Vancouver Tourism

Vancouver Tourism | April 2012

WESTJET ANNOUNCES DIRECT FLIGHT BETWEEN VANCOUVER AND CHICAGO
Starting May 14, Canadian airline WestJet will offer daily, non-stop service between Vancouver and Chicago. With O’Hare International Airport serving as a major hub for both domestic and international flight connections, the new route is expected to facilitate business and leisure travel between Vancouver and key destinations not only in the U.S. but also worldwide. Passengers travelling on WestJet’s new route, as well as on the airline’s new service between Calgary and Chicago, will fly on the company’s own Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft (service to other Canadian destinations, including Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, are provided on partner American Airlines’ code-share flights). Introductory, one-way fares from Vancouver start at $169 (plus taxes and fees).

TOURISM VANCOUVER NAMED ONE OF CANADA’S BEST CVBS
Tourism Vancouver has been named one of Canada’s top three Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs) in Meetings + Incentive Travel magazine’s 16th annual Market Report study.

Every year, Meetings + Incentive Travel conducts what is widely considered the most comprehensive survey of Canada’s meetings and incentive travel industry. During the survey process, the publication polls its primary readership – comprised of executives and managers, meeting planners, travel agents and others – and aggregates data into categories including corporate, third-party and not-for-profit/association.

The 2011 survey featured a new, open-ended question in the Reader’s Choice Section asking which Canadian CVB exceeded readers’ expectations and best catered to their group’s needs in the past 12 months. Tourism Vancouver was named among the top three Canadian CVBs to have exceeded planners’ expectations.

HOW TO “VANCOUVERIZE” YOUR NEXT MEETING
Looking for a way to WOW your delegates and infuse your meeting with authentic Vancouver flavour? Our expert Meeting and Convention sales and service team has unique ideas to share with meeting planners on how to do just that. This month, Nicole Havers, Sales and Marketing Coordinator, shares one of her ideas:

“There is no better way to get acquainted with an area than by flying over it. The Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre is located at the Vancouver Convention Centre, so it’s extremely convenient for convention delegates to step out of their sessions and onto a scenic flight seeing tour.”

Whistler Air specializes in scenic tours complete with commentary from the pilot telling passengers all about the history, geology and features of beautiful British Columbia. To make this pre or post activity even more irresistible, Whistler Air is currently offering convention delegates a 15% discount. Call toll free 1-888-806-2299, or visit www.whistlerair.ca for more details.

To find out more ways on how to “Vancouverize” your next meeting, email Nicole at nhavers@tourismvancouver.com.

BC EVENT MANAGEMENT WOWS IBEW DELEGATES
Tourism Vancouver has a wide array of talented member businesses that can contribute to your next successful meeting, including Canada’s record holder for national and global industry awards and nominations, BC Event Management. BCEM President David Clark believes it’s important for meeting planners to include an unforgettable reception in their programs because it adds great value to the overall convention experience and assures delegates will attend the next convention knowing they can expect top entertainment as well as business sessions.

Last September, BCEM managed the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Conference’s First District gala reception – and this event had it all: a foyer pre-show; a 150 foot custom programed MegaVideo screen; a suspended artist producing a theme painting; a 35 foot tall marionette lifting up cirque performers; a cast of hundreds of percussionists and dancers of the main show with pyro-confetti accompanying the show’s finalé; a world class fireworks show in the harbour; a fire jugglers/fire performers show on the Vancouver Convention Centre Terrace; and finally a top dance band to close out the night.

This production took home two awards at the 2012 Canadian Event Industry Awards on March 30, 2012, including top prize for “Most Outstanding Event” (in top budget category) and “Best Entertainment Production.” View the awe inspiring opening gala event video here, and start imagining what BCEM could do for your next event.

WORLDMUN CONFERENCE CONCLUDES AND COMMENDS TOURISM VANCOUVER
“It has been quite a 2-year ride for us, but the conference came to a great conclusion and was an amazing success! We’ve received a lot of very positive feedback, almost universal, particularly from returning attendees who have been calling us the “best ever” WorldMUN conference. ‎For instance, “WorldMUN 2012 was as great as expected, which is big, because nothing is ever as good as expected. It was phenomenal.” They loved the city, and they loved our event. The weather wasn’t too bad either, it was relatively mild and dry for a Vancouver March.

We’ve been resting for the past week or so since it ended, but I just wanted to say that we really appreciate all the help we’ve received from Tourism Vancouver throughout the entire process — all the emails, contacts, hotel lists, airfare assistance, visas, information, meetings, etc., and of course those maps and city handbooks! Thank you so much.

Here is a video of the finale of our Closing Ceremony from last Thursday at Jack Poole Plaza, with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron and fireworks display.”

Kenneth Chan
Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Host Committee
World Model United Nations 2012

VANCOUVER NAMED WORLD’S BEST WEEKEND ESCAPE BY OUTSIDE MAGAZINE
In its annual Travel Awards, Outside magazine named Vancouver the world’s Best Weekend Escape. The awards honour the best destinations and experiences across all seven continents, as determined by the publication’s global network of correspondents. The list includes the world’s top new adventures, exotic retreats, on-time airlines, scenic islands and more. Vancouver won for its West Coast delicacies and range of outdoor activity offerings, including “some of the best skiing, mountain biking, fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, hiking, and climbing on the planet.