For an exciting meeting in an exotic locale, look north to Western Canada and Alaska. With majestic mountains and waterways, wildlife that still roams freely and unique sights such as the northern lights, destinations in this region have the qualities of a distant land but all the comfort and familiarity of North American hospitality.
From Vancouver to the Aleutian Islands, gorgeous settings and eager convention and visitors bureaus await groups with fantastic ideas that will turn any upcoming association event into one of the best attended in years.
Alaska: Still Wild & Wonderful
Separated from the Lower 48 by Canada, Alaska has all the allure and natural wonders that one expects of an international destination but all the comforts and high-tech meeting necessities of home. Anchorage is the largest city and, as such, features two of the state’s larger venues: the 215,000-square-foot Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center and the 85,000-square-foot William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center. Unique venues include the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, with after-hours event space for up to 400 people, and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, with four theaters as well as smaller spaces. About 40 miles southeast, in Girdwood, the Alyeska Resort has 24,000 square feet of event space, including mountaintop lookout venues ideal for viewing the aurora borealis.
In March, visitors to Nome can catch the end of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. For meetings, Nome’s Mini-Convention Center can host up to 250. And in Unalaska, the largest destination in the Aleutian Islands, the Grand Aleutian Hotel has 2,500 square feet of event space.
In the town of Seward, 125 miles south of Anchorage on Resurrection Bay, up to 1,000 people can meet at the Alaska SeaLife Center, or up to 1,675 can gather at the Alaska Railroad Seward Intermodal Terminal. In the city of Kenai, 100 miles west, the 64-acre Kenai Landing is a historic cannery-turned-hotel that specializes in conferences with up to 350 people.
Kodiak Island, separated from the mainland by the Shelikof Strait, is the United States’ second-largest island (after the Big Island of Hawaii). Two-thirds of the island is a national wildlife refuge, home to the Kodiak bear, and the wild and unspoiled scenery makes a wonderful backdrop for events. One of the largest meeting venues is the 8,500-square-foot Kodiak Harbor Convention Center in downtown Kodiak, served by an 82-room Best Western Inn.
Valdez, east of Anchorage and accessible by bus, train or plane, is a haven for deep-sea fishing as well as heli-skiing. For group events, the port city offers the 20,000-square-foot Valdez Convention & Civic Center and the neighboring Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn, with a conference room for up to 60 people.
South along the Inside Passage, the state capital of Juneau bustles with energy and convention-goers. Organizations that have recently gathered in town include the Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, the American Institute of Architects/Alaska Chapter and the Pacific Seabird Group. The largest site for functions is the Centennial Hall Convention Center, which has 17,000 square feet of meeting space and just completed an infrastructure upgrade, including enhancements to its commercial kitchen. Nearly 500 hotel rooms are within walking distance of the convention center. Properties include the adjacent Goldbelt Hotel, which has renovated its guest rooms and meeting space and added a restaurant, Coho’s Bar & Grill. Also downtown is the historic Westmark Baranof Hotel.
The new 30,000-square-foot Walter Soboleff Center is scheduled to open this spring with performance and classroom space. The facility will serve as a cultural center that focuses on the local Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples. During summer months, groups of up to several hundred can enjoy soirées atop the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway, situated 1,800 feet above Gastineau Channel. And during the winter, attendees can wrap up a morning meeting and head to the Eaglecrest Ski Area, just 12 miles from downtown, to fit in a half-day of afternoon skiing; in addition, the property has a day lodge that can host events.
South of Juneau, Baranof Island feels exotic thanks to its Russian heritage, notably reflected in the destination’s architecture; in the port city of Sitka, the landmark Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and the Russian Bishop’s house are just two examples. Event facilities include the 18,000-square-foot Harrigan Centennial Hall, for up to 700, and the 608-seat Sitka Performing Arts Center. May through September, groups can tour the Alaska Raptor Center.
Wildlife viewing is as good as it gets in Wrangell. At the Anan Wildlife Observatory, it’s not uncommon to see black and brown bears fishing side by side for salmon. When it’s time to meet, the James & Elsie Nolan Center has more than 6,300 square feet of waterfront space, and lodging options include the newly renovated Stikine Inn and the Alaskan Sourdough Lodge.
