Bringing 30 years of experience, Claire Smith, CMP was appointed Vice-President, Sales and Marketing in June 2008. Claire is responsible for strategic business development, leading and directing the Vancouver Convention Centre sales department, as well as positioning the facility in the global marketplace.

As the Convention Centre’s Director of Sales & Client Services from 1997 to 2005, Claire played an integral role, managing sales, marketing and event services. Claire also was the principal of her own consulting firm where she provided business development strategies for convention venues, bureaus, associations and event management companies. She has worked with convention centres around the world and until her appointment at the Vancouver Convention Centre, worked with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) as their VP, Marketplace Performance.

Claire is a recognized expert in her field and has been a featured speaker and session facilitator at ASAE, MPI and PCMA. In 2018 she served as Chair of PCMA , the world’s largest, most respected and most recognized network of business events strategists association and was the first supplier and non US based member to hold this position. She is also an active participant in various International committees and Advisory Boards.