Association Meetings: Conference Canada

Byline: Megan Rowe

WHAT'S NEW

Sign of the times: With 310,174 visitors, the Canadian International Auto Show broke its own attendance record earlier this year in Toronto. Tourism officials must have felt some sense of relief.

Buffeted by the SARS crisis and world events, Canadian destinations took a beating last year. But the February auto show might have signaled a turning point. By the second quarter, the country's income from tourism had grown by 10 percent over 2003 levels, and spending by international visitors had increased by 21 percent.

"Recent travel data indicates that consumers are putting concerns related to the turbulent events of 2003 behind them," says Michele McKenzie, president and CEO of the Canadian Tourism Commission. "Although many operators are still feeling the effects of a difficult 2003, the industry is gradually regaining lost ground. Should it keep its momentum, the Canadian tourism industry will be able to position itself for growth in 2005."

In airport news, Toronto Pearson Airport is in the midst of a 10-year redevelopment. The first stage of the project, including a new Terminal 1, opened in April 2004. Montreal-Trudeau Airport (formerly Montreal-Dorval Airport) inaugurated its new international arrival complex and a newly renovated domestic departures area in November.

FACILITY UPDATE

ALBERTA

In Lake Louise, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise's new Mount Temple Wing opened in June. It has 18,000 square feet of function space, including an 8,300-square-foot ballroom; new pre-function space, six breakout rooms, a 24/7 business center; a 200-seat restaurant; and a new wing of guest rooms, raising the total to 555.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Near Vancouver, Bedwell Harbour Resort and Marina was redeveloped and renamed Poets Cove Resort & Spa. It has 46 guest rooms, cottages, and villas, a restaurant and pub, a spa; a marina, and 1,560 square feet of meeting space.

Opened in May, Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa, 20 minutes north of downtown Victoria, has 33 oceanview rooms with outdoor decks or balconies, an 80-seat restaurant, a spa, and 650 square feet of meeting space.

The 236-room Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour debuted in May, featuring a rooftop concierge lounge and 5,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Pan Pacific Vancouver is set to unveil Spa Utopia and Salon in January.

The Aerie Resort in Malahut recently opened Villa Cielo, an intimate resort-within-a-resort. Groups can take over the entire resort, which has a total of 35 rooms and suites, a full-service spa, indoor pool, helicopter landing pad, and 1,750 square feet of meeting space.

The Four Seasons Resort Whistler, which opened in June at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, has 242 suites, 10,000 square feet of meeting space, and a spa.

Vancouver's newest boutique hotel, Opus, in the Yaletown district, has 97 rooms and suites and two meeting rooms.

ONTARIO

In Toronto, the Pantages Suites Hotel & Spa opened this year with 157 rooms and suites, a 5,000-square-foot conference center, a spa, and a restaurant.

The 433-room Doubletree International Plaza Hotel opened at the Toronto Airport with 60,000 square feet of convention facilities. It is directly across from the Toronto Congress Centre.

In March, the 249-room Renaissance Toronto Airport Hotel opened with more than 26,000 square feet of meeting space.

The 368-room Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort opened in June with 50,000 square feet of meeting space, a spa, a 200,000-square-foot casino, a performing arts center, and 10 restaurants.

The Doubletree Resort Lodge & Spa also opened in Niagara Falls in June. It has 224 guest rooms, a spa, and nine meeting and banquet rooms for up to 300 people.

Americana Conference Resort and Spa, in Niagara Falls, is adding 57 new guest rooms (for a total of 217), a spa, and an indoor water park. The hotel has 16,000 square feet of meeting space.

Ottawa's Lord Elgin Hotel wrapped up a three-year expansion and renovation and is under new management: Atlific Hotels. The hotel now has 357 guest rooms and 13,000 square feet of meeting space.

QUEBEC

The 152-room W Montreal, formerly the Banque du Canada Building, opened this fall in the Cite International District with 3,000 square feet of meeting space.

Montreal's Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth completed a five-year makeover.

ASK THE CVB

ALBERTA

Travel Alberta (866) 511-1200 www.travelalberta.com Total Hotel Tax: 12%*

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Tourism British Columbia (604) 660-2956, (800) 663-6000 www.hellobc.com Total Hotel Tax: 17%*

NOVA SCOTIA

Greater Halifax Conventions & Meetings Bureau (902) 422-9334, (877) 422-9334 www.meethalifax.com Total Hotel Tax: 15%*

ONTARIO

Tourism Toronto (416) 203-2600 www.torontotourism.com Total Hotel Tax: 12%*

QUEBEC

Quebec City and Area Tourism and Convention Bureau (418) 522-3511 www.quebecregion.com/e/ Total Hotel Tax: 15%* *includes 7% rebatable GST

Phantom Planner

When entering Canada, advise attendees to have either a passport, or an original birth certificate plus a driver's license.

Don't forget to factor customs logistics into your game plan. If your travel to Canada requires a transfer in Toronto Pearson Airport, for example, be sure to allow yourself ample connection time on your return flights. The lines at U.S. Customs in Toronto are extra slow now that non-U.S. citizens are being fingerprinted and photographed.

Register your event details at least three months in advance with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. A coordinator from the agency will send you a letter of recognition, answer any customs-related issues, and can refer you to a customs broker. Everyone attending the event should carry a copy of the letter, and it should accompany any shipments of goods.

Canada's Goods and Services Tax is refundable on almost all expenses related to meetings, including a 50 percent rebate on food and beverage charges. Attendees can also obtain tax refunds on their purchases by filling out a visitor rebate form available at most hotels, shops, and airports.

Special Venues

Storyeum, the newest visitor attraction in Vancouver's Gastown district, is an underground venue comprising a series of theaters that unfolds the history of British Columbia through live performances and special effects. The 104,000-square-foot space is available for group bookings. (604) 687-8142; www.storyeum.com

Victory Estate Winery, first open to the public in 2003, is Vancouver Island's largest winery. The 21,000-square-foot venue can accommodate to 300. (250) 652-2671 ext. 236; www.victoriaestatewinery.com

Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, a project of the Canadian Opera Company, a 2,000-seat opera house, will open in 2006. The auditorium, a smaller hall, a rehearsal hall, and other spaces will be available for group rentals. fourseasonscentre.ca