Our Ambassador Q&A series gives you a behind-the-scenes look into the work of our wonderful team of Chamber Ambassadors. As business peers who actively use The Winnipeg Chamber to achieve their professional and personal goals, our Ambassadors are the perfect people to talk to if you’re considering joining The Chamber – or want to increase your involvement.
We had a chance to chat with Chris Hall, Owner of The Portal, to talk about why he volunteers as a Chamber Ambassador, how you can get involved and how he Reimagined his business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meet Chris!
Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce (WCC): Tell us a bit about your business- The Portal. 
Chris Hall (CH): Launched at the height of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Portal Bots is a first of its kind entertainment experience where customers control REAL robots from their home computer, in real time. Our purpose built arena, located in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, can host customers throughout Canada, the USA and beyond. Our primary focus is corporate team building and entertainment, and we offer a great solution for distributed workforces and businesses with multiple locations. We have game modes to suit all audiences, from competitive races to team building strategy games to all out “last-bot-standing” skirmishes. Check out our CBC article for more information – here.
WCC: How did you find your way into the industry?
CH: In 2016 we opened Manitoba’s first Virtual Reality Studio. Business was great; winning a certificate of excellence and being rated one of the top 5 entertainment companies in Winnipeg. We expanded twice and excitedly moved into our first high street location in January 2020. Our grand opening was March 3rd, 2020… and we closed March 20th, 2020 due to the pandemic. While frustrating (and quite heartbreaking), it did lead to some creative thinking, and our Pivot to Portal Bots, which is not just a Manitoba first, but a world first!
WCC: How can Chamber members get involved?
CH: Unsure if battling bots is for you and your team?! Book a free live demo with Chris here and try it out yourself! Should you decide to book, you can use the code CHAMBER10 to receive 10% off your first booking.
WCC: Why did you become an ambassador of The Chamber? What are the benefits?
CH: I joined as an ambassador as I wanted to meet members of the business community and support a cause that I believe in. I also find that the busier I am, the more productive I am.
WCC: Why did you become a Chamber member? How does your membership help you in your business life?
CH: Matthew TenBruggencate, former Chamber employee, Jon Goodspeed, VP of Membership and Sales visited The Portal as customers and sweet talked me into joining, but I am so glad that I did. I started The Portal VR with no prior business knowledge so meeting fellow entrepreneurs and learning about their experiences, tips and tricks was invaluable.
WCC: We recently completed our #ReimagineWPG campaign where we recognized Winnipeg businesses who embraced change and pivoted their business for the better. How did you pivot and embrace change?
CH: At the beginning of the pandemic we realized that there were few entertainment options for businesses outside of Zoom-based trivia quizzes. Portal Bots was originally devised as a location-based entertainment offering, with customers controlling the bots via tablets while standing around the arena. However when Winnipeg entered lockdown we experimented with remote play, and in doing so, invented a new type of entertainment, which has proven very popular. In doing so we have expanded our customer reach from 750k to hundreds of millions (North America and beyond)
WCC: What would you say to someone who is on the fence about becoming a Chamber member?
I would recommend joining the chamber as it offers many different programs, great networking opportunities, fun and engaging events, and the opportunity to have your business showcased like on this blog!
Volunteer with The Chamber!
There are several volunteer opportunities with The Chamber for you to get involved, be showcased, tell your story, and give back.
In addition to personal growth, we know that volunteering at The Chamber must be aligned with your professional goals as well. Ambassador Volunteers receive exposure and relationship-building opportunities at events, and their depth of knowledge to improve both their experience of giving back and The Chamber as a whole is relied on as well.
Interested in learning more or being a Chamber Ambassador? CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE to join The Chamber today!
