Live Out Loud!
If you’re looking for a convenient-to-plan-and-attend international meeting, this is your boarding call. Just a hop and a skip north of the Washington state border, Vancouver is the Hollywood of Canada, an easy home base from which to take in the endless adventure of Whistler, the place you’ll find yourself dreaming of returning to again and again (I know I am)…yes, this slice of heaven in British Columbia really is all that.
Meet & Stay
I started off my Vancouver experience by watching a perfect sunset over Coal Harbour from my east-facing balcony at The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver. Surrounded by ocean and marina on three sides, this hotel offers 499 guest rooms in addition to one of Western Canada’s largest hotel conference centers, at 71,000 sq. ft. It’s only a (might I add, absolutely beautiful) 10-minute walk along the Sea Wall to the double LEED-certified Vancouver Convention Centre, made up of two buildings: the more recent West Convention Center, built for the 2010 Olympics, immerses visitors in a polished atmosphere created by Douglas fir and Hemlock woodworking on the walls and ceilings; the East Convention Center maintains a classic and classy cruise ship-inspired elegance, and the two spaces are connected via an indoor walkway rich with paintings and installations by local Indigenous artists.
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The connected JW Marriott Parq Vancouver and The DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection stand in the city’s vibrant entertainment district, and offer an upscale, stylish experience. I was pleasantly surprised upon a visit to the sun-soaked spa, with its floor-to-ceiling windows in the spa lounge. The bright and airy 60,065 sq. ft. of meeting space is home to the largest hotel ballroom in Vancouver.
If you find yourself in Whistler, just about an hour’s drive north, you’ll enjoy a cozy mountain lodge-inspired stay at The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler. After a long day of convening across the 39,098 sq. ft. meeting space, your attendees will find that their in-room electric fireplaces are the perfect prelude to a perfect night’s sleep.
Bird’s Eye View
There’s no better way to take in views of the eclectic, artsy Vancouver skyline, nor the snow-capped peaks surrounding the city, than from a seaplane. After boarding from the dock at Vancouver’s Harbour Air Seaplane Terminal, the seven other passengers and I were soon glued to our windows in childlike wonder as we soared just above the mountain peaks on our way to Whistler. There’s also the option to take a seaplane tour above Vancouver itself, departing and landing in the same protected waters.
Once in Whistler, I found myself whisked off once again into the sky on the Whistler Village Gondola. Mesmerized by the skiers and snowboarders zipping down the mountainside, I arrived at the Roundhouse Lodge on the top of Whistler Mountain before I knew it, where, aside from the mountaintop Olympic Rings monument, you can enjoy astounding panoramic views while relaxing around the fire pits; and, if you so choose, a return trip down on a snowboard, skis, or, in summer, a mountain bike.
Gastronomy Galore
In a world where nearly every destination wants to impress with culinary delights, Vancouver stands out as one with consistently exquisite dining experiences wherever you turn. Pro tip: plan a visit to the Granville Island Public Market. With the guidance of Vancouver Foodie Tours, not only did I have the privilege of sampling everything from artisan cheese and bread to maple-candied salmon, to what is apparently Seth Rogen’s favorite donut shop, Lee’s Donuts, I also learned about each establishment’s passion for their artisan creations.
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Once the sun sets, options for the perfect classy dinner are endless. Within The Parq, The Victor is equally renowned among locals and visitors for its elevated sushi menu, specialty steaks (A5 wagyu, anyone?) and wine poured from one of Canada’s largest wine Enomatic systems. It all brings home an atmosphere designed around the idiom “to the victor belong the spoils” and the imperial reign of Queen Victoria.
This article appears in the September 2024 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
