PG Civic Centre Part of Marketing Plan

Sunday, March 18, 2007 04:53 AM

The Prince George Civic Centre is part of a group of convention centres that has developed a joint approach to attract business, and that group has just received an $85 thousand dollar cash boost from the Province.

The group includes the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Victoria Conference Centre, the Telus Whistler Conference Centre and the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre . The money from the Province will be used to develop its business and marketing plan to attract conventions to B.C. .

The convention business is seen as an economic driver, pumping some $560 million dollars into the provincial economy. Studies indicate delegates spend between $276 and $553 dollars a day depending on where the convention is held, and that about one third of the delegates will travel to another part of the province as part of their "convention" stay.

Colleen Van Mook, Manager of the Prince George Civic Centre says the funding will help "We have been talking with the Province to get some sustainable funding, and this business plan will be the first step"

She says the consortium has already sponsored some promotional events in Seattle, Ottawa and most recently Calgary. "We have showcased what potential customers can expect, and we have worked on best practices so customers know there are quality standards and if they visit any one of the five centres, they can expect the same quality, and service."

Van Mook says each centre in the consortium has something different to offer, and for Prince George, there are two very important aspects "One is that we have a regional focus, we appeal to the entire north, the second is that Prince George has a great deal of community pride and that really shows through when we host an event." She says the promotional events have produced some very good leads, and have increased the awareness of what the Civic Centre can do "This (funding) is really good news" .

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Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 04:53 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Chester on March 18 2007 8:20 AM

Great idea, marketing our city in this way.
We do a great job of hosting events here and we should take advantage of our track record. Chester

Posted by: Chadermando on March 18 2007 8:58 PM

I agree sounds like a great idea.

Posted by: Palopu on March 19 2007 9:53 PM

When the new Civic Centre was built one of the arguments that was used to promote the building of it, was that it would attract Conventions from all over North America.

I have been waiting for years for these Conventions to materialize and have in fact seen less rather than more since it was built.

It seems we are still trying to promote Conventions to this area, and who knows, maybe we will get some, however I wouldnt hold my breath. (Although anyone who comes to this town will certainly hold theirs because of the stink) I would also suggest that they get heavy duty shocks for their vehicles so they can withstand the pounding they will receive from our roads.

Just got back from Kamloops, and there is a world of difference between the two Citys, and their roads.