In Ketchikan, Alaska’s most southeasterly city on the Inside Passage, the Saxman Native Village features the largest collection of standing Native American totem poles, Native American carvers at work and a brightly painted authentic clan house. For business, planners can look to the 4,500-square-foot Ted Ferry Civic Center or the 3,200-square-foot Sunny Point Conference Center at the Best Western Plus Landing Hotel.
Fairbanks, in central Alaska, makes a picturesque gathering spot, set on the banks of the Chena River and ringed by magnificent mountains. It’s also one of the best places on earth for experiencing the northern lights, which can be accomplished in dramatic form—such as an overnight sled-dog trip or on a flight above the Arctic Circle—or, often, by just walking outside your hotel.
Meeting hotels include the downtown Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center, which recently hosted the Alaska Travel Industry Association. Nearby, along the river, the Carlson Center has 45,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, including a 35,000-square-foot arena. The Wedgewood Resort offers five on-site meeting spaces and can host groups at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum as well. And the University of Alaska/Fairbanks regularly hosts scientific and education-based conferences.
Located on 440 acres just 60 miles from Fairbanks, the Chena Hot Springs Resort can host groups of up to 200. Fairbanks is also the main gateway to Denali National Park, which offers a variety of function space.
British Columbia: Big Beauty
With glass high-rise buildings, surrounding forests, picturesque bayfront beaches and a noted harbor convenient to downtown, Vancouver is a beautiful setting for meetings all year round. The Vancouver Convention Centre easily blends into this scenery, a platinum LEED–certified facility on the waterfront that offers 466,400 square feet of space. Other major venues downtown include BC Place Stadium, with the world’s largest retractable roof, 242,000 square feet of event space, seating for up to 54,500 and more than 50 hospitality suites; the Vancouver Aquarium, which recently unveiled a new gallery that can accommodate events for up to 2,400; or Simon Fraser University’s Harbour Centre, with various computer labs and classrooms, the largest of which can seat up to 310 people. Additionally, the Vancouver Art Gallery welcomes functions for up to 450, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden can accommodate special events of up to 500 and at the awesome Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, planners can organize receptions of up to 150 people.
New and upgraded hotel properties continue to draw convention-goers. Between downtown’s Gastown and Chinatown neighborhoods is the new Skwachays Lodge, a beautifully appointed hotel that features 18 art-filled guest rooms, meeting space for up to 60 and a rooftop sweat lodge. Just down the street from BC Place is the Hotel BLU, which opened in June with 75 guest rooms and meeting space for up to 60. The historic Fairmont/Vancouver just emerged from a significant face-lift, as did the Blue Horizon Hotel, which refreshed its 3,300 square feet of penthouse-level meeting rooms. The Shangri-La Hotel upgraded its sixth-floor terrace event space.
The convenience of meeting near Vancouver International Airport isn’t the only reason to gather in Richmond, just a few miles south. The outdoorsy lifestyle of the Fraser River Valley offers much to see and do, and a recent boom in activities means more ways to enjoy it. Look for the Richmond Olympic Experience to open this spring at the Richmond Olympic Oval, site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games’ speed-skating competition. The new attraction is expected to offer 15,000 square feet of interactive features, event space for up to 190 people and a 44-seat theater. The Oval currently offers a wide variety of event venues for anything from small board meetings to large trade shows. Four miles south, on the Fraser Riverfront, groups can meet at the historic Britannia Shipyards; its newly refurbished Seine Net Loft Building has event space for up to 300 and the Chinese Bunkhouse can host up to 100.
Richmond’s hotel scene is booming. The Pacific Gateway at Vancouver Airport (formerly the Delta/Vancouver Airport) is getting a makeover, expected for completion in mid-2015; plans include a new, interactive lobby, an additional 5,000 square feet of new meeting space (to complement its current 16,500 square feet of space) and a new marina where guests can embark on dinner cruises. Nearby, the Sheraton/Vancouver Airport is adding a 10,000-square-foot ballroom later this year, which will increase its total conference space to 31,500 square feet. The Four Points by Sheraton/Vancouver Airport also has a new look and 4,481 square feet of revamped meeting space. And looking ahead, the Hotel Opus Versante is expected to open in 2017 with 110 guest rooms and a 10th floor, open-air lounge suitable for events.
