Meetings + Retreats by Page One Publishing

Annual Special Resource Guide

Meetings

Retreats 2 0 1 5 Va n c o u v e r I s l a n d M e e t i n g P l a n n e r

pull me out

Time to Take it Out of the Office

Multi-Generational Meetings and Events

The ABCs of Added Value

build stronger work bonds

Yes, You Can Please Everyone

MAKE YOUR VENUE STAND OUT

Inn at Laurel Point The meeting venue you’ve been looking for. A serene, central waterfront location, just a five-minute stroll from downtown Victoria, Inn at Laurel Point is the only hotel situated on a six-acre peninsula in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. It’s the perfect place to make your next meeting or conference feel more like a getaway.

Wide-open spaces Flexible rooms that offer lots of natural light and oceanfront views. Get inspired by the lush gardens that border our property and enjoy plenty of fresh ocean air with indoor spaces that merge seamlessly with the outdoors. Banquet options are limitless and, with 200 spacious guestrooms and 10,000 square feet of waterfront meeting space, we can create an experience to suit any need or budget.

Stay with us Spectacular harbour views just off your private balcony, decks that give way to a beautiful Japanese garden, and glass walls allow natural light to fill the spaces. Take in the private collection of museum-quality art that graces our hallways and, if that’s not enough, enjoy local, and awardwinning, cuisine in AURA waterfront restaurant + patio.

Top Amenities • Complimentary High-Speed WiFi • 200 guestrooms all with spectacular water views and private balconies • AURA waterfront restaurant + patio • BC’s only carbon-neutral hotel • Covered, secured parking • Pool and fitness studio • In-room spa services

Meeting/exhibition facilities Name of Room

680 Montreal Street Victoria, BC V8W 1Z8 250-386-8721 or 1-800-663-7667 Fax 250-386-9547 salesandevents@laurelpoint.com www.laurelpoint.com

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Size (In Feet)

Capacity - Number of persons

Size

Area

Ceiling

Dine

Dine/Dance

Thtr

Clssrm

U-shape

Brdrm

Hollow Sq

Recep

Spirit Rooms

77 x 30

2,310

8'8"

190

160

280

152

250

Spirit A

19 x 30

570

8'8"

–

Spirit B

19 x 30

570

8'8"

–

Spirit C

19 x 30

570

8'8"

–

Spirit D

18 x 28

504

8'8"

–

Merino Rooms

45 x 26

1,170

8'8"

100

Merino 1

15 x 21

315

8'8"

–

Merino 2

15 x 21

315

8'8"

–

Merino 3

15 x 26

390

8'8"

–

25 40

Harbour Room

34 x 14

476

–

Marble Lobby

29 x 16

464

–

Terrace Ballroom

70 x 30

2,199

17'

200

170

144

–

300

Outdoor Terrace

–

2,600

–

100

Hospitality Suite

26 x 25

800

–

Suite 150/152

–

300

–

Outlook A

–

985

–

Outlook B

–

620

–

Roger’s Suite 651

–

630

–

Degrees Catering Conference Rooms Degrees Catering operates the Cadboro Commons Conference Centre at the University of Victoria. Featuring seven unique meeting spaces, our facilities are available for small board meetings, corporate seminars, banquet dinners and weddings. Our comfortable and spacious meeting rooms are well equipped with high-speed internet, audio-visual support and flexible seating arrangements. Enjoy our services in our place or yours; if you’re hosting an event in one of the many buildings across the UVic campus, we can bring our first class catering services directly to you.

Catering Services Located on the scenic UVic campus, our setting provides the perfect backdrop to enjoy our West-Coast inspired cuisine. As a full-service catering department, you can expect the same attention to detail and exceptional service whether you’re planning a gala event or a casual luncheon. Our menus give plenty of delectable choices for every event, every dietary requirement and every budget. Catering to your needs, our catering consultants work with you to ensure smoothly run meetings and warm hospitality for your guests.

Amenities • Onsite state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and services • Centrally located between the airport, ferries and downtown • Lots of parking on site

250-721-8603 Fax 250-472-4046 degreescatering@uvic.ca www.degreescatering.ca

Conference & Meeting Planning Services

Meet Nora, conference management specialist at Chemistry Consulting. From idea conception through to production, Chemistry Consulting’s team, led by Nora, is here to help you deliver an outstanding meeting or conference. We will work with you as a partner to ensure that your event, whether big or small, is highly effective and memorable. Speak to Nora to discuss your conference management needs. 250-382-3303 ext. 204 | n.cumming@chemistryconsulting.ca

400-1207 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC V8W 2E7 p 250.382.3303 e info@chemistryconsulting.ca chemistryconsulting.ca Douglas 3

A multi-generational pleaser, this circular seating arrangement is popular because it ensures everyone feels equally included in the meeting.

