Vancouver Meeting Planners Guide 2008-2009 - (Page 4) What’s New in Vancouver Photography (left to right): Vancouver 2010 Countdown Clock ©Tourism Vancouver; Artist’s rendering of Vancouver Convention Centre expansion ©LMN Architects For meeting planners, the 2010 Winter Games mean more than just new buildings. Whether it’s large-scale sports venues, a completely new expansion of the Vancouver Convention Centre or improved transportation options, the infrastructure upgrades resulting from the 2010 Winter Games will have a lasting impact on the city. BC Place Stadium Upgrades BC Place Stadium, the location for many of the events in the 2010 Winter Games, has begun major renovations to improve the facility’s suites, seating, washrooms and more. The changes will ensure the facility is in top shape for the 2010 Winter Games and will make it an exciting facility option for events after 2010. A new retractable roof will also be constructed after the 2010 Winter Games have concluded. Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion A four-year-long, $800 million Convention Centre expansion project will come to an exciting conclusion in spring 2009. The following improvements can be expected: • Meeting, exhibit and function space will total almost 500,000 square feet. The combined space will more than triple the size of the centre. • The expansion will have seamless connection to the current centre. • The expansion will offer outstanding technical, telecommunication, and most importantly, personal services for meetings and conferences of all sizes. For more information, visit vcec.ca. Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Is Eco-conscious The Convention Centre’s expansion will create an ecologically friendly “living roof” covered with 400,000 indigenous plants, along with an extensive environmental management program incorporating co-mingled recycling, energy conservation strategies, and food and beverage management. Located on Vancouver’s spectacular harbour, the facility has already received environmental awards for innovations such as a system to protect marine wildlife. Artist’s rendering of the Vancouver Convention Centre expansion’s plaza. ©LMN Architects Host City for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Key Dates and Quick Facts Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games ticket sales: October 2008 2010 Paralympic Winter Games ticket sales: Spring 2009 Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay: Fall 2009 Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Torch Relay: Spring 2010 XXI Olympic Winter Games: Feb. 12–28, 2010 X Paralympic Winter Games: March 12 – 21, 2010 1.1 million 2010 Winter Games event tickets available 5,500 Olympic Games athletes and officials (projected) 1,350 Paralympic Games athletes and officials (projected) 80+ countries participating in Olympic Winter Games 40+ countries participating in Paralympic Winter Games 10,000 media representatives 3 billion worldwide television viewers Go to tourismvancouver.com for more info. Artist’s rendering of BC Place Stadium renovations ©Tourism Vancouver/BC Place Stadium Canada Line In 2009, the completion of the Canada Line will provide an automated rail-based rapid transit service connecting Vancouver with central Richmond and the Vancouver International Airport, adding transit capacity equivalent to 10 major road lanes. The Canada Line will connect with existing rapid transit lines at Waterfront Station and major east-west transit services, creating an enhanced transit network to serve the region. Find more at canadaline.ca. Hotels Take Green to New Levels Most of Vancouver’s hotels are British Columbia Hydro Power Smart partners or US Green Building Council certified. Dozens of hotels also feature green programs that include recycling, linen reuse, paperless check-in and check-out, food bank donations and more. Contact Tourism Vancouver for more information. City of Vancouver Green Practices The City of Vancouver requires environmentally friendly practices in city planning including the preservation of green space, community gardens, designated bike routes and their own use of the smallest possible vehicles including Smart Cars. Green Notes You’ll notice this little green leaf icon throughout the guide. If you’re interested in Vancouver’s eco-friendly progress — and tips for how to green your meeting — this little leaf will lead you right to the information you’re looking for. Be sure to visit our members’ websites (provided in this guide’s listings) for more information on eco-friendly steps they have taken. This guide provides just a taste of what Vancouver businesses have accomplished on the ever-progressing green front. Going Green The environmental movement continues to excel across Vancouver and throughout the meetings industry. Below are a few items of particular interest to meeting planners. Tourism Vancouver Promotes Green Air Travel Tourism Vancouver has committed to greening all of its air travel with the purchase of carbon offset credits through Uniglobe Advance Travel’s Green Flight program. Vancouver was the first destination marketing organization to commit to offsetting all of their flights through the program. Through their partnership with Uniglobe, meeting planners can also offer their delegates the opportunity to purchase carbon offset credits for their flight to your Vancouver meeting or convention. 4 t o u r i s m va n c o u ve r. c o m http://ww.vcec.ca http://www.tourismvancouver.com http://www.tourismvancouver.com
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