Tourism Vancouver launches the evolution of Be A Host convention ambassador program — the MIND Partnership (Meeting and Innovation Network of Distinction)

Vancouver, Canada, 2018-Jul-03 — /Travel PR News/ — Last night, at a special gathering of the city’s top academics and industry leaders at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Tourism Vancouver launched the evolution of the organization’s successful Be A Host convention ambassador program.

MIND Partnership (Meeting and Innovation Network of Distinction) is a group of thought leaders committed to sharing knowledge and influence, promoting innovation, and attracting global meetings to Vancouver.

MIND Partnership unites trailblazers from industries spanning medicine, technology and beyond, connecting them with like-minded professionals, and supporting them in bringing their colleagues to meet in Vancouver for a world-class conference experience.

Launched by Tourism Vancouver in 1996 as Be A Host, the program has worked with more than 1,500 Vancouver and Canada-based industry leaders to bring their associations’ meetings, conferences, and congresses to Vancouver, including Dr. Julio Montaner, who hosted 5,500 of his academic peers at the International Aids Society’s Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in 2015; and Dr. Robert Elner, who is spearheading the prestigious International Ornithological Congress coming to Vancouver this August.

Local hosts play an invaluable role in contributing to Vancouver’s advancing knowledge economy and boosting the city’s visitation. The annual economic impact from the meetings and conventions industry to Vancouver is $500 million, supporting over 6,000 jobs in the city.

The MIND Partnership brand is a culmination of over 8 months of research and design, including surveys and stakeholder interviews with local hosts and industry partners, as well as the development of a new creative direction in partnership with local agency Ion Brand Design.

“We are so thankful to the local hosts whose determination, leadership, and a passion for their work, over the last 22 years with Be A Host, has helped to strengthen Vancouver’s reputation as one of the world’s top meeting destinations,” said Andrea Heaney, manager of MIND Partnership for Tourism Vancouver. “With the launch of MIND Partnership, we are committed to supporting more industry leaders in showcasing Canadian research, technologies and academic advancements at a global level, and providing a platform for them to start something big in Vancouver.”

“When great minds gather in Vancouver, it’s not just our knowledge economy that stands to gain,” said Ty Speer, President and CEO, Tourism Vancouver. “Meetings and conventions in Vancouver contribute $300 million annually in direct visitor spending on hotels, dining, attractions, shopping and more. Hosting conferences in Vancouver puts Canadian ideas and innovation on an international stage while supporting the destination’s visitor economy.”

Bidding on and securing conventions is a highly competitive business, and MIND Partnership aims to make the process as easy as possible for Canadian hosts. From proposals, to the formal bid process, to conference details, MIND Partnership promises to help every step of the way.

Tourism Vancouver is proud to have supported some of Canada’s brightest minds, and with the evolution of MIND Partnership comes a commitment to continuing this service for many years to come. To learn more about MIND Partnership, visit www.mindpartnership.ca.

About MIND Partnership
An alliance of industry leaders, creative innovators and elite thinkers, MIND Partnership (Meeting and Innovation Network of Distinction) unites trailblazers from industries spanning medicine, technology and beyond, supporting them in bringing their professional colleagues to meet in Vancouver. Local hosts play a valuable role in showcasing Canadian research excellence on a global stage and contributing to our advancing knowledge economy. Launched by Tourism Vancouver in 1996 as the Be A Host program and considered a forerunner of similar programs now taking off in global meeting destinations, MIND Partnership has seen over 1,500 local hosts bring their meetings, conferences, congresses and symposiums to Vancouver over the past 20+ years. www.mindpartnership.ca

About Tourism Vancouver
Tourism Vancouver is the official destination marketing organization for Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The not-for-profit, member-based organization represents over 1,000 tourism businesses in Metro Vancouver and beyond. Tourism Vancouver markets Vancouver as a premier leisure, business, meetings and group travel destination in strategic markets around the world. www.tourismvancouver.com

MIND Partnership contact:
Andrea Heaney
Manager, MIND Partnership
604-631-2886
aheaney@tourismvancouver.com

Media contact: 
Brianna Prasloski
Communications Specialist
604-631-2873
bprasloski@tourismvancouver.com

Source: Tourism Vancouver