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Multi-Generational Meetings and Events Yes, You Can Please Everyone by kerry slavens

Today’s workforce includes Boomers, Gen-Xers and Millennials, three generations with their own distinct approach to the workplace. Douglas explores how you can leverage the capabilities and, yes, the quirks of each generation to create powerful meeting and event experiences.

ix of us entered the tiny apartment. The door immediately locked behind us and we were trapped. We had just one hour to escape — or we would be locked in there forever. We frantically searched for a key, but it soon became obvious that the key was hidden away, possibly in the locked safe. But without a code, how could we get into the safe? As panic built, we realized the only way we would escape was by our wits alone. I looked around at my five companions who ranged from a 22-year-old Millennial to a few mid-life Gen-Xers and a 70-something Baby Boomer. Despite our age differences, we were all equally engaged. After 50 minutes of searching for clues, working through a series of mystifying puzzles and tearing our hair out, we were close to figuring out our escape, but not Gen Y Tip close enough. Our time was up and our fate was Gen Y-ers (or sealed. We were consigned to that room forever. Millennials) come Or actually not. from a world where The door opened from the outside and our everything changes guide from Epic Escape Victoria, located in all the time and seldom with warning. Bastion Square, came in to commiserate with us To keep them and explain where we had gone wrong. engaged, offer Epic Escape’s “Escape from New York” is pure them a diversity of fun, but it’s also popular as a corporate game — activities and embrace and it’s exactly the kind of team-building pursuit gamification. It’s what that meeting planners throughout North America they were raised are using to satisfy a multi-generational workforce on, after all.

where Millennials, Gen-Xers and Boomers all rub elbows. At no other time in history has there been such a mish-mash of generations in the workforce to consider when planning meeting and events. Boomers, the biggest generational group in history, are now being edged out of that category by the Millennials. Sandwiched in between are the Gen-Xers (fittingly known as the Sandwich Generation). All of these groups have different needs, from the way they use technology to the level of interactivity they require to their valueadded expectations. How meeting planners address these can make the difference between a successful event — and one that fails to get lift-off.

Location is Everything Back in the day, most Boomers in the corporate world didn’t have much control over where companies chose to meet and how. Most of them ended up at generic hotels eating generic meals and sitting in generic conference rooms. But one of the most distinctive traits of Millennials is their demand to have their say — and they do. And one thing they want is authenticity. “That means there’s less and less value placed these days on corporate meetings that have all the trappings of a traditional work environment but no meaningful takeaways, compared with real-world learning models like interactivity and perspective-enhancing cultural enlightenment,” wrote Alesandra Douglas 5

Gen-X Tip The best thing to do for Dubin on the blog for Biz Bash, an meetings and events is to set the innovator and resource hub for the “You have to earn their loyalty ground rules ahead of time, and meeting industry. with each and in deference to those “need-toShe explains that groups want every meeting. know” Millennials, make sure to experience local culture, both It’s a challenge to you consult with everyone. Some as a part of the meeting and keep them. Why? event planners mix device-free separate from it. Vancouver Island Because Xers are sessions with presentations that is the perfect place for experiential unforgiving when disappointed. They require participants to make meetings and events, offering won’t give you a full use of their devices through everything from artisan bike tours second chance.” gamification activities. to immersion in First Nations —Ann Fishman, Gamification is “the culture. Meeting Industry Gurus integration of game-like thinking And from inns to hotels to in nongame environments” conference centres, meeting planners are taking note. Look for farm-to-table according to event-app creator EventMobi. Its GamifyApp means participants can enter menus, pop-up wine tastings, customized offchallenges, earn points and access educational site tours and more. The key is to put the focus materials in a fun and engaging way. on what makes a designation truly unique and And remember, gamification doesn’t have find innovative ways to deliver that content to to be digital. My experience at Epic Escape meeting and event participants. Victoria is a great example of gamification for off-site team building.

High-Tech or No Tech?

So what’s your group’s generational tolerance for in-event technology use? Some Boomers and Gen-Xers may find it distracting to be surrounded by people who are constantly texting and tapping during meetings, while Millennials will feel lost without their electronic mainstays. But that’s not to say Boomers and Gen-Xers are tech-adverse, they just have attention spans mostly honed in the pre-digital era, so flashing LED lights and beeps can get on their nerves.

It’s All Entertainment Someone once said the meeting business is really “show business.” There’s a lot of truth in that. Today’s meeting participants expect not only to learn and share ideas — they want to be entertained. So when it comes to structuring the content of your meetings, avoid lecture-style presentations. Most generations find this style onerous, but Millennials who grew up in the

age of video games and TED will find this approach truly unbearable. Speaking of TED, this is a powerful format that every generation can get behind for meetings and events. Short, snappy presentations, engagingly personalized and heavy on storytelling — this is the way to go. TED has found a formula that works for millions of people worldwide. Pick up the book Talk like Ted by Carmine Gallo for ideas. The other presentation format that is popular across generations is the talk-show-style panel. Essential for Millennials is building in plenty of room for interactivity such as Q & As. Take it a step further with text polling where the presenter poses a question and participants text their answers.