About 75 miles north of Vancouver, the resort town of Whistler appeals to mountain-loving groups. The Building Supply Industry Association, BC Wood and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities have all met here recently. Atop Whistler Mountain, the Roundhouse Lodge can host up to 1,500 people, while on Blackcomb Mountain, the Whistler Sliding Centre has event space for up to 800 people as well as public bobsled and skeleton experiences. This winter, the resort will debut new eight-passenger gondola cabins. Groups of up to 1,600 can meet in the center of the alpine village at the Whistler Conference Centre, which offers some 40,000 square feet of event space, and north of town, the Nicklaus North Golf Course welcomes tournaments and has clubhouse space for events of up to 120. Just south of town, the Whistler Brewing Company welcomes groups of up to 120, and farther west, Whistler Olympic Park can host as many as 10,000 attendees.
Victoria, British Columbia’s picturesque capital, on Vancouver Island, welcomes associations with Old World charm. A full renovation planned by the new owners of the iconic Fairmont Empress is expected to keep the grand dame as beautiful as ever. Planners can coordinate functions amid the hotel’s 23,000 square feet of function space, and attendees can continue to enjoy the property’s renowned afternoon tea. Adjacent to the Empress, the Victoria Conference Centre offers 73,000 square feet of event space, and a nearby DoubleTree by Hilton is expected to open this spring with 181 guest rooms and a 14,000-square-foot conference center to follow in 2016.
Newer off-site selections include the Victoria Public Market at the Hudson, with meeting space for up to 400, and the Abkhazi Garden Teahouse, with indoor space for up to 75 and garden terrace space for up to 150. Additional meeting sites include the Royal BC Museum, where groups of up to 2,000 can gather; and the landmark Craigdarroch Castle, with indoor space for up to 200 as well as expansive outdoor space. North of town, the revamped Beachhouse Restaurant can host up to 300 people, and west of town, in Colwood, Hatley Park National Historic Site has meeting space for up to 250.
About 15 miles north of Victoria, in Saanichton, planners can pair gatherings of up to 160 people with a cider-making class and tastings at the 10-acre Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse. Just west, Brentwood Bay is home to Butchart Gardens, with special-event space for up to 400. And closer to Victoria International Airport, in Sidney, the Mary Winspear Centre has 38,000 square feet of event space, and the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre can host events of up to 300.
As the cultural and commercial hub of the fruitful Okanagan Valley, Kelowna is an ideal destination for gatherings looking for resort-like options. Notable meeting hotels include the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort & Conference Centre and the newly renovated Coast Capri Hotel. For a convivial atmosphere, the Tree Brewing Beer Institute has spaces for up to 130. A few blocks away, on the shores of Okanagan Lake, the Kelowna Yacht Club’s new two-story clubhouse features 24,100 square feet of event space.
And the Sandhill Winery—one of many wineries on Kelowna’s Downtown Grapes & Grains Wine Trail—has a new tasting room that can host up to 200. For team-building activities, groups can head to the new Myra Canyon Adventure Park, which recently opened with slacklines, a frisbee golf course and, coming this spring, a ropes course. Wineries that welcome events include Summerhill Pyramid Winery and the Mission Hill Family Estate in West Kelowna. The historic Laurel Packinghouse in Kelowna, home to two museums, can also be used for functions of up to 300.
Kamloops, 100 miles north, the Coast Kamloops Hotel & Conference Centre was recently renovated. East of town, the British Columbia Wildlife Park recently hosted more than 500 people as part of the Canadian Lutheran Anglican Youth Gathering. The visit was the “highlight” of the meeting, according to planner Heidi Wilker.
The outdoors is also celebrated in the Kootenay Rockies, a region accessible via the Canadian Rockies International Airport near Cranbrook. Northwest of the airport, in Kimberley, groups can hold functions at the 24,000-square-foot Kimberley Conference & Athlete Training Centre, located at the base of the Kimberley Alpine Resort and close to some 600 guest rooms. About 100 miles northeast of Cranbrook, in Elkford, the two-year-old, energy-efficient Elkford Community Conference Centre includes 19,000 square feet of function space.
Alberta: Maximizing the Great Outdoors
Few planners will hesitate to praise all the outdoor attractions in Alberta, including Banff National Park. The town of Banff, located within the park grounds, is home to numerous resorts, including the historic Fairmont/Banff Springs and the Rimrock Resort Hotel. Another option is the 43-acre Banff Centre, which has 400 hotel rooms and can host events with as many as 1,000 attendees. Also located within the park is Lake Louise, home to one of the largest mountain resorts in North America, where the main conference hotel is the renovated Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Jasper National Park, to the north, is another scenic destination. More than a half-dozen meeting hotels are located in or near the town of Jasper, including the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, which welcomed the Alberta Recreation & Parks Association in October and is scheduled to host the Alberta Dental Association in May. About an hour’s drive south is the thrilling new Glacier Skywalk, which juts out 114 feet into midair nearly 1,000 feet above the Sunwapta Valley.
