PHOTO: Port of Vancouver, Canada Place. (Photo courtesy of Thinkstock)

Vancouver is welcoming more than 1,350 travel agents and cruise line representatives from around the world this week for the for sold-out tourism industry conference Cruise360, which unfolds at the Vancouver Convention Centre from June 1-6.

The conference, which is typically held in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is making its third appearance in Vancouver, thanks in part to the efforts of the Pacific Rim Cruise Association (PRCA) – an organization comprised of Tourism Vancouver, Destination BC, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Vancouver Airport Authority, who worked with conference organizers to bring the trade event to Western Canada.

"Vancouver has earned an international reputation as a premiere home port and travel destination, and Cruise360’s decision to return here absolutely reinforces that,” said Dayna Miller, Director of Leisure Travel, Tourism Vancouver. “The conference will give some of the world’s most influential travel professionals the opportunity to experience Vancouver’s cruise ship product, convention facilities and spectacular outdoors firsthand – and that in turn will give them key knowledge and inspiration to endorse and market our city to their clients."

Vancouver is a beloved city among cruise passengers, in part because of its beautiful harbour, its convenient access via Vancouver International Airport—Canada’s second-largest airport, and its convenient cruise terminal facilities located at Canada Place, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

"We extend a warm welcome to Cruise360 conference participants who are visiting Vancouver from around the world this week,” said Carmen Ortega, Manager of Cruise Services and Canada Place Operations. “2016 marks the 30th anniversary of Canada Place, home to our award-winning cruise terminal, which will be showcased during conference tours this week. We are proud to play a role in this international travel industry conference and we look forward to learning about new trends in the industry.”

Cruise business is a key economic driver for the City of Vancouver, largely because most cruise passengers extend their visit by two to three nights, according to a 2015 study by PRCA. Additionally, passengers rated Vancouver “extremely high” as a travel destination and indicated that their top activities while in the area include sightseeing, dining, exploring parks and other natural areas, shopping and visiting attractions.

 “Cruising British Columbia’s coastline is one of the most spectacular tourism experiences in the world,” said Marsha Walden, CEO, Destination British Columbia. “We love hosting the Cruise360 conference to show off the beautiful setting that makes us an unforgettable destination as well as to showcase our first class conference centre, port facilities and airport. We hope delegates will take this opportunity to explore BC and see how much we offer visitors – our monumental Rocky Mountains, the wild beauty of our north, the lush rainforests of our west coast, and vibrant cities perched on the edge of it all.  Wherever they turn, they will find inspiration.”

The survey, which queried some 2,100 cruise passengers, also found that most of the city’s cruise passengers are from the U.S. (62 per cent), a number that is further helping drive Canada’s profile as a tourism destination for Americans.

With cruise passengers spending extra nights in Vancouver comes more revenue for area hotels, attractions and restaurants, which in turn help boost tax contributions and local employment. The city anticipates 228 cruise ships will call upon the port this year, bringing a total of 830,000 passengers into the city. Each call generates roughly $2 million in economic activity.

Vancouver is Canada’s largest cruise port, and a popular homeport for one-way and roundtrip itineraries to Alaska through Canada’s Inside Passage. 

For more information on Cruise360, visit www.Cruise360.com. For more information on visiting Vancouver, click www.tourismvancouver.com. 

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