April 8, 2010
The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre (CTCC) is pleased to announce achievement of “Gold” certification from AIPC (International Association of Congress Centres). The Quality Standards program was developed as a way of delivering an industry specific form of certification for documenting a centre's accomplishments in key areas of convention centre performance.
The CTCC is the first convention centre in North America to achieve Gold and shares this honour worldwide with only one other centre – Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Gold is the highest level to be attained and the CTCC’s average aggregate score was 3.37 out of a possible 4.
The AIPC Quality Standards program has been developed as a way of delivering an industry-specific form of certification for documenting a centre’s accomplishments in key areas of convention centre performance. Program standards address ten key areas, including Customer Service, Quality of Facilities and Operations, Employee Relations, Health, Safety, Security and Emergency Response, Financial Integrity, Community Relations, Environmental Responsibility, Industry Relations and Supplier Relations.
“This certification allows us to have that much more recognition in the international markets which is of utmost importance to the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre”, says Marcia Lyons, General Manager. “Everyone here is proud of this accomplishment which would not have been possible without our staff’s hard work and dedication”.
The procedure includes a requirement for participating centres to assemble and submit documentation as to how they are addressing each standards area and what measures they have in place to both gauge success and act on any shortcomings. The audit identifies areas where centres have opportunities to develop more specific activities to address key areas and rates centres according to how well they have acted on these.
“With more centres and destinations coming into the market every year, the question of how a client can assess the capabilities of any given product is becoming more and more important”, says AIPC President Edgar Hirt. “At the same time, we are being confronted with other standards developed by groups outside our industry that do not necessarily reflect the realities or priorities we face as managers. The AIPC Quality Standards program is one that entirely reflects our own needs and can truly deliver an accurate assessment of how well a centre is addressing the demands of both clients and owners, and I congratulate the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre for its achievement”.
The External Auditor for the AIPC Quality Standards Certification program is Mr. Rick Knowlan, President, Knowlan Consulting Group Inc. of North Vancouver, Canada, which specializes in strategic management consulting. He holds a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering (1974) from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and an MBA (1985), also from UBC.
To download this article in .pdf form click here.
The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre has been one of Canada’s premier convention and meeting facilities since opening its doors in 1974. Operated by the Calgary Convention Centre Authority on behalf of The City of Calgary its mandate is to market, manage and operate in an efficient and competitive manner in order to maximize overall economic benefits to the city of Calgary.
AIPC - the International Association of Congress Centres - is the industry association for professional convention and exhibition centre managers world wide. AIPC is committed to encouraging and recognizing excellence in convention centre management, while at the same time providing the tools to achieve such high standards through its research, educational and networking programs. AIPC represents over 160 convention centres in 53 countries.
For interviews or further information, please contact:
Heather Lundy
Director of Marketing
Calgary TELUS Convention Centre
Phone: 403.261.8514
Email: heatherl@calgary-convention.com