Without a major upgrade, the Winnipeg Convention Centre is in danger of being left in the dust by bigger and fancier facilities across the country.
Klaus Lahr, president and CEO of the 37-year-old downtown landmark, said it needs a $200 million renovation just to reclaim its No. 5 national ranking in the convention centre game, which it stands to lose before the end of the year when Ottawa and Niagara Falls christen new buildings.
He said the three levels of government need to agree quickly on a funding plan or millions of dollars of much-needed spending by convention delegates will be lost this year and potentially for years to come.
Lahr said it's a sad state of affairs for the building, which was the first of its kind in Canada when it opened its doors in 1974. It has 78,000 square feet of exhibition space and another 80,000 square feet for meetings but Lahr said it needs to almost double its space to be able to attract big-time events.
"We're going to be pushed to the margins of the convention centre business," he said.
from Western Investor, March 2011
