May 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Big Picture Conferences is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with the Canadian Resort Development Association (CRDA) to produce VO-CON, the Canadian Vacation Ownership industry's premiere business conference. Since 2007, Big Picture Conferences has produced over 28 events within the Canadian Hospitality sector including the flagship Canadian Hotel Investment Conference and the Western Canadian Hotel and Resort Investment Conference. "Big Picture Conferences events have become the "must attend" annual events in their respective categories" said Orie Berlasso, Conference Producer.  "Adding VO-CON to the line-up is a natural evolution of our mandate."
The 2013 VO-CON starts on October 22 with an opening reception, followed the next day by educational and networking sessions at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Vancouver.  This newly reformatted event will be dedicated to all aspects of the timeshare, fractional and vacation ownership sectors. Focused on "the business of vacations" the event will feature networking, the latest information and will attract resort development, vacation exchange, shared-ownership sales and marketing, hospitality management, design, finance and legal professionals. VO-CON's program is being developed based on significant feedback from the Association members and the industry. "The industry spoke and we listened, keeping true to our mandate of producing an event that is relevant with topics that are timely" said Jon Zwickel, President and CEO of CRDA.

CRDA's VO-CON will be held in conjunction with Western Canadian Hotel and Resort Investment Conference starting on October 23 with an opening reception, followed by educational sessions taking place on October 24 at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel Vancouver.  Designed for hospitality executives and those involved in resort and hotel real estate, the Conference is a candid forum for new strategies to deal with global economic uncertainties and their effect on Western-based tourism and real estate.  "Content for the conference has been tailor-made for C-level executives, CEO's and serious investors", says Carrie Russell, Managing Director of Vancouver-based HVS, one of the event's key sponsors.

Registration for both events will be opening soon. For speaking opportunities at VO-CON and/or the Western Canadian Hotel and Resort Investment Conference please contact Orie Berlasso at Big Picture Conferences at 416.924.2002 ext 229.

About CRDA 
CRDA is an industry-based association that is dedicated to furthering the vacation ownership resort and leisure industry. It was founded over 20 years ago in response to the public's demand for reliable information about timeshare products. Focus has since broadened to all aspect of shared ownership.

About Big Picture Conferences
Big Picture Conferences is dedicated to the production of conferences and networking events for the Canadian hospitality industry. Big Picture Conferences delivers turnkey events by developing program content, organizing quality speakers, coordinating marketing services while managing venue arrangements, registrations and finances. Big Picture Conferences 'must attend' events include: the Hotel Association of Canada's Annual Conference, Canadian Tourism Marketing Summit, Canadian Hotel Investment Conference, Canadian Restaurant Investment Summit, Western Canadian Hotel and Resort Investment Conference and now CRDA's VO-CON.

For further information:

Big Picture Conferences Contact: Orie Berlasso, Director Big Picture Conferences (416) 924-2002 toll free: 1 (866) 887-4533 [email protected] www.bigpictureconferences.ca

CRDA Contact: Jon Zwickel, President & CEO (604) 538-7001 (800) 646-9205 [email protected] www.crda.com