Social Side of Meetings Golf outings and wine-and-cheese mixers might sound like no brainers, but these traditional event standbys don’t work for all generations. While the Boomers may enjoy the networking and golf, the Gen-Xers will likely find it old school and the Millennials won’t find it structured enough. Remember, Millennials grew up in the age of “play dates” and helicopter parenting; they tend to prefer structured interaction rather than free-floating socializing enjoyed by previous generations who remember wide open days of unsupervised play. So offer alternatives to golf and instead of

2015 meeting and event trends It’s About experience This year marks an important vocabulary change. According to the Successful Meetings 2015 Trends Survey, meetinggoers want to move away from being passive attendees to active participants. Socializing rather than networking Networking is old school; socializing is where it’s at for relationship building so don’t keep your delegates cooped up in meetings all day. Build in plenty of breakout time, but make sure you include icebreakers for Millennials who aren’t so comfortable with free-range handshake events.

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Switch up the Setting Meeting venues are beginning to pay more attention to comfort, better lighting and more break-out spaces, sometimes defined by movable white boards. As well, new technology developments allow venues to instantly change the look and feel of a meeting room with LED mood lighting. Provide Choice It’s not enough to print out agendas and expect attendees to follow happily along. Today’s attendees want choice. You don’t have to throw your entire plan out of whack to satisfy everyone, but do offer options for breakout sessions and

off-site excursions. Having a choice gives attendees a greater feeling of being in control and prevents them from feeling caged in. In Good Taste In its food and beverage trend predictions for 2015, hospitality consulting firm Andrew Freeman & Co. identified trends in the hotel space, including properties offering “breakfast replacement therapy” which includes juice bars and casual coffee shops that replace traditional sit-down or room-service breakfasts. There’s also a call for healthy menus and farm-to-table food so participants can taste the local terroir.

Be Eco- and SocialConscious Skip the plastic water bottles and plasticized giveaways. Instead, think of takeaways that are good for the environment. “For engaging meetings that go beyond bread-and-butter needs, some planners

are adding fun, charitable activities,” according to Meetings Outlook 2015 from the Meeting Professionals International. “Thirty-six per cent of respondents report their organizations have participated in community volunteerism at the site of an event.”

At no other time in history has there been such a mish-mash of generations in the workforce to consider when planning meetings and events.

Category

Baby Boomers

Gen-Xers

Millennials

Birth Year

1943-1963

1963-1980

1980-2004

Meeting style

Values meetings and opportunities to brainstorm

Likes meetings with a purpose; doesn’t waste time; likes independent time

Prefers short, casual meetings with team activities; wants to be entertained

Attitude toward authority

Honour and respect

Skeptical of leaders

Need leaders to respect them

Technology

Master it

Enjoy it

Employ it

Interactive style

Self-absorbed

Self-starter

Team player

Work is…

An exciting adventure

A necessary challenge

A means to an end

Characteristics

Driven, optimistic, competitive, thinks people should pay their dues

Latch-key kids, survivors, skeptical, self-reliant

Asks why, prefers teamwork and supportive structures, craves instant gratification

Message that motivates

“You’re important to our success.”

“We need your ideas.”

“You and your co-workers can turn this place around.”



unstructured receptions, opt for sit down events, perhaps with break-the-ice games at each table or conversation talking point cards. Build in some unstructured time for those who want to connect beyond the meeting agenda.

It’s About Value Meeting planners will realize success across the generations by tapping into what participants value most. And make no mistake, there is plenty of crossover between generations, so find those points of synergy. Regardless of the generation, everyone wants to feel included, have their ideas acknowledged and feel appreciated. If you build on that as a foundation, you’re off to a good start. And, if you find yourself locked in a room with multi-generations, you’ll stand a better chance of escape. ■

Oak Bay Beach Hotel The Oak Bay Beach Hotel is the ultimate blend of luxury service, style and comfort. Whether you are arriving in our chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle, or choosing to leave your keys with our valet, the moment you arrive, you will find a caring and committed team ready to cater to your every need.

Conference Rooms From intimate presentations in The Study and The Library, to grand banquets in the David Foster Foundation Theatre for up to 300, we offer a diverse range of venues and onsite catering options.

Luxury Amenities Choose from 100 elegantly appointed rooms with either residential, marina or panoramic ocean views and a host of complimentary offerings for our guests including; parking, WiFi, evening turndown service, access to our fitness studio, steam sauna and seaside hot mineral pools. With on-site dining options from cozy to formal, multiple in-house entertainment options for your group and a seaside spa and wellness facility, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is a perfect destination for your next meeting or retreat. Plan your next meeting or event seaside and be inspired by sophisticated meeting spaces and Our Best, Always. 1175 Beach Drive, Victoria, BC 1-800-668-7758 or 250-598-4556 events@oakbaybeachhotel.com www.oakbaybeachhotel.com

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Ziplining is a great way to build team camaraderie.

Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours

“It’s an equal playing field,” says Adrena LNE ‘s Jeremy Wilson. “There’s nobody that’s a ‘good’ zipliner or a ‘bad’ zipliner.”

Time to Take it Out of the Office A To build stronger work bonds, take your team away from their desks by athena mckenzie

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successful team-building activity can create new ways of communicating and collaborating. The camaraderie established during “playtime” at an offsite location can have enduring benefits once everyone is back in the office.

The Communal Table So how do you plan activities that will build team bonds? One activity that often fosters that true sense of collaboration is cooking a meal side by side and then eating it as a group. “Food brings people together,” says Executive Chef Shirley Lang of Spirit Culinary Tours. “When you’re eating a lunch and a dinner together and you’re all around the table, you’re all at the same level — it’s not about being boss, or supervisor and employee. It’s about being human.” Through Spirit Culinary Tours, Chef Lang can customize exclusive visits to the culinary artisans on the Island. Corporate clients, which have included Microsoft, take in local farms, craft distilleries and breweries, and

destination wineries, and then finish with a feast and wine tasting at Chef Lang’s table. The unique menu is created from ingredients and libations purchased during the day’s exploration. One recent planned tour included foraging for seaweed with a local biologist, a seafood feast on the beach, a visit to a farm and to Sheringham Distillery near Sooke. “Participants finish the day excited and fulfilled,” Chef Lang says. “They appreciate that it’s interactive, they’re not just being lectured at, and we’re helping people discover something new, so it gives them a lot to talk about.”

Energy BOOST Some leaders are looking to shake things up a little when they take the team out of the office. An energizing experience can inject some much-needed vitality. Luckily, we are blessed with plenty of adventurous options on Vancouver Island, including Adrena Line Zipline Adventure Tours, set high in 100 acres of coastal temperate rainforest near Sooke. “It’s very safe, it’s not that extreme, but it gives you a thrill,” says Jeremy Wilson, director of Adrena Line, whose corporate clients have included ABE books, Costco, TD Bank and Great West Life Assurance Company.

offsite activities to get your team talking ➊

A New Perspective Book a scenic seaplane tour over the city or out to Butchart Gardens. harbourair.com

➋

Grape Expectations Explore the Island’s burgeoning wine offerings with a chauffeured wine tour. islandtimetours.com

➌

Boomer jerritt/Picture BC

A successful offsite excursion can promote cooperation among team members, increase employee performance and enhance employee job satisfaction.

On the Water Embrace the benefits of West Coast life with a group paddle board or kayak lesson. oceanriver.com

➍

In the Swing Group employees by experience level and schedule a day of golf lessons. bearmountain.ca

➎

Hoppy Hour Get the group on bikes and tour the local craft breweries for a look behind the scenes. thepedaler.ca

Brentwood Bay Resort & Spa Book your executive retreat or board meeting at one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice “Top 10” Resorts in Canada. At Brentwood Bay Resort & Spa, we’ve discovered that understated elegance and discerning service are essential.

Conference Spaces Two conference spaces for groups up to 70 guests, an aweinspiring dining room where seaside dining is available for up to 120 guests, and a comfortable, glass-domed eco-cruise boat available for private charters year round.

Guestrooms 33 luxury guest rooms with king beds, jacuzzi tubs, terrace, fireplaces and spectacular views. Rest easy and enjoy a relaxing West Coast getaway. Every stay includes a complimentary glass of local sparkling apple cider on arrival, parking, long distance calls & wifi.

Amenities • Dining Room & Oceanfront Pub with outdoor heated patios • Complimentary wedding planning and coordinating services • Complimentary high-speed internet and long distance calling • Year-round outdoor heated pool and hot tub • Kayak rentals, PADI Dive boat, water shuttle service to Butchart Gardens • Spa providing signature spa treatments

849 Verdier Avenue 250-544-2079 or 1-888-544-2079 www.brentwoodbayresort.com

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One advantage of an activity like ziplining is that it doesn’t require a specific skill. “It’s an equal playing field,” Wilson says. “There’s nobody that’s a ‘good’ zipliner or a ‘bad’ zipliner. And you all have to bond, as the platforms are quite small. “You get 10 people on these platforms and only one person can zip at a time and everybody is watching. The first couple [of zips], everyone is a little quiet and anxious, and by the end, everyone has loosened up and is cheering and hollering.” Through a partnership with 17 Mile House Pub, Wilson can customize a start-to-end experience that includes transportation and meals, as well as down-time at the pub. The inevitable chatting that arises from an activity like this, and the resulting thrill of accomplishment, can do wonders for work relationships — and the resulting energy lasts much longer than the activity itself, carrying back into the office. Of course, what happens after the event is important. A common complaint about hosting an offsite team-building event, is that there is no follow-up, so progress is only temporary. Scheduling follow-ups and check-in meetings at regular intervals after your day of bonding can help your team maintain any positive developments. Whether you’re learning how to pair wine or soaring over the trees, taking it out of the office isn’t about getting away from work — it’s about fostering communication and collaboration. ■

