Natalie Lajoie didn’t have to look far when choosing a location for her company’s next meeting.
In fact, she’d already been there.
In her role as manager of conferences and special projects for Electro-Federation Canada, Lajoie
was first introduced to Kelowna five years ago.
Impressed by its scenic lakeside location and ample meeting facilities, it didn’t take her long to
fall in love with this bustling British Columbia community of more than 100,000 residents.
She’s now confident the same will hold true for delegates attending Electro-Federation’s 2010
Supply & Distribution Annual Conference.
“Kelowna is one of the most beautiful places in Canada,” says Lajoie, whose Toronto-based
company is a national, not-for-profit industry association that represents more than 300 member
companies that manufacture, distribute, and service electrical, electronics and
telecommunications products.
“From majestic mountains to beautiful lakes and the Okanagan Valley, all of the above sets the
perfect backdrop to host our conference.”
Electro-Federation’s annual event regularly attracts upwards of 600 delegates. Past locations
include Banff, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Whistler, Halifax, Montreal, Vancouver, Jasper,
Scottsdale, Arizona, and most recently, Victoria.
The decision to return to B.C. was an easy one, says Lajoie, especially to a region renowned for
its opportunities in and out of the meeting room.
“The possibilities of where our members can experience fine dining, wineries and enjoy a
different lifestyle for a week plays an important role. Kelowna has a vast array of things to see and do,” she says.
“Our attendees are key industry leaders from across Canada and the United States, so selecting a
key destination in their minds is sometime challenging. “This marks the first time that our members will be able to enjoy the conference in such surroundings for the conference, so that has appeal. Something new or someplace new is always exciting.”
Lajoie is not alone in her praise for the province. Planners from around the world are discovering
the wealth of opportunities in B.C., from the majestic Rockies to the powerful Pacific Ocean.
In 2007, more than 1.1 million delegates attended corporate meetings or events at five of the province’s largest facilities, which include the Victoria Conference Centre, Whistler Conference Centre, Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and Prince George Civic Centre. That represents a jump of more than 50 percent at some facilities from the year prior.
And with the demand for non-traditional meeting facilities growing, the province is a regular
field of dreams for planners and delegates alike.
Facilities
When it comes to choosing where to host a meeting in B.C., it’s no secret that the province offers a rivaled selection of locations and facilities.
On the eastern shores of Vancouver Island, one of the province’s newest facilities is finding rising fame among planners and delegates alike for its modern amenities and picturesque setting on Nanaimo’s beautiful downtown harborfront.
The Vancouver Island Convention Centre opened to rave reviews earlier this year for its rare blend of flexibility, functionality and first-class service.
“Apart from the architectural blend of old-world charm with contemporary appeal, the
Vancouver Island Conference Centre is Canada’s newest and most exciting conference destination (in B.C.),” says Denise Tacon, director of operations for the VICC.
The centre offers 38,000 square feet of flexible, functional convention and meeting space that
can support groups of up to 1,300 people for theatre-style functions or stand-up receptions. The meeting space includes a 14,000-square-foot ballroom with breakout capabilities and nine
multipurpose meeting rooms.
The VICC also benefits from its central location in this city of some 80,000 residents. The centre
which, so far, has received many of its clients from the Pacific Northwest national convention
market, is the flagship of the new Port of Nanaimo Centre, which encompasses the new
Nanaimo Museum, 200-seat Shaw Auditorium and Port Theatre.
It is also mere steps from a number of boutiques, specialty shops, art galleries, museums,
historical attractions, live theatre, a casino, restaurants, cafes and pubs, as well as many of
Nanaimo’s 1,200 guestrooms.
The five-kilometre Harbourside Walkway lies at the VICC’s doorstep, as well as water taxi
service to three nearby islands. Delegates can hop over to Protection Island, which is home to
Canada’s only floating restaurant and pub.
Guests can also take a short ride to Newcastle Island and take in the spectacular views from
meandering trails throughout a 306-hectare Provincial Marine Park.
Or for a taste of the region’s arts and culture scene, picturesque Gabriola Island is known for its
numerous artists’ studios.
“A myriad of activities abound in Nanaimo, and with the city’s mid-island location, delegates
can easily explore Vancouver Island,” says Tacon, noting Vancouver Island is consistently rated
Top North American Island by readers of Conde Nast Traveller magazine. “Centralized on Vancouver Island gives that ‘get-away’ feel to all who travel here.”
