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For The Record

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE BY THE NUMBERS

June 2, 2009
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
 

Letters to the Editor

Here are the facts on the Vancouver Convention Centre expansion project:

  • 2009 – The Vancouver Convention Centre opened on April 2, 2009.
  • $2 billion – 204 events have been booked through 2012, 61 of which would not have been accommodated in the existing facility. This will bring over $2 billion in economic activity to the province.
  • 4,500 – The Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre generates more than 4,500 direct and indirect full-time jobs.
  • $1.6 billion – During construction, the project generated an estimated $1.6 billion in economic impact for the province.
  • 6,000 – The project created more than 6,000 person-years of employment.
  • 43,992 sq. m – The expansion has tripled the capacity of the facility, from 12,326 sq. m (132,674 sq. ft.) to 43,992 sq. m (473,523 sq. ft.) of pre-function, meeting, exhibition and ballroom space
  • 10,000 – The expansion has enabled the Vancouver Convention Centre to host multiple, simultaneous events, as well as large single events upwards of 10,000 delegates.
  • $200 million – Before the expansion, non-resident delegates spent approximately $90 million each year in direct spending. With the new Centre, direct delegate spending will rise to $377 million annually (2012 forecast). On average, the expansion brings an additional $200 million annually in direct delegate spending
  • 2.5 hectares – The expanded Vancouver Convention Centre has a living roof equivalent to the size of 15 hockey rinks, with more than 400,000 indigenous plants and grasses, from 19 northwest species, and restored marine habitat underneath the building.
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Letters to the Editor

March 4, 2009
Letter to the Editor
NEW CONVENTION CENTRE IS GOOD VALUE FOR B.C.
By Bill Bennett
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
Submitted: The Prince George Citizen
Status: Unpublished
With regard to Dr. Todd Whitcombe's March 2nd editorial and his comments on the new Vancouver Convention Centre, the good professor clearly shows his expertise is in chemistry and not economics. [Read More]