Impact of Olympic exposure on Vancouver

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by raggedy13

I think you kind of answered your own question. For one, the extra exposure will help to showcase other aspects of the city aside from just the natural environment. Additionally, I don't think Vancouver is really that well known internationally. People might know of it, but they don't really know anything about it (I think this is how the world sees Canada in general). Collectively, if we play our cards right we can showcase that Vancouver is a city with great potential (modern, multicultural, highly skilled worker pool, excellent educational institutions, progressive, abundant natural resources, well-situated geographically, economically stable, etc.) and therefore a great place to invest.

I dunno. I'm still not entirely convinced. I think Vancouver has a decent amount of exposure globally. I think US cities have more exposure when it comes to their names in particular - how could you not recognize names like New York City, LA, Chicago, Miami, etc. Those are global, international city names, and they have a lot of foreigners invested in those cities in particular. In Canada, I guess the equivalent could be said of Toronto. But I'm still not convinced that the added exposure, though the Olympics, will benefit the city very much. I am, of course, hoping that I am proven wrong. I think a few more people will certainly come to our city, and see it as a great place to live, and raise a family...but as for businesses being run here, and investment - we've never really been that strong in those areas to begin with. I hope that does change for the sake of the future of Vancouver.

For me, most people when they hear the word "Vancouver" often will associate it with mainly the natural enviroment, and almost nothing else. There is almost nothing else in the city - predominately, Vancouver will always be associated with that, unless the corporate community begins to establish itself, and Vancouver begins to be known as a city that competes economically globally. I guess you could say that the city has "branded" itself as a city of natural beauty, and really, not much else. I really would like for this to change, so that the perception of Vancouver would be different.

[johnjimbc]

People are acting like humans are roboticons who make purely logical decisions. Open the paper today or turn on the tube to dismiss that fantasy in an instant .

People make emotional decisions all the time, even people given titles like "Director of Expansion." They are influenced by what they read, enjoy themselves, or see on TV. They are also influenced by Marian, the woman down the hall with the title "CEO" and the guy "Fred" downstairs known as "VP, Finance."

So if Fred goes to Vancouver with his partner and loves it, wondering if it might not be a better fit for their dream of expanding into Canada rather than Toronto or Calgary, and he talks to Marian about it upon his return, the "Director of Expansion" might indeed take another look at Vancouver - perhaps adding it back on the list of preliminary visits planned the following summer. Sure he's heard of it before, but now the CEO is making the suggestion and he does, after all, now have an inside contact name provided to him by Fred.

When A-One Company opens a new office in Vancouver in 2018, is anyone actually going to trace the opening of the office to the Olympics? Perhaps in the company, but quite probably not anywhere else. But the reality is outcomes just like that occur every day, even in our own lives.

No, I don't think anyone is going to announce that business is expanding in Vancouver due to the Olympics, or the Canada Line, or the Airport expansion, or the milder weather, or any number of assorted influences. They might mention taxes since that seems to be the default position . But everything else becomes part of the mix, not the deciding factor.

Vancouver will without a doubt get more notice due to the Olympics. It already has. That's why cities host these type of events: reputation and name-recognition. Hosting a successful Olympics also demonstrates a certain level of sophistication in management of the local governments - if they are indeed regarded as a success.

Otherwise, why would any city do anything? Why would there even be major events? I appreciate the need to quantify things . . . I truly do. But this seems like a major hypothetical discussion.

Hosting the Olympics is not like having a concert. It's a bundle of infrastructure and investment and tourism and business outreach, even cultural outreach. There are just lots of moving parts. I've not commented on this thread for that reason. It just seems like people are trying to count apples when discussing a topic that encompasses all the produce in the garden, and perhaps some animals in the barn as well .

[johnjimbc]

Regarding your last comment, VanCity, it does seem you are missing something obvious.

If Vancouver - and BC - establish themselves as the city and province that successfully staged the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, that will go a long way to promoting the idea that the province and the city is more than just a "pretty place."

Government and business leaders recognize it takes a lot of planning, investment, coordination, and dedication to stage a successful world event on the scale of the Olympics. That does count for something.