Near Kamloops, the South Thompson Inn and Conference Centre has taken a
much different path than the VICC, but achieved similar results.
Located on the banks of the South Thompson River just 15 minutes from the city centre, South
Thompson was originally a working thoroughbred stable and training facility.
Today, the horses can still be seen romping on the site’s 55 beautifully landscaped acres, but it’s now a four-star premier meeting and accommodation provider that prides itself on offering “Kentucky Style with Western Hospitality.”
“The inn becomes the events’ place. So guests see each other in the hallways, fitness rooms, on
the grounds, chat on the balconies, they can become absorbed into the event,” says general
manager Carla Carlson.
“Providing full concentration and accessibility to their friends teamed with a very peaceful and
warm environment, guests really do open up to learning and getting all they can receive out of the sessions.”
For planners, South Thompson has 10 meeting rooms capable of hosting up to 200 people. The
facility also includes 57 individually decorated guest rooms that, in keeping with the equine
theme, are named after racehorses, racetracks and Kentucky cities.
For delegates, there’s no shortage of activities on-site or nearby. South Thompson offers access to hiking trails, horseback riding, mountain biking, boating, kayaking, golfing and more. The inn also features an outdoor heated pool and riverfront hot tub to soak in after a long day in
the boardroom.
South Thompson’s proximity to Kamloops, as well as neighboring towns and amenities is also
a bonus to planners and delegates, says Carlson.
“The inn is so strategically located for all meetings after meetings. Travelers can try Vernon
courses to Sun Peaks, all within the same distance from the inn,” she says, noting WestJet recently announced it’s planning flights into Kamloops, joining Air Canada and other regional carriers.
Heading south, in Vancouver the buzz surrounding the coming 2010 Winter Olympics couldn’t
have come at a better time for the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Named earlier this year as the World’s Best Convention Centre by the International Association
of Congress Centres for the second time in six years, the VCEC is undergoing an elaborate
expansion that promises to solidify Vancouver on the meeting industry’s map.
Currently underway, the addition will triple the downtown waterfront facility’s space and, when
complete, will make the VCEC one of the largest, most state-of-the-art facilities in the world.
The expansion is expected to be completed by 2009. More than 50 events are already booked in
the expansion facility post-expansion, including more than 20 in 2011.
“Without a doubt, these bookings are a direct result of the expansion of the convention centre and the aggressive sales and marketing of Vancouver as a preferred meeting destination,” says
Warren Buckley, acting president of the VCEC.
The 2011 bookings are expected to attract some 120,000 delegates and nearly 300,000 room
nights. Among those will be SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on GRAPHics and Interactive
Techniques), which is expected to attract some 25,000 delegates to the annual conference.
The new building at the VCEC is being built immediately west of the existing centre which is
already instantly recognizable on the Vancouver waterfront for its five-sail design and will be
linked to the facilities at Canada Place via a 90-metre connector.
When complete, the VCEC will add 340,000 square feet to the existing 133,000-square-foot
facility. The combined site will offer 225,000-square-foot and 91,000-square-foot exhibition
halls, 85,912 square feet of breakout rooms, a 17,000-square-foot ballroom and a
54,780-square-foot signature ballroom with a waterfront view.
It will also be capped with a six-acre “living roof” featuring a range of plants native to the West
Coast, and with 40 percent of the facility being built over water, it is incorporating marine life
directly into the foundation supporting the building.
Meanwhile, a ferry ride to the west lies the Victoria Conference Centre, one of the fastest-growing convention facilities in the province.
The centre recorded more than 241,000 event participant days in 2007 — an increase of more than 50 percent from the previous year.
Much of that, according to officials, came from a growing international client base looking to “own” the centre and the city, while also taking advantage of Victoria’s warmer climate.
It’s estimated that more than 50 percent of the VCC’ s delegates come from the Canadian
association market, while 30 percent are international and 20 percent from the U.S.
Among those confirmed for the coming year are the 16th World Congress on Disaster and
Emergency Medicine, 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Banquet and CHF Canada’s 2009
Annual General Meeting.
