Our Organization

Proud ambassadors for Vancouver

People walking on a long suspension bridge over a forested valley with tall evergreen trees.

The economic impact of tourism in Vancouver

A brochure cover showing an aerial view of Vancouver city with mountains and water, titled Destination Vancouver 2022 Business Sprint.

2026 Business Sprint

About us

Our organization

Supporting our tourism sector

What We Do

Alongside our 800+ Members and Partners, we support tourism by developing experiences and promoting Vancouver in target domestic and international markets.

Three people in business attire sitting at a table in a café, engaged in conversation with coffee cups and a tablet on the table.

Mission

To responsibly build a resilient and sustainable visitor economy in Vancouver which contributes $11 billion in direct economic impact by 2030.

Two people standing on a balcony overlooking a harbor with a large cruise ship and mountains in the background on a sunny day.

Purpose

To transform our communities and our visitors through the power of travel.

Smiling older man in a black volunteer jacket and cap talking to two women, one in a red jacket, outdoors.

Mandate

To support Vancouver's tourism industry in developing their experiences, and promoting Vancouver in target Canadian, U.S, and international markets.

Aerial view of a narrow suspension bridge crossing a river surrounded by dense green forest.

Partners shaping 
a spectacular city

Our destination development partners are instrumental in contributing to a desirable visitor economy in Vancouver, helping us to best support key tourism industry groups.

See destination development

Our values are our foundation

Innovation

We always ask if there is a better way.

Transforming ideas into creative solutions and obstacles into opportunities is what we do best. Being curious, courageous. and anticipating change is what drives us forward.

Accountability

We proudly exceed expectations.

Our commitments are intentional and transparent. We are thoughtful leaders, advocates, and ambassadors for Vancouver. The responsibility to build a sustainable and resilient visitor economy is the foundation of everything we do.

Collaboration

Our success has many partners.

We build bridges and long-standing relationships. More is achieved when we share our successes as well as our challenges.

Wellbeing

Wellbeing is our starting place.

Being exceptional at what we do starts with creating a culture where every team member can thrive. When wellbeing is a priority, we are more motivated, engaged, and productive.

Senior Leadership Team

Driven by purpose and focused on our mission, the senior leadership team aligns partnerships, priorities and people to shape Vancouver’s tourism strategy and advance our visitor economy.

Royce Chwin

President & CEO

Stefan Hawes

Vice President, Global Marketing

Michael Drake

Vice President, Meetings, Conventions & Events

Sandra Sharples

Director, People & Culture

Farnaz Riahi

Vice President, Finance & Corporate Operations

Karen Soyka

Vice President, Strategy & Business Development

Meet our
Board of Directors

Destination Vancouver is governed by our 15 board members who volunteer their time to provide strong leadership and guidance to keep the organization accountable and performance-driven.