Vancouver Convention Centre

HLT Advisory Case Study

Vancouver Convention Centre (various through 2008)

The expanded Vancouver Convention Centre opened to rave reviews in 2009.

Vancouver Convention Centre (various through 2008)

The Vancouver Convention Centre engaged HLT and/or its principals on a variety of projects over the past two decades, leading to the successful opening of the expanded centre in 2009.

Between 1994 and 2003, detailed analysis was undertaken to assess the potential for expanded convention facilities, with an emphasis on identifying market type (i.e., regional, national, international), facility requirements (i.e., size of exhibit hall) and ancillary facilities (i.e., hotel accommodation). Latter phases focused on programming, identification of desirable site characteristics and providing input to a Request for Expressions of Interest process.

In 2003, the Province of British Columbia contemplated a public-private partnership to expand the centre. We assisted Bentall (one of Canada’s largest real estate investment advisory groups) in a successful submission to win the rights to develop the expansion before the Province ultimately decided to internalize the project.

Between 2003 and 2007, HLT continued to assist the Province (and Tourism Vancouver) by estimating the number of non-resident delegate days and devising a model to calculate the associated economic benefit to the Province. Related economic impact analyses estimated the total spending associated with delegate-day estimates and calculated the revenues to government associated with this spending. A financial model estimated ongoing operating revenue and expense as well as calculating the return on investment to the Government of British Columbia.

The expanded Vancouver Convention Centre opened to rave reviews in 2009.

Similar development assignments (of varying lengths) have been undertaken in Whistler (2014), Calgary (2008 and current), Edmonton (2007), Toronto (2013), Kitchener (2010), London (2012), Mont Ste. Anne (2011), Halifax (2010), Kingston (2013) and Saint John (2009). International assignments have been completed in Durban (South Africa), Bangkok (Thailand), Casablanca (Morocco) and London (United Kingdom).