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Vancouver Footloose Series - Don't Miss It! VANCOUVER ONCE AGAIN NAMED TOP CITY IN AMERICAS
Readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine have once again voted Vancouver the "Best City in the Americas" at their annual Readers' Choice Awards. Vancouver won the top spot for the third year in a row, this year topping Buenos Aires, Argentina and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The poll divides cities into six specific geographical divisions including the Americas, which covers Canada, Central America and South America. Cities are scored on ambience, friendliness, culture and sites, restaurants, lodging, and shopping, to give a final ranking. Featured in the November issue of the magazine, the 2006 Readers' Choice Awards list the world's top cities, airlines, car rental agencies, cruise lines, hotels and resorts, and islands. INDUSTRY RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF THE GST VISITOR REBATE On September 25, 2006 the federal government announced a proposed amendment to the Excise Tax Act that would eliminate the goods and services tax (GST) Visitor Rebate Program effective April 1, 2007. The federal government did not consult the Canadian Tourism industry with respect to cuts to the visitor-rebate program so our industry is just as surprised as you by the proposed elimination. Led by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and Hotel Association of Canada, 14 of the leading tourism associations of Canada have formed the Visitor Rebate Program (VRP) Coalition. The VRP Coalition is fighting the proposed changes and it is our hope that the change does not go into effect VANCOUVER OLYMPIC FEVER! Actress Nicole Kidman, who recently visited Vancouver with her parents, was spotted wearing a Vancouver 2010 Olympic t-shirt. Vancouver is proud host to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games February 12-28, 2010. For more information, visit www.winter2010.com. (Sorry, no info on Nicole Kidman on this website!) LOOK WHO IS COMING TO VANCOUVER • Botanical Society of America - August 2008, 800 attendees • American Ceramic Society - May 2009, 750 attendees • Society of Teachers of Family Medicine - April 2010, 1000 attendees • American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons - May 2011, 1200 attendees "The city is absolutely perfect for our meeting. The delegates will enjoy the close proximity from the airport, the new convention center, upscale hotels, cultural diversity, restaurants and especially the view." - Gina Seegers, Director of Meetings, American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons ANOTHER AMAZING EVENT BY VANCOUVER DMC: "ROCKERS" TAKE OVER MAYNE ISLAND So often we focus on the city life and we forget the amazing possibilities within its reach. Mayne Island, one of our Gulf Islands just outside Vancouver, shook all over this past summer as 200 guests invaded its grounds for an outrageous birthday bash. Designed, produced and executed by Destination Planners, the weekend started with a casual outdoor reception picnic style at the estate with high-end decor, exclusive wines and entertainment. The next day consisted of a variety of activities- most of which had to be imported to the island including a private yacht for inter-island cruising. The build up was the actual birthday event Saturday night: a 50's and 60's theme relating to the actual birthdays. Guests were encouraged to dress the part. Décor consisted of themed 50's and 60's tables with interactive scattered items to wear and use throughout the night. Vancouver's top-notch suppliers were hired for this event including the band, lighting and sound, magician, caricaturist and caterer. Everyone and all items had to be imported to the island, which made the weekend logistically challenging. Additionally, Destination Planners coordinated all the transportation on and off the island, the inter-island transportation and all accommodations (of which every room available was used). Locals came from all parts of the island to catch a piece of the excitement. They had never (and probably not soon again) experienced any event to this extent on their island. www.destinationplanners.com YALETOWN DISTRICT - ULTRA COOL HOT SPOT FOR YOUR NEXT DINE AROUND Planning an event that's perfectly suited for your attendees' passions is a lot easier when you are familiar with the city's diverse neighborhoods. This month we are featuring the ultra-hip Yaletown district. Formerly a warehouse district, Yaletown has been transformed into one of Vancouver's coolest areas. Old industrial brick warehouses have been converted into lofts, sidewalk cafes, studios, designer showrooms, ultra-hip clothing stores from local designers, and a thriving restaurant and bar scene. If your attendees are into all things unique, sleek and modern, this is the place to visit! Home to a variety of restaurants that won't disappoint, Yaletown is the perfect place for a dine-around event. Many restaurants feature private dining rooms such as Blue Water Café & Raw Bar, Circolo, Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill and Capone's Restaurant & Live Jazz Club just to name a few award-winning restaurants. For detailed information on all our restaurants, including buy-out options and private rooms, visit http://www.tourismvancouver.com/meetings/pdf/meetings_restaurants.pdf for a complete listing. |
Third
time that readers of Condé Nast Traveler have ranked
Vancouver the top city