VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE CELEBRATES 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF WEST BUILDING OPENING

Over $1 billion in direct spending generated from conventions and events over five years

The Vancouver Convention Centre celebrates an exciting milestone today – the 5th anniversary of the opening of its expanded facility.

Since opening the West building on April 3, 2009, the Convention Centre has hosted nearly 2,750 events, welcomed over 2.6 million guests from around the world and generated over $1 billion in direct spending for the province.

“It has been a remarkable five years at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The addition of the West building – a truly stunning facility in terms of design, functionality and location – has elevated Vancouver on to the global stage as a major convention destination,” said Ken Cretney, President and CEO, PavCo. “The West building expansion has helped attract an incredible array of global events, including SIGGRAPH 2011 and 2014, Pediatric Academic Societies 2010 and 2014, and TED 2014 and 2015.”

“The world needs great gathering places and Vancouver is one of them – and the lynchpin in that reputation is the Vancouver Convention Centre,” said Rick Antonson, President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver. “As residents, we enjoy seeing delegates from around the globe walking our streets, dining in our award-winning restaurants and playing in our scenic outdoors. Science, medical research, the environment – leading minds meet here because Vancouver provides the best setting for inspiration and innovation, anchored by the Vancouver Convention Centre.”

Spanning 1.1 million ft2, the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West building tripled the facility’s capacity. The Convention Centre’s two connected buildings offer a combined 466,500 ft2 (43,340 m2) of flexible of pre-function, meeting, exhibition and ballroom space.