The Pedaler Cycling Tours and Rentals “I thought of that while riding my bicycle.” – Albert Einstein on the Theory of Relativity Riding a bicycle sharpens thinking, elevates mood and melts away stress. Add tasting stops and puzzles enroute, or a longer excursion to experience our rural beauty, and you have the perfect recipe for an active, rewarding event. From start to finish, we customize our guided cycling tours to suit any group, ensuring a unique and memorable experience. Our large fleet of stylish, comfortable bicycles makes everyone feel like a local. Special clothing not required, and we provide the wicker basket. Put some fun between your legs! 778-265-RIDE (7433) www.thepedaler.ca | info@thepedaler.ca

Lewis & Sears Marketing & Event Management Events that celebrate, motivate, entertain and engage. Lewis & Sears is a premier marketing and event management company specializing in impeccable detail and exceptional results. We partner with business and industry, government agencies and non-profit associations alike. Whether it be a simple ribbon cutting ceremony, a conference for 200 or producing and managing a celebration for 10,000, we excel at creative marketing and operational solutions for every type of event. Susan Lewis & Wendy Sears 1-866-594-3243 info@lewissears.com www.lewissears.com

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“When choosing a venue, it’s finding that team — from the sales manager to the banquet manager — who wants to know what your needs and objectives are for an event, so they can deliver.” —Natalie Wilson

The ABCs of How Venues Add to Your Meeting Meeting bookings are up in Canada by close to 20 per cent in 2015 over last year. In this strong meeting market, venues are looking to set themselves apart and offer a truly experiential environment. Natalie Wilson, president of the B.C. chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and manager of corporate events for RBC Global Asset Management, believes the best venues truly understand the value of meetings and try to develop a relationship with the meeting planner.

service

is the #1 value builder

A is for Activities

B is for Breaks

C is for Customization

Today’s corporate meetings are expected to do much more in less time: what was once scheduled as a three-day meeting may now be shortened to two.

Studies show that most people can’t focus for more than 90 minutes on one task so small breaks away from the meeting keep participants fresh, focused and productive.

One demand in the growing meeting market is for a venue to be able to cater to specialized requirements.

“That’s why it’s so important that the venues are able to give a sense of place and have activities and attractions available on site, so attendees can maximize the time that they have there,” says Madone Pelan, senior sales manager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

From unique food and beverage services, to meeting rooms with direct or easy access to the outdoors, to helping planners come up with unique time-out options (“like Tai Chi with Chai Tea,” says Pelan), the venue can play a large role in using breaks to make your meeting more worthwhile.

“We have our onsite mineral pools, so even if they only have a couple of hours of downtime in their day, they can take advantage of them and really feel like they’ve had a chance to relax and take advantage of the destination.”

Breaks are also a great way to keep a pulse on how things are going. “Attendee engagement and conversation is one marker of success,” Wilson says.

“Being able to customize, to be able to meet the client’s needs — those requests are more important than deep discounts on rooms or waiving fees,” says Natasha Richardson, general manager of Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa. She points to the growing challenge of dietary restrictions that many meeting planners face. “From gluten-free to vegan to lactose intolerant, it’s a huge factor, and the more a kitchen can accommodate diversified menus is key,” she says. “We’re able to facilitate, which is a great value add.”

Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre Reconnect at Vancouver Island’s Natural Choice for your next meeting, retreat or event. Located in Parksville, Tigh-Na-Mara provides rustic charm in the heart of nature. Experience comfort, convenience, unique restaurants, award-winning Grotto Spa and handcrafted log accommodations nestled in 22 acres beside the ocean. With over 10,000 sq ft of meeting space, we offer a distraction free conference experience. Our team is committed to providing service excellence to ensure the success of your meeting or event. 1-800-663-7373 sales@tigh-na-mara.com www.tigh-na-mara.com

Victoria Conference Centre Share Ideas. Stay Connected. Be Inspired. The Victoria Conference Centre offers 73,000 square feet of purpose built meeting space with 16 meeting rooms, a large exhibit hall, a 400-seat lecture theatre and a ballroom accommodating up to 1,500 theatre style. An open plaza and magnificent entry foyer create a bright, welcoming environment indoors and outdoors. 720 Douglas Street Victoria, BC V8W 3M7 250-361-1000 or 1-866-572-1151 sales@victoriaconference.com victoriaconference.com