Many visitors to the centre, planners and otherwise, often choose the VCC because of its
flexibility. Able to cater to intimate gatherings of 25 or conferences as large as 2,500, the VCC
features up to 73,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. That includes 16 multipurpose
meeting rooms, a 14,000-square-foot exhibition hall, 400-seat lecture theatre, as well as garden
courtyard pavilions and signature banquet space in the recently acquired Crystal Gardens.
The Crystal Gardens building, located across the street from the VCC, is an historic landmark
inspired by the famous Crystal Palace built for London’s 1851 Great Exposition and the Palm
House at Kew Gardens.
The VCC is currently restoring the facility to its former glory, and is engaged in an extensive
renovation of the space that will add 25,000 square feet, including a banquet/exhibit level and a
mezzanine. The addition, expected to be completed later this year, will create a total of 73,000 square feet of meeting space available for conference groups.
Wineries
Catering to the industry’s thirst for non-traditional meeting opportunities, wineries across the
province have opened their doors to planners looking to spice up their events.
Whether it’s sipping a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon at a private candlelit tasting, or savoring a
glass of ice wine while overlooking the deep turquoise blue waters of Lake Okanagan, B.C.’s
world-renowned wineries have something for the oenophile in everyone.
In a little known industrial district just minutes from the New Westminster Quay and that city’s
historic downtown, Pacific Breeze Winery has been turning heads since it opened in 2005.
This little known gem is perhaps best known for producing a number of award-winning
commercial wines from grapes harvested in Washington and California. But it has also made
considerable in-roads into the corporate meeting and event industry for its unique setting and
experiences.
The “Garage Winery” is able to accommodate smaller groups and corporate events in its intimate
tasting rooms. It also offers visits to the barrel room, where visitors can savor the facility’s
creations with the owners themselves.
“We have had great success and feedback from our events at the winery in the short time we have been open,” says Frank Gregus, who founded Pacific Breeze with Maurice Hamilton.
“Planners are looking for locations that provide memories, team-building and a fun atmosphere,
and we have achieved this in many ways.”
Gregus adds the winery’s success with the meeting industry, in particular, is its ability to offer an
experience that transcends many delegates’ expectations of a typical meeting.
“Our winery has been used for customer presentations and workshops that concluded with a
lesson on winemaking, and included a personal tour and tasting — very different than the hotel
environment. The memories last much longer.”
Mission Hill Family Estate is finding similar fame within the meeting industry for its unique pairings of sophisticated wine and flexible facilities. Set in the blossoming community of Westbank, Mission Hill is just minutes from downtown Kelowna, yet feels like it’s a world away.
The world-renowned winery, spread out over 120,000 square feet, offers panoramic views of
Lake Okanagan, lush on-site vineyards and a neo-classic-inspired courtyard that features a natural grass outdoor amphitheatre in the shadows of a classic 12-storey bell tower.
Much of what visitors see today is the result of a spectacular transformation since Anthony von
Mandl bought the property in 1981, and, more recently, an intensive three-year renovation
project.
From a spectacular rose garden and close to 4,000 trees and shrubs that greet visitors, to the
massive set of contemporary, curved arches — held together by a single keystone — that guard the
main winery grounds, Mission Hill leaves an impression on anyone who visits the facility.
“(Organizers) chose Mission Hill because it offers an unparalleled experience not available
anywhere else in the Okanagan Valley,” says Lori Pike, director of public relations for Mission
Hill.
For corporate meetings and events, the family-owned winery offers a number of diverse settings,
including an intimate theatre for up to 30 guests, a private tasting salon, an outdoor dining terrace
and the amphitheatre, which seats up to 600 guests, and has played host to a number of opera,
Shakespeare and symphony performances.
Also available is the Chagall Room, named for the one-of-a-kind Marc Chagall tapestry that
graces its walls. The room can accommodate 72 guests in a sit-down dinner, or up to 200 for a
stand-up reception.
“Meeting organizers select Mission Hill not just for a meeting venue, but also so their attendees
can experience something special such as a wine and food pairing dinner event or tour and
tasting,” says Pike.
“We are an excellent location for delegates to have a memorable experience — the evening is
quite magical at Mission Hill Family Estate.”
Groups can also choose to use the Loggia, a semi-private, covered outdoor venue, perfect for up
to 120 people, that offers a breathtaking view of Lake Okanagan and the mountains beyond.
