Casually inviting your professional colleagues to meet in Vancouver is one thing... actually hosting the meeting is another.
Have you ever wanted to host your colleagues from around the world and show off your city? It happens all the time as people just like you bring conventions to Vancouver. We call them 'local hosts'. And they work with Tourism Vancouver's Be a Host program to make it happen. Be a Host is an innovative sales and marketing initiative designed to identify and support local members of our community in bringing their association or corporate national and international meetings to Vancouver. More than 1000 hosts have participated in the program since its inception in 1996.
Almost anyone can be a local host. It could be a friend, relative or neighbour that works as a professor within a specialized field, or it might be you as a board member of a non-profit organization. Whatever the topic, business or field of study, there is usually an annual conference hosted by someone just like you.
A well organized conference is a great way to draw attention to the latest developments in your field or industry, particularly from a Vancouver perspective. You'll not only be able to show off your city to professional colleagues nationally or from around the world, you'll elevate your own and your organization's stature amongst your peers.
An International association often relies on a local organizing committee to raise sponsorship, plan the conference program and organize the social events. Many Canadian and US associations will agree to meet here because they have a Vancouver-based board member that can exert influence on the decision makers, even if they are not required to organize the meeting. What does this mean? It means that no matter how great a destination Vancouver is, without a local host, most associations will not meet here. All the more reason we need you!
> Download the Be a Host brochure (PDF)
> Download the Be a Host flatsheet (PDF)
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