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Directory Meeting and Conference Facilities Hotels and Resortsi Victoria City Centre Bedford Regency Hotel bedfordregency.com Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites chateauvictoria.com Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel coasthotels.com Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort & Spa deltavictoria.com Fairmont Empress (The) fairmont.com/empress

Brentwood Bay Resort & Spa brentwoodbayresort.com Comfort Inn & Suites comfortinnvictoria.com Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway fourpointsvictoriagateway.com Howard Johnson Hotel Victoria hojovictoria.com Lodge at Weir’s Beach thelodgeatweirsbeach.com Oak Bay Beach Hotel & Marine Resort oakbaybeachhotel.com Quality Inn Waddling Dog Victoria Hotel qualityinnvictoria.com Ramada Victoria and Convention Centre victoriaramada.com

Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites harbourtowers.com

Sandman Hotel Victoria sandmanhotels.ca/meetingsbanquets

Hotel Grand Pacific hotelgrandpacific.com

Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa (The) sidneypier.com

Hotel Rialto hotelrialto.ca

Sooke Harbour House, Coastal Retreat sookeharbourhouse.com

Huntingdon Hotel & Suites bellevillepark.com Inn at Laurel Point laurelpoint.com Magnolia Hotel & Spa magnoliahotel.com Marriott Victoria Inner Harbour marriottvictoria.com Oswego Hotel (The) oswegovictoria.com Parkside Hotel & Spa parksidevictoria.com

Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort, Victoria (The) bearmountain.ca

Vancouver Island & the Islands Gulf Islands Poets Cove Resort & Spa poetscove.com Salt Springs Spa Resort saltspringspa.com

Paul’s Motor Inn paulsmotorinn.com

Cowichan Valley Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn cowichanvalleyinn.com

Premiere Executive Suites premieresuitesvictoria.com

Honeymoon Bay Lodge and Retreat honeymoonbayretreat.com

Royal Scot Hotel & Suites royalscot.com

Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay oceanfrontcowichanbay.com

Strathcona Hotel strathconahotel.com Swans Suite Hotel Victoria’s Boutique Hotel swanshotel.com Union Club of British Columbia (The) unionclub.com Victoria Regent Waterfront Hotel & Suites victoriaregent.com Greater Victoria Accent Inn Victoria accentinns.com Best Western Premier Prestige Oceanfront Resort prestigehotelsandresorts.com 12 Douglas

Duncan Travelodge Duncan travelodge.ca/property/ travelodge-duncan Nanaimo Best Western Plus, Dorchester Hotel dorchesternanaimo.com

Poets Cove Resort & Spa

Vancouver Island Conference Centre viconference.com Parksville Beach Acres Resort beachacresresort.com Beach Club Resort beachclubbc.com

Middle Beach Lodge middlebeach.com

Craigdarroch Castle thecastle.ca

Wickaninnish Inn wickinn.com

Devine Vineyards and Spirits devinevineyards.ca

Campbell River April Point Resort & Spa aprilpoint.com

Goward House Society gowardhouse.com

Pacific Shores Resort & Spa pacific-shores.com

Best Western Plus Austrian Chalet bwcampbellriver.com

Quality Resort Bayside qualityresortparksville.com

Dolphins Resort dolphinsresort.com

Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort sunriseridge.ca

Painters Lodge & Holiday Fishing Resort painterslodge.com

Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre tigh-na-mara.com

Sonora Resort sonoraresort.com

Courtenay/Comox Best Western Plus, The Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre thewesterlyhotel.ca Coastal Trek Resort coastaltrekresort.com Crown Isle Resort & Golf crownisle.com

Off-site Venuesi Greater Victoria Alix Goolden Performance Hall vcm.bc.ca Ambrosia Conference & Event Centre ambrosiacatering.ca

Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa kingfisherspa.com

Archie Browning Sports Centre and Recreation Centre esquimalt.ca/parks/Recreation/ facilities

Old House Village Hotel & Spa oldhousevillage.com

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria aggv.ca

Quadra and Cortes Islands Hollyhock hollyhock.ca

Bard and Banker bardandbanker.com

Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge capemudgeresort.bc.ca

Bird’s Eye Cove birdseyecovefarm.com Blue Grouse Winery bluegrouse.ca

Coast Bastion Hotel coasthotels.com

Tofino/Ucluelet Best Western Tin Wis Resort tinwis.com

Grand Hotel Nanaimo (The) thegrandhotelnanaimo.ca

Black Rock Oceanfront Resort blackrockresort.com

Howard Johnson Hotel Nanaimo hojonanaimo.com

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort wildretreat.com

Canoe Brewpub, Marina, and Restaurant canoebrewpub.com

Inn on Long Lake innonlonglake.com

Long Beach Lodge Resort longbeachlodgeresort.com

Church & State Wines churchandstatewines.com

Butchart Gardens (The) butchartgardens.com Butterfly Gardens, Victoria butterflygardens.com