Long-term plans are to develop a small auberge on-site that would feature a 20,000- to
25,000-square foot conference centre, as well as a restaurant, auberge, wellness centre and resort
townhomes.
Meanwhile, Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands, blessed with a Mediterranean
climate and dedicated winemakers, are emerging as one of North America’s newest and fastest
growing wine destinations.
Planners can choose from any of the two dozen or more wineries, as well as a traditional cidery, for their next corporate meeting, team-building exercise, or off-site activity.
Most of the vineyards are located in the Cowichan Valley, a 45-minute drive north of Victoria.
Several are also located on the nearby Saanich Peninsula, and three more a short ferry hop away
on Saturna and Salt Spring Islands.
Golf
Imagine hitting the perfect tee shot on a cloudless day in-between break-out sessions at your next
meeting. Or putting for birdie before heading to a five-course banquet at the end of the day.
A number of golf resorts in B.C. are making that a reality as the demand for fun, and functional,
meeting locations continue to climb.
Nestled between the Purcell and Rocky Mountains just a five-minute drive west of the Canadian
Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, the St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino is capitalizing on this niche market with a quality product on the course and in the boardroom.
The resort features an 18-hole 7,007-yard championship golf course designed by Les Furber that
was named one of the top three best new Canadian golf courses. The stunning course has since
been hailed by critics for its rare combination of mountain, river and links-style holes thanks, in
part, to its spectacular Rocky Mountain setting.
And to top it off, the course is just steps away from the 125-room Delta hotel, a
19,000-square-foot casino and more than 4,000 square feet of meeting space.
“We are a full-service hotel with four dining outlets, an 18-hole golf course, interpretive centre
and full-service casino,” says Wendy Van Puymbroeck, director of sales and marketing at St.
Eugene Golf Resort and Casino, noting affordable stay and play packages, among others, are
available to delegates and their families.
The meeting spaces, meanwhile, are as varied as the golf course that it overlooks. St. Eugene
offers six meeting rooms capable of accommodating 60 to 100 guests that can also be combined
to offer a single, much larger, space.
St. Eugene’s history also figures prominently into its facilities — and often the events it hosts,
adds Puymbroeck. The site was originally a residential school for First Nations children. Today,
the history of the Ktunaxa Nation, which can trace its origins in the region back 10,000 years, are
highlighted throughout the property, such as the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre and the main
building.
“Visitors love the history of the property and the beautiful surroundings,” says Van Puymbroeck.
In the neighboring Okanagan Valley, best known as Canada’s premier wine-producing district,
Predator Ridge Golf Resort Community is changing the way many people approach the game — on and off the course.
The resort is situated on 1,200 acres of spectacular terrain. Of course, front and centre is its
championship 27-hole golf course that hosted the 2008 Telus World Skins tournament for the
second time in eight years. It is one of only two public golf courses in Western Canada to be
ranked by Score Magazine in Canada’s Top 25 for the past eight years.
“At Predator Ridge Golf Resort, golf is more than just a game — it’s a way of life,” says marketing and community relations specialist Jennifer Strachan.
Further solidifying Predator Ridge’s reputation as one of the region’s best will be a new 18-hole
course expected by 2010 that will include a complete renovation of the existing Peregrine course,
as well as the creation of nine new holes.
Not that golf is the only game in town at Predator Ridge. The site is also home to more than
7,200 square feet of meeting space that range from boardrooms to banquet halls for gatherings of
up to 60 delegates.
And when guests are ready to rest their heads, they can do so in any one of the 50 fairway
cottages available that range from one- to three-bedroom configurations, or 75 luxury one- to
two-bedroom lodge suites that offer commanding golf course views.
“Perched high above B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, Predator Ridge is a place where families and
friends connect to escape the hustle and bustle of the city at an incomparable world-class
destination,” says Strachan.
All units are also just steps from the Aveda Spa and Salon — which has more than 5,000
square feet of treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge and more — a golf performance centre, as well as a number of dining choices that range from a clubhouse dinning room to newly opened
steakhouse.
“Predator Ridge is more than a golf resort. With so much to do, and a wide variety of activities,
there is something for everyone,” says Strachan.
“We provide a one-call service for all groups to ensure they have an above-and-beyond
experience.”