I do agree with you on the need for Vancouver to exert and develop its business potential, but I think you minimize or ignore how the Olympics can help do that.

[Yume-sama]

As usual, you're just sounding rational.

[SpongeG]

the guy from five guys burgers chose to move here and start his canadian expansion based out of vancouver

[raggedy13]

So now that the Olympics are just a little over a month away, does anyone have any last minute predictions on their potential impact?

In Statistics Canada's most recent population estimates (for 3rd Quarter 2009), BC is shown to be the fastest growing province in the country. Could the Olympics strengthen this trend?

[red-paladin]

I think the deal to get Canada an official tourist destination of China will make the Olympics have a larger tourist impact.

[delboy]

Originally Posted by vansky

seriously, I think the city will be something in 20 years.

that's what i've been saying recently. I think Vancouver is really at an important junction. It's about to grow up from awkward adolescence into young adulthood.

The next 5 - 10 years are going to be important. I think the Olympics will give us a push to re-branding ourselves as being more than just a pretty little town with views of the mountains, pretending to be a world class city. The infrastructure we have gained will help in this regard.

Given the future growth economies will be China and India, we have staggering potential here - i just hope we don't blow it.

[junius]

I agree that the Olympics will have a positive impact on Vancouver's brand image globally and will provide us with an opportunity to showcase what we have built for the entire planet. However that in itself will not have a posititive long term impact on our economy or the city.

The major post-Olympic issue will be how we build upon our positioning as a global leader in sustainability and innovation. Increasing tourism is all well and good but we need to focus on primary industries such as new media, green technologies and other new economy businesses in order to bring opportunties to the people who live in B.C.

Over the next few decades we need to replace our commodity economy with a digital economy in order to become truly "world class." This is the challenge the post Olympic world offers and we have only just begun to understand and accept this challenge and opportunity.

[junius]

Originally Posted by Vancity

I dunno. I'm still not entirely convinced. I think Vancouver has a decent amount of exposure globally. I think US cities have more exposure when it comes to their names in particular - how could you not recognize names like New York City, LA, Chicago, Miami, etc. Those are global, international city names, and they have a lot of foreigners invested in those cities in particular. In Canada, I guess the equivalent could be said of Toronto. But I'm still not convinced that the added exposure, though the Olympics, will benefit the city very much. I am, of course, hoping that I am proven wrong. I think a few more people will certainly come to our city, and see it as a great place to live, and raise a family...but as for businesses being run here, and investment - we've never really been that strong in those areas to begin with. I hope that does change for the sake of the future of Vancouver.

For me, most people when they hear the word "Vancouver" often will associate it with mainly the natural enviroment, and almost nothing else. There is almost nothing else in the city - predominately, Vancouver will always be associated with that, unless the corporate community begins to establish itself, and Vancouver begins to be known as a city that competes economically globally. I guess you could say that the city has "branded" itself as a city of natural beauty, and really, not much else. I really would like for this to change, so that the perception of Vancouver would be different.

I agree with your basic instincts. If we include the build up and the event then the Olympics is really about a 10 week marketing campaign on a global level. It should be very positive but it needs to be sustained to have a long term impact. People have short memories and even shorter attention spans.

The issue will be what we do with that attention over the long term.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by junius

...Over the next few decades we need to replace our commodity economy with a digital economy in order to become truly "world class." This is the challenge the post Olympic world offers and we have only just begun to understand and accept this challenge and opportunity.

Quite frankly I've never understood this obsession with the term "world class". There are a handful of world class cities around the world: eg. London, New York, Tokyo etc. Its highly unlikely Vancouver will ever play in that league, Olympics or no. And that's OK, there are scores of very pleasant non-world class cities around the globe. Salt Lake, Lillehammer etc were not transformed into world class destinations after their Winter Olympics, but does that matter?

BTW, what's wrong with "world class" commodities industries?

[Yume-sama]

I still have to reserve judgment until AFTER the Olympics to find out what happens, and how much the city stands by and lets the protesters disrupt things.

The Olympics themselves can be great, but there are things that can happen that would absolutely ruin the image of Vancouver, and effect how "successful" the games are.

