With its 1.1 million square feet expansion up and running, the Vancouver Convention Centre has welcomed a new Director of Sales to the team.
Bringing 18 years of experience in sales, leadership and event management, Chris Gowe was appointed Director of Sales to lead a dynamic sales team to promote Vancouver and the Centre as the destination and facility of choice for meeting planners around the world.
He will work closely with the Centre’s partners to develop joint initiatives that will generate business and economic benefit for the province.
“We are so pleased to have Chris on board,” says Claire Smith, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Vancouver Convention Centre
.
“Now that we have tripled our size with the expansion, the Centre is in the position to bring in business that we could not accommodate previously. Chris’ diverse experience, entrepreneurial approach and strong commitment to customer service will be a great asset to the facility and the team as we reach out to new global markets.”
Originally from Vancouver, Chris held leadership positions in the United States and Eastern Canada. Based in Los Angeles, Chris was the Vice President of West Coast Gift Group with DMG World Media, one of the top event management companies in the world. Prior to that, he held the role of Vice President for the Canadian Gift Group, based in Toronto, overseeing the execution of nine shows annually.
“It’s great to be home, working for a world-class facility in a beautiful city,” says Chris. “The Vancouver Convention Centre is second to none, and I look forward to working with the rest of the team to develop innovative business opportunities that will maximize the return on the new, expanded space.”
The only two-time winner of the International Association of Congress Centre award for “World’s Best Convention Centre,” the Vancouver Convention Centre opened in July 1987 after originally serving as the Canada Pavilion at the World’s Fair in 1986.
Since inception, the facility has demonstrated a constant commitment to service excellence, technical capabilities, environmental sustainability and creative world-class banqueting. With the expansion complete, the Centre has tripled its size to cover 1.1 million square feet (or four city blocks) for a combined total of 473,523 square feet of pre-function, meeting, exhibition, and ballroom space.
Image: Chris Gowe, Director of Sales, Vancouver Convention Centre
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