On the West Coast, guests visiting Garibaldi Springs Golf Resort are reaping the benefits of its
ideal location and a golf course that has earned rave reviews since it opened in 2004.
Situated just north of Squamish, the adventure capital of Canada, Garibaldi Springs is also
conveniently located halfway between Vancouver and Whistler. And with the 2010 Winter
Olympics a heartbeat away, it’s no surprise that the local meeting industry is booming.
“Meetings will definitely be a leader for Garibaldi as the demand for this destination already
exceeds present supply,” says Robert Leoppky, vice-president, Western Canada of Atlific Hotels,
which operates Garibaldi Springs.
“Olympic venues and proximity to Whistler will contribute to the location being used for events. As 2010 approaches, Olympic events will increase.”
Garibaldi Springs’ crown jewel, of course, is its Furber-designed 4,664-yard par-64 golf course.
Featuring tree lined fairways, water on 13 of the 18 holes and dramatic elevated tees, the course is a growing favorite among golfers from around the world.
The course also figures prominently in the facility’s meeting spaces, which overlook the stunning
greens and mountains. Garibaldi Springs can accommodate groups of up to 160 delegates in its
two meeting rooms of 1,200 square feet, as well as alternative space in the adjoining clubhouse
and an outdoor tented patio.
All are just steps from Garibaldi Springs’ Executive Suites hotel, which houses studio, one-
and two-bedroom suites that also offer stunning views. Being limited to smaller groups has actually benefited the facility, says Leoppky, as many smaller companies are increasingly looking for opportunities closer to home at a great value.
“The cost of travel is increasing which is a boon to a mid-scale all-service resort that can offer a
level of pampering in a value setting that is unpretentious,” he says.
“While the current trend is to send fewer delegates and eliminate some meetings, this trend has
had the effect in many markets of increasing the number of smaller meetings.”
As a result, he says, “meeting venues in unique destinations have tended to be much more
resilient as people meet to look for solutions and pick destinations that reward an increasingly
precious workforce.”
Adventure
Garibaldi Springs isn’t the only location finding newfound fame thanks to the pending
Olympics. Whistler, the site for a number of the 2010 Games’ events, is booming, as groups from
around the globe descend en masse to this mountain community of less than 10,000 residents.
And when they get there, they’re not disappointed, says Jeff McDonald, media projects manager
for Tourism Whistler.
“Up to now, the lift has been provided by the construction of venues for the Games. Now, the lift
is an increase in people who want to meet in Whistler before the Games,” he says, noting
Whistler accounts for approximately 10 percent of B.C.’s total annual tourism revenues.
“They want to see Whistler Village and experience what an Olympic city is like. They are curious and want to understand for themselves why Whistler was chosen to be host mountain resort for the Games, and why Whistler is so popular with tourists.”
The answer, of course, is right in front of visitors’ eyes. Whistler serves up a full menu of
year-round outdoor recreational opportunities on a silver platter for those with a passion for
adventure.
With the coming Olympics, skiing is top of mind among many visitors coming to the area. The
region boasts the largest ski area in North America, with more than 8,100 acres of pure powder at Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The two ski destinations not only offer more than 200 ski
runs, but also feature one of the most advanced high-speed lift systems in the world.
A favored escape for more adventuresome visitors is Callaghan Country — a snow-blessed
backdrop boasting stunning views, old growth forests and endless heaps of the white stuff.
Situated in the Southern Coast Mountains near Whistler, and right next door to the new Whistler
Olympic Park, this scenic slice of wilderness promises plenty of opportunity to play in the snow.
Callaghan Lodge, a mere 45-minute snowmobile ride — or one-hour trek by snow coach or dog
sled — from check-in at the base, is Whistler’s only full-service, remote access wilderness ski
lodge tucked amid an outdoor playground.
“Just mere steps from the lodge’s entrance, guests can glide the cross country trails,
snowshoe through a forested expanse or simply take in the scene amid a calm, peaceful quiet,”
says Ray LeBlond, director of corporate communications for Tourism B.C. “And thanks to the lodge’s array of winter excursions fashioned for guests, adventures will prove as boundless as the vistas.”
At the end of a long day, the lodge provides an intimate and cozy environment for visitors, who
can enjoy a fabulous four-course feast prepared by chef Evan Boland before cuddling up by the
fire.
