VANCOUVER — Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart and representatives from downtown businesses and the hospitality-and-tourism sector have announced the creation of a new Office for Night Time Economy.
The office is based on the concept of a “night mayor” and will be a single point of contact for the tourism, hospitality and arts-and-culture sector. It will be managed on an interim basis by the Hospitality Vancouver Association, the Downtown Vancouver Business Association, Destination Vancouver and the mayor’s office. This concept has been successful in other major cities, including Amsterdam, New York and London.
“This initiative is about creating a 24/7 economy that supports those people working in all industries in a truly global city,” said Nolan Marshall, president and CEO of Downtown Vancouver Business Association at a press conference. “It’s about more than joining with friends for a drink or joining with friends to see live music. It’s about the intersection of public safety, place making and of really economic development, because at its heart, this is an economic-development initiative.”
Next fall, the mayor’s office expects to hire a full time Night Advocate. Over the summer, the office will reach out to the tourism, hospitality and arts-and-culture sectors and craft recommendations on how the city can support and grow the industry.
