UBC Reports | Vol. 49 | No. 8 | Aug. 7, 2003

UBC Host Program Encourages Faculty and Staff to Attract Conferences

Program provides novices with expert support

By Brian Lin

Every year, thousands of conference delegates descend on UBC to discuss topics that could range from Organometallic Chemistry to Mountain Logging. These highly mobile academics and professionals bring in millions of dollars to the local economy and return home with a lasting impression of their Canadian host.

“Conference delegates become unofficial ambassadors of UBC,” says Trish Brown, sales and marketing director of Conferences and Accommodation. “Not to mention the revenue generated to UBC, which goes to improve student residences and keeping rent affordable.”

Conference specialists assist local hosts in bid preparations, promotions, and registration and exhibit management, so even a novice can put together a successful conference.

More than 85,000 square feet of meeting space and the ability to accommodate up to 3,000 guests make UBC one of the largest campus conference facilities in Canada. Its natural beauty coupled with its central location to the Asia-Pacific and North America also makes it a favourite for international conference organizers.

Brown says the Conference Services and Meeting Planning Division has been working with local hosts -- UBC faculty and staff who are conference organizers -- to successfully bring conferences to UBC and reap the benefits of this multi-million dollar industry.

Building on the success of its conference planning services, Conferences and Accommodation will officially launch the Local UBC Host program this fall, headed by sales manager Teresa Rempel, who was instrumental in Tourism Vancouver’s “Be A Host” program.

“We already have a very strong repeat client base, and many of our new clients are referred to us by past hosts,” says Rempel. “By launching the Local Host program, a program designed to assist local hosts with the process of securing meetings and events for Vancouver, we hope to make more people aware of the services we provide and encourage more local hosts to bring conferences to UBC.”