in the show include slot machine manufacturers, table game suppliers, security companies, card and chip makers, hoteliers and talent agents.

Canadian gambling industry revenues have exploded in recent years as governments promote gambling as a way to generate public income. Future growth rates may not be as high but Rutsey expects the industry will still experience strong growth of "non-gaming amenities" like hotels, food and beverage operations and entertainment facilities, which represents one of the biggest trends in Canadian gambling.

"Ten years ago, gaming revenues in Nevada represented 75 to 80 per cent of all revenues but now it's more like 50-50, with non-gaming revenues slightly ahead of gaming revenues," he said.

Great Canadian Gaming Corp. representative Howard Blank said the conference will give the Richmond-based casino company a great opportunity to showcase its two biggest gambling and entertainment facilities in Richmond and Coquitlam.

He said the 1,000-seat theatre at its River Rock casino in Richmond has sold out virtually every performance since opening earlier this year and has attracted entertainers including Paul Anka, Joan Rivers, Eric Burdon and Burton Cummings. Roseanne Barr, Howie Mandel and James Brown will perform there early next year.

Rutsey, meanwhile, said problem gambling remains a hot issue with many industry opponents but he stressed every province has responsible gambling programs and initiatives and noted Ontario spends $36 million a year on treatment and prevention.

He said modern slot machines have built-in controls and features to try to curb problem gambling.

"Fifteen to 20 years ago, a slot machine was kind of like a car without an airbag," Rutsey said. "But now they have features that keep track of the amount of money you've spent and how much you're up or down. Some VLT machines also deliver a responsible gaming message when you sit down to play."

bconstantineau@png.canwest.com

GAMBLING'S BIGGEST PLAYERS COMING TO VANCOUVER:

Big business? You bet: The Canadian gambling industry, a major player in terms of revenue for government and charities, and in terms of creating jobs, holds its annual huddle here next year

$13 billion

Canadian gambling industry's annual revenues

$7 billion

Annual Canadian gambling take for government and charities

50,000

Canadian direct employment from gambling

$1.9 billion

Annual revenues from B.C. casinos, lotteries and bingo halls

$720 million

Annual B.C. take for government and charities

8,500

B.C. direct employment from gambling

Source: Canadian Gaming Association, B.C. Lottery Corporation, Grant McKenzie, Vancouver Sun
© The Vancouver Sun 2005

Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto Top Destinations for Business Meetings: Economist

The Edmonton Journal

Friday, December 16, 2005

- Three Canadian cities dominate the top of The Economist's list as being among the best destinations on the globe to hold a business meeting or conference.

Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto were cited as the three top locales, "because they have the right mix of feel-good factors without being too expensive," the magazine says. Vancouver just edged out Calgary for the top spot with a rating of 4.6 compared to Calgary's 4.9.

The ranking of 127 cities worldwide, where a lower number represents a better destination, placed Toronto third with 5.4 and Montreal at ninth with 9.5. No other Canadian cities were included in the ranking. The worst location for holding a business meeting, The Economist said, is Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, which received a numerical result of 62.9.

Cities were selected based on criteria such as safety, costs, climate, transportation, airport distances and availability of good hotels.

© The Edmonton Journal 2005

^ Do you have the full ranking?

if we want to do better, we should build another cruise terminal (lots of people use cruise ships and talk to other people, spread the word and such). We've needed one for years and now we're losing to Seattle..NOOOO!(not that i dislike Seattle, very beutiful)