Harbour Air Seaplanes harbourair.com Hatley Castle National Historic Site hatleypark.ca Horticulture Centre of the Pacific hcp.ca Legacy Art Gallery and Café legacygallery.ca London Chef (The) thelondonchef.com Mary Winspear Centre marywinspear.ca Merridale Cider Works merridalecider.com IMAX Victoria imaxvictoria.com Olympic View Golf Club olympicviewgolf.com Orca Spirit II - Orca Spirit Adventures orcaspirit.com Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence piseworld.com Raincoast Business Centres raincoast.net Robert Bateman Centre (The) batemancentre.org Royal BC Museum royalbcmuseum.bc.ca Royal Roads University royalroads.ca Saanich Commonwealth Place Park & Recreation Centre saanich.ca St. Ann’s Academy National Historic Site stannsacademy.com

Your Lakeside Resort In the City The Inn on Long Lake is more than just a place to spend the night — your experience starts from the moment you step onto your own private balcony and let your gaze stretch across the treelined waters of Long Lake. With kayaks, paddleboats, and wildlife viewing at your doorstep, and local shopping centers just a short walk up the road, the Inn nestles alongside nature while enjoying all that the city has to offer.

Conference Rooms A bright and airy alternative to stuffy boardrooms, the Inn on Long Lake’s elegant and professional meeting rooms feature balconies and windows with spectacular views of Long Lake. They are able to accommodate 5-50 people and will be arranged to meet your requirements. Half and full-day rentals are available.

Catering Services An array of catering options may be arranged including hot and cold meals, snack plates, or simple coffee and tea service. Everything you need is available from our professional service staff. And during breaks, your delegates can enjoy the fresh air with a stroll around our spectacular lakefront property. Comfortable onsite accommodations for delegates and convenient free parking make us a superb choice for your next event.

4700 North Island Hwy, Nanaimo 250-758-1144 or 1-800-565-1144 Fax 250-758-5832 reservations@innonlonglake.com www.innonlonglake.com

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Custom Gourmet Chef customgourmetchef.com

Signs of the Times signsofthetimes.ca

Sonya Jones Events sonyajonesevents.com

Degrees Catering degreescatering.ca

Titanium Tents titaniumtents.com

Tides Event Service tidesgroup.com

Equinox Catering equinoxrestaurant.com

West Coast Display westcoastdisplay.com

Food for Thought Catering foodforthoughtcatering.net

Equipment Rental Services All In One Party Shop Event Rentals allin1partyshop.com

Triple T Consulting & Events Management tttconsulting.ca

Galloping Gourmet gallopinggourmet.ca Geffen Gourmet Catering geffencatering.ca Island Culinary Service islandculinaryservice.ca Joe the Bartender joethebartender.com Fairwinds Golf and Country Club

Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre sofmc.com Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse seacider.ca Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre oceandiscovery.ca The Pedaler thepedaler.ca University Club of Victoria (The) club.uvic.ca University of Victoria Conferences housing.uvic.ca/conferences Unsworth Vineyards unsworthvineyards.com Vancouver Island Technology Park vitp.ca Victoria Conference Centre victoriaconference.com Victoria Conservatory of Music vcm.bc.ca Victoria Curling Club victoriacurlingclub.com Victoria Executive Centre VECmeetingspaces.ca Victoria Public Market Victoriapublicmarket.com Zambri’s zambris.ca VANCOUVER ISLAND BC Forest Discovery Centre bcforestdiscoverycentre.com Fairwinds Golf & Country Club fairwinds.ca Parksville Community & Conference Centre parksvillecentre.com Qualicum Beach Civic Centre qualicumbeach.com Quw’utsun’ Cultural & Conference Centre quwutsun.ca Vancouver Island Conference Centre viconference.com 14 Douglas

Vancouver Island University Deep Bay Marine Field Station viu.ca/deepbay West Coast Expeditions westcoastexpeditions.com WildPlay Element Park wildplay.com

Conference and Meeting Support Services Audio Visual/Streaming AVC Audio Visual avcvictoria.com AVW-TELAV Audio Visual Solutions avwtelav.com Bigtime Special DJ, Photobooth & AV bigtimespecial.com BT Media btmedia.ca DL Sound & Lighting dlsound.net Sensational Sound sensationalsound.ca Sound Advice soundadvice.bc.ca SW Audio Visual (AV) Event Services sw-online.com Vidtime Online Vidtime.com Vosh Video Vision voshvideovision.com Caterers Chef Castro Boateng Catering castroboateng.com Cheryl’s Gourmet Pantry cherylsgourmetpantry.com

Kitchen of Distinction Culinary Arts kitchensofdistinction.ca Livewire Catering livewirecatering.ca London Chef (The) thelondonchef.com Plates Eatery & Catering platescatering.com

Black & White Party Rentals bwparty.com

Directis Consulting directis.ca

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Decorate Victoria decoratevictoria.com