[delboy]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Quite frankly I've never understood this obsession with the term "world class". There are a handful of world class cities around the world: eg. London, New York, Tokyo etc. Its highly unlikely Vancouver will ever play in that league, Olympics or no. And that's OK, there are scores of very pleasant non-world class cities around the globe. Salt Lake, Lillehammer etc were not transformed into world class destinations after their Winter Olympics, but does that matter?

BTW, what's wrong with "world class" commodities industries?

No, but world class is often viewed as a country's influence on the world. Smaller cities do have this over us. There is a rating system that rates cities as either Alpha, Beta or Gamma based on their influence on world finance, culture and infrastructure etc. Vancouver is a Gamma city and is viewed on the world stage the same as Manchester and Birmingham.

Guess it depends what meaning you attach to world class. Vancouver should stop pretending.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by mrjauk

Wow. Vancouver's top real estate marketer telling people to buy in the next six to 12 months, lest they be "priced out forever!" What are the odds that a real estate marketer would be telling people to buy homes?

How many of you have purchased a condo(s) in Torino, Salt Lake City, Albertville, Lillehammer, Nagano? But Vancouver is different, they say. Vancouver's real estate market will do what it will and the Olympics will have nothing to do with it. Look more to local employment, income conditions, the level of securitization of residential mortgages by the CMHC, etc. The Olympics effect will really be minimal. The real estate marketer is playing on people's fear, greed--and most importantly--ignorance, to further his own economic interest.

If memory serves, didn't Sydney suffer a post-Olympics real estate bust?

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by johnjimbc

Regarding your last comment, VanCity, it does seem you are missing something obvious.

If Vancouver - and BC - establish themselves as the city and province that successfully staged the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, that will go a long way to promoting the idea that the province and the city is more than just a "pretty place."

Government and business leaders recognize it takes a lot of planning, investment, coordination, and dedication to stage a successful world event on the scale of the Olympics. That does count for something.

I do agree with you on the need for Vancouver to exert and develop its business potential, but I think you minimize or ignore how the Olympics can help do that.

This is assuming that the city of Vancouver takes action on developing its business opportunities, and potential. If they don't take action, then the Olympics are useless (in terms of furthering, and helping with that business plan).

[johnjimbc]

We are completely in agreement on that last point, VanCity. The province and city do need to have a plan to take action on business opportunities which arise from the Olympic exposure.

[whatnext]

I wonder if all these American visitors flying in will be so favourably inclined toward Vancouver and Canada when they go fly back home and are not allowed to take a carry-on bag, thanks to our incompetent Transport Minister?

[Yume-sama]

If they are going back to America, they are used to idiotic "security" policies enacted by their own Government. Which this was, and Canada followed.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by junius

I agree with your basic instincts. If we include the build up and the event then the Olympics is really about a 10 week marketing campaign on a global level. It should be very positive but it needs to be sustained to have a long term impact. People have short memories and even shorter attention spans.

The issue will be what we do with that attention over the long term.

Well, this is what I'm worried about. I'm not convinced, or confident that our current government has anything planned for the future. What are they going to do with the extra exposure they will receive from the rest of the world because of the Olympics? What kind of economic/business future plan do they have for the city? How are they "re-branding" the city of Vancouver in the global market? Talking is well, we need discussion, but without putting the talk into action - all that talk - well, is cheap.

One poster say that there are few "world class" cities in the world. I would agree with that statement. Can Vancouver become a "world class" city? I suppose. I'm not sure if they will ever get to the statuses of the New York City's, or the London's, Paris' of the world, but hey, very few cities can achieve that kind of global status and influence. Vancouver has a very small town mindset when it comes to government, and well everything else (unfortunately).

Vancouver's a fine city. I love it But that doesn't mean that we can't push to be one of the world's very best cities (like the NY's, Londons', and Paris' of the world).

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by johnjimbc

We are completely in agreement on that last point, VanCity. The province and city do need to have a plan to take action on business opportunities which arise from the Olympic exposure.

And I hope the city does take action.

Or these Olympics and that extra exposure for the city, are all wasted.

Let's not waste such a wonderful opportunity.