The San Diego Convention Center has earned a gold certification from the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC), the only convention facility in the nation and just the second in North America, to achieve gold status. The AIPC Quality Standard Certification program is an industry-specific process developed to document accomplishments and to evaluate key areas of convention center performance. Only 11 AIPC centers worldwide have successfully achieved certification with six others in various stages of the process. Gold is the highest certification level a convention facility can receive.

“In the highly competitive convention and meeting industry, the San Diego Convention Center’s commitment to excellence sets us apart from the competition and ensures important convention business keeps coming back,” said Mayor Jerry Sanders. “I’m proud of our Convention Center staff for providing millions of convention visitors with a world-class facility.”

“We’re honored to be recognized on a global level and to have received a gold certification. It’s a tribute to the ongoing commitment and dedication of the San Diego Convention Center’s entire team,” said Carol Wallace, the San Diego Convention Center Corporation’s president and CEO.

The certification process examines 10 key areas including Customer Service, Quality of Facilities and Operations, Employee Relations, Health, Safety, Security and Emergency Response, Financial Integrity, Community Relations, Environmental Responsibility, Industrial Relations and Supplier Relations.  Convention centers seeking certification are required to submit documentation demonstrating how each standard is addressed as well as the measures in place to gauge success and to improve shortcomings.

“As part of our ongoing service philosophy, we believe in implementing practices and programs to attain the highest quality standards of facility management and operations. We’re pleased to be recognized for our efforts,” said Brad Gessner, general manager of the Convention Center.

AIPC is one of the leading associations for professional convention and exhibition centers managers world wide and occupies a unique position amongst the various organizations that represent the meetings industry. It is a true international organization, with representation from over 53 countries around the world. It focuses specifically on the issues, opportunities and challenges facing convention and exhibition centers. It celebrates and promotes the multicultural dimension of the international meetings industry and the role facilities play in enhancing it.

The San Diego Convention Center Corporation manages, markets and operates the San Diego Convention Center. In its 20-year history, the facility has proved to be a vital economic engine, generating $18 billion in economic impact and $360 million in tax dollars for the region. Visit www.visitsandiego.com/pressroom.

Back To Press Room