Calgary is Alberta’s largest city, and it’s growing. More than 3,000 new hotel rooms are scheduled to open by 2017, according to the Calgary Convention & Visitors Bureau. Many of these are convenient to Calgary International Airport, which is undergoing a $2.1 billion expansion. New properties include two connected hotels that share 7,700 square feet of meeting space—the Residence Inn by Marriott/Calgary Airport and Courtyard by Marriott; Hotel Clique, set to debut in February with 4,500 square feet of event space; and a 318-room Delta Hotel with 17,000 square feet of meeting space, to open by the end of the year. The Calgary Airport Hotel & Conference Center is home to a new, 122-room Homewood Suites and a 135-room Hampton Inn, with plans for a full-service Hilton Hotel and 30,000-square-foot conference center to open on-site in 2016. Also in the area, the Hilton Garden Inn/Calgary Airport is undergoing a guest-room renovation, expected to finish this spring. The Fairfield Inn & Suites/Calgary Downtown is scheduled to open in March, and 20 miles north of the city, in Airdrie, a 96-room Hampton Inn & Suites is scheduled to open this month. The city’s larger venues include Stampede Park, the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts and, south of town, the equestrian center Spruce Meadows.
Just north of Calgary, in Balzac, the Girletz Rodeo Ranch has western-themed event space for up to 1,200 attendees. West of the city, in Kananaskis, the Boundary Ranch can host groups of up to 1,000 people and in nearby Exshaw, the Rafter Six Ranch has event space for up to 175.
Groups that meet in Lethbridge, in south Alberta, will find interesting off-site venues including the Galt Museum & Archives (rumored to be haunted) and Fort Whoop Up National Historic Site.
Edmonton, about 185 miles north of Calgary, is a popular stop for trade shows and meetings thanks to two large venues: the 522,000-square-foot Edmonton Exposition & Conference Centre (known as Edmonton Expo) and the 300,000-square-foot Shaw Conference Centre. The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, the Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association, the Canadian Gift Association and the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers were just some of the organizations to have used these facilities last year.
Hotel choices include two newly refurbished properties: the Chateau Lacombe Hotel and the Sutton Place/Edmonton. West of town is the new DoubleTree by Hilton/West Edmonton (formerly the Mayfield Inn); a few blocks away, the Oasis Center has meeting space for up to 1,000. South of the city, the new Renaissance/Edmonton Airport has a skybridge connection to the airport.
Saskatchewan: Living Large
The meetings potential of Saskatchewan’s largest city, Saskatoon, is progressing by leaps and bounds thanks to an ongoing expansion of its international airport. Big groups have two notable options: TCU Place—Saskatoon’s Arts & Convention Centre, with 104,000 square feet of meeting space, and Prairieland Park, south of downtown, with 240,000 square feet of space.
Saskatchewan’s capital, Regina, also attracts numerous associations including, in 2014, the Canadian Association of Perinatal & Women’s Health Nurses and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. The city has more than 3,000 hotel rooms and at least nine new hotels are expected to be built within the next three years, according to Conventions Regina. Recent openings include the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton/Regina East Gate and the Home Inn & Suites/Regina Airport; each has a small boardroom.
Regina’s largest event facility is Evraz Place, which has 307,000 square feet of contiguous space. Additional space is available at the Conexus Arts Centre, which can accommodate up to 2,033 people theater-style; the nearby MacKenzie Art Gallery, with space for functions of up to 250; and the Saskatchewan Trade & Convention Centre and connected Delta/Regina, which offer a combined 25,000 square feet of meeting space for groups as large as 1,900. Both the Delta and the Radisson Plaza/Saskatchewan are undergoing renovations. Not surprisingly, one of the most sought-after venues is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre & Training Academy, which offers a new driving tour through its Depot Division.
Time & Money Well Spent
It’s easy to please attendees in the scenic lands of the north. Delegates can explore the wilder locales of the Inside Passage, enjoy less familiar wine valleys or immerse themselves in native cultures. And with a bevy of meeting venues and hotels to match, planners can create programs that make the most of attendees’ time and money.