Engaged HR engagedhr.com

Pedersen’s Rentals pedersons.ca

Get the Picture – Graphic Faciliation getthepicture.ca

Replay Events replayevents.ca Scene About Town Enterprises scene-about-town.com

RedCan Gourmet Catering redcangourmet.com

Smashing Glasses Event Rentals smashingglasses.ca

Spice of Life Catering spiceoflifecatering.ca

Triple T Rentals tripleparty.com

Toque Catering toquecatering.com

Event Planners Blue Lily Event Planning bluelilyevents.com

Tria Culinary Studio triaculinarystudio.ca Truffles Catering trufflescatering.net

Facilitators & Speakers Boost Communications boostcommunications.ca

Brink Events brinkevents.ca

Ingrid Bergmann & Associates ingridbergmann.ca ProSpeakers prospeakers.com West Coast Facilitators Group westcoastfacilitators.ca University of Victoria Speakers Bureau uvic.ca/communications/ speakersbureau/ Strategic Initiatives Inc. strategicinitiatives.ca

Canadian Outback Adventure and Events canadianoutback.com

Music Services Alexander Music alexandersmusicservice.com

Chemistry Consulting chemistryconsulting.ca

Hiway Productions DJ Services djpro.ca

Concepts Unlimited Publicity and Events conceptsunlimited.ca

Island DJ Services island-dj-services.com

De Armond Management Ltd. dearmondmanagement.com

KGDJ Disc Jockeys kg-dj.com

De.Signs Nanaimo designsnanaimo.ca

Details Special Event Planning & Decor detailsbc.com

Music Masters musicmasters.ca

Douglas Signs Ltd. douglassignsltd.com

Every Aspect Management aspec.ca

Primetime DJ Services primetimedjservices.com

Garside Signs garsidedisplays.com

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RSM Productions rsmproductions.com

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Lewis & Sears Marketing and Events Management lewissears.com

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Vancouver Island Disc Jockeys vancouverislanddjs.com Photography Services Simon DesRochers Photographer simonfocus.com Rhymes with Orange rwophotography.com

SignsNow Nanaimo signsnow.ca

National Speakers Bureau nsb.com

Flipbook & Company victoriaflipbook.com

Sign Canada signagecanada.ca

Shelly Peterson Event Design speventdesign.com

Island Photo Booth islandphotobooth.com

The Magnolia Hotel & Spa Book your executive retreat or board meeting at Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice for Top 10 Best Business Travel Hotels in the World. This luxury boutique hotel is in the heart of downtown, steps from the many great entertainment activities.

Conference Rooms Three stylish boardrooms, perfect for small executive groups and intimate dinners, feature a built-in LCD projector and screen and complimentary Wi-Fi. The Orchid Boardroom seats groups up to 10. The Magnolia Room and Yarrow Room feature natural light from vaulted windows and comfortably accommodate groups of 6 to 32.

Rooms & Entertainment All 64 rooms were recently renovated with elegant designs and luxurious fabrics. Large bright rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, double-poster bed and marble bathrooms with deep soaker tubs. Large desk with ergonomic chair, mini-bar, in-room safe, and HD TV are just some of the features. Diamond Rooms, located on the top two floors, feature cozy gas fireplaces.

Amenities • Complimentary internet – each guest & meeting room has its own dedicated line! • Complimentary local and toll-free calls • 24 hours fitness room and business centre • Spa Magnolia with 7 beautiful treatment rooms • Catalano Restaurant & Cicchetti Bar 623 Courtney Street 250-381-0999 or 1-877-624-6654 www.magnoliahotel.com

Mary Winspear Centre Located in Sidney, the Mary Winspear Centre is located minutes from the Victoria Airport, BC Ferries and the Washington State Ferry Terminal. Surrounded by natural beauty, the vibrant seaside town of Sidney truly has something for everyone!

Features • The Charlie White Theatre (seats 310) is known as one of the premier community performance theatres in the province • 8,100-sq.-ft. Bodine Hall, (seats 900), complete with an 18-ft. vaulted ceiling and wood beams, performance stage, drop screen, lighting and sound system • 5,000-sq.-ft. outdoor courtyard, large commercial kitchen • Intimate executive style boardroom • 2,000-sq.-ft. gallery space perfect for exhibitions and receptions • 4 breakout rooms offering natural lighting, 9-ft. ceilings, attractive flooring, accent walls and wet bars • Catering services available on-site, off-site catering also permitted

Sidney Amenities & Accommodations • Over 300 hotel rooms in Sidney • Aquarium available for private dinners and cocktail receptions amongst the displays • Bowling alley and unique movie theatre for team building activities and private rentals • Outdoor activities including whale watching, fishing, kayaking and bike rentals • Over 300 unique shops and services 2243 Beacon Avenue, Sidney 250-656-0275 www.marywinspear.ca www.distinctlysidney.ca

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