From figure-eights down the snow-capped peaks to perfect putts on meticulously manicured
greens, Whistler is also home to a burgeoning summer scene, notes McDonald.
“Whistler is known for winter skiing, but (it) actually hosts more people in the summer than in
the winter,” he says.
On the greens, visitors only have to look at the names behind the area’s courses to get a feel for
how serious the region takes its golf. Legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Bob Cupp and
Robert Trent Jones Jr. have all left their mark on an area consistently ranked as one of the best in
the world.
The Big Sky Golf and Country Club in nearby picturesque Pemberton is a design of grand subtlety spread out over 190 pristine acres. With the majestic Mount Currie towering 8,500 feet above the fairways, golfers have a choice of between four sets of bent grass tee boxes stretching from 5,208 yards to a challenging 7,001 yards.
The Whistler Golf Club is a par-71, 6,722-yard beauty located just steps away from Whistler Village, and is surrounded by breathtaking views of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
The par-71, 6,925-yard Nicklaus North Golf Course, which hosted the Telus Skins Game in 1997
and 2005, is a testament to the legend himself, with impeccably manicured greens, challenging
par threes and distinctive bunkering.
Finally, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club is best characterized by the terrain it covers. From creeks and ponds to stands of ancient Douglas fir and granite rock faces, this par-72, 6,635-yard course offers a golfing experience of a lifetime.
And listing Whistler’s recreational opportunities wouldn’t be complete without mention of
its off-roading opportunities. The Whistler Valley is famous around the world for its mountain
biking, with more than 240 kilometres of trails snaking in and out of forest and mountain terrain.
Planners, meanwhile, also have plenty to play with in Whistler, which boasts the largest
conference capacity of any other North American ski resort with more than 150,000 square feet
of combined meeting space.
Its centrepiece is the Telus Whistler Convention Centre, which features its Sea to Sky Ballroom that’s capable of hosting up to 2,000 guests. The 16,500-square-foot ballroom is also multifunctional, with up to three breakout spaces for groups of up to 680 guests each.
The centre also features 14 breakout rooms for up to 1,000 people, as well as a glass-enclosed
conservatory that provides natural light and spectacular views of the mountains with enough
space to serve 120 people banquet style.
Meanwhile, nestled between the Purcell and Rocky Mountains, Golden is carving out its own
niche with a platter of extreme adventure opportunities.
Located at the junction of two heritage rivers, and in close proximity to five national parks, it’s no wonder that this charming town of more than 4,300 residents is awash with recreational
activities.
In the winter, visitors to the region can carve up the slopes at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The resort offers 106 different runs, 70 inbound chutes, ski-in/ski-out lodging and, for planners, facilities to host up to 500 delegates.
For the more adventuresome, Purcell Helicopter Skiing offers heli-skiing packages that allow guests to access close to 200 runs over a 2,000-square-kilometre area in the Purcell Mountains.
In the summer, visitors to Golden might also want to look up — way up — for an experience they
are unlikely to find anywhere else in the world.
The area is a world-renowned gliding paradise, with eight world records having been set in the
region thanks to thermals or updrafts’ of warm air that enable adventure-seekers to fly for hours
and range over wide distances.
Canadian Rockies Heli-Paragliding offers access to a number of spectacular mountain ridges and summits in the region, where visitors can paraglide down from either tandem or solo. Visitors to Golden are also missing out if they fail to test the rapids in the Kicking Horse River, one of the wildest, most intense waterways in Canada.
A number of outdoor adventure companies offer customized, all-inclusive packages from
mid-May to mid-September for first-time or experienced white water adventurers.
For a much different experience on the water, Prince of Whales Whale Watching
allows guests to get up close and personal with the potentates of the Pacific.
Leaving Victoria’s Inner Harbor, guests can jump into their cruiser suits, board one of the
company’s 10 open-air, zodiac-style boats or two 62-foot express cruisers and embark on a
wildlife cruise up to 100 kilometres in length in search of killer, grey, minke or even humpback
whales.
The company’s newest vessel, the Ocean Magic II, also offers Vancouver/Victoria cruises in
addition to whale-watching adventures. This four-hour, one-way adventure allows a variety of
packages that can mix in s
