Impressions of Downtown: Public Opinion Survey Results
Did you know the majority of Metro Vancouver residents, in particular those who work downtown, have a positive impression of downtown? What do they like to do most when they’re here? Take in entertainment, go shopping, dine out, sightsee, enjoy leisure activities and visit Stanley Park What do they dislike most? The number of homeless people on the streets and traffic. What would encourage them to come downtown more often? More cheaper parking and improved transit service.
What to find out more?
Attend the DVBIA’s first members-only Food for Thought: Lunch n’ Learn series and hear the results of the Spring 2008 public opinion and member surveys.
Each year the DVBIA hires an independent survey company to track impressions about:
• How much money visitors to downtown spend on average and on what
• How safe visitors and members feel in different parts of the downtown
• What they like and dislike most
• The barriers to coming downtown
• Whether impressions of downtown have improved over the years
• And more…
The DVBIA uses the information to help it plan its priorities for the coming year. You can do the same. Click here to go to registration.
Downtown Ambassadors® go to 24/7 service this Summer
For years they have provided welcome assistance to downtown businesses, residents and visitors, and worked closely with police to reduce crime. Now, the DVBIA’s Downtown Ambassadors® will be working around the clock in the downtown core.
Last month, City Council approved $237,000 in funding to expand the Ambassadors program to include a late-night shift after results from a City of Vancouver on-street audit demonstrated a need for the expansion. This funding decision followed Council’s approval-in-principle of the expansion in late 2007.
The ambassador expansion will make public money available to supplement the program that is currently being funded exclusively by various Vancouver BIAs, including Downtown Vancouver, Yaletown, West End and South Granville.
The initial expansion will increase the number of Downtown Ambassadors® from 23 to 29, hours of operation will increase from 16 to 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and funding will be made available to BIAs that have, as of yet, been unable to afford such a program.