Vancouver Announces Largest Convention in City's History

Vancouver’s convention and visitors bureau, Tourism Vancouver, has secured the city’s largest-ever convention — the 2025 International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.), which will attract 48,000 people from around the world to Canada July 2-5, 2025 — it announced this week.

“We are truly honored that A.A. has chosen Vancouver to host the 2025 International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous,” Tourism Vancouver Director of U.S. Sales, Meetings and Conventions Jacqueline Benear said in a statement. “Orchestrating and winning a bid of this magnitude took time and patience, and is the direct result of A.A.'s local community approaching us in the mid-90s — they have been our steadfast inspiration ever since. The International Convention is a cornerstone booking for our city, and a testament to the entire hospitality community’s collaboration, dedication and long-term planning. This amazing event is so powerful and uplifting to so many people, and we look forward to sharing our home with A.A. in 2025.”

Vancouver has spent more than 10 years trying to win the convention. It bid to host the meeting for the first time in 2003, and attempted once more before securing it this year. More than a dozen North American cities were invited to bid for the meeting, including Montreal, St. Louis, Minneapolis and Denver. According to Tourism Vancouver, Vancouver was selected for its “award-winning facilities and infrastructure, close relationships among the hospitality community, and inspiring location next to the ocean and mountains.”

The meeting is expected to contribute $71 million in direct spending to the local economy.

“Vancouver had all the basics covered: an amazing destination, world-class facilities and a committed, energized local A.A. population,” said A.A. Convention Manager Gregg Talley, president and CEO of Talley Management Group. “The icing on the cake was the team of incredible hospitality professionals who worked together, and then with us, to make this happen. We are delighted to be working with the Vancouver community to make this event a huge success in 2025.”