Tourism Vancouver’s “Be A Host” Program and Videos
Last year, Vancouver’s meetings and conventions industry generated more than $302 million in economic impact for the city. Meetings from all over the world convene in Vancouver attracting thousands of delegates. But how do these major international meetings and conventions end up in a city? “There is a misconception that international associations simply spin the globe to pick their next congress location, but that’s not the case,” said Dave Gazley, Tourism Vancouver’s vice president of meeting and convention sales. “For most international associations, the process of picking the host city for their major congresses requires a formal bidding process with competitive proposals put forward by cities around the world. In most cases, a city’s bid must be led, in part, by a local member of that organization or association. This person often lives in the city and is very experienced in their field of expertise. We call them ‘Local Hosts,’ and they are central to Vancouver’s success in winning international congresses.” Tourism Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre’s Be A Host program works to identify these local industry leaders, and to support and encourage them through the often daunting bid processes. Now in its 19th year, the Be A Host program has helped to bring some of the largest events Vancouver has ever hosted (groups of more than 10,000 attendees). Tourism Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre are constantly aiming to expand the Be A Host program by identifying new Local Hosts with the potential to bring a meeting or convention to the city. Every summer since 2011, Tourism Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre produce a new “Be A Host” video showcasing local business industry experts extolling the virtues of Vancouver as a meetings destination. DMOs like Vancouver are making those hosts much more visible with high-quality video content marketing. Moreover, the videos help source and enlist additional hosts in the destination who want to be part of the lengthy process involved in luring thousands of delegates to a global convention.