Prevue May-June 2017 - 24

Previous: Seasons in the Park, Vancouver
Right (clockwise from top); Lacko Castle in West Sweden (photo credit: Visit Sweden);
New social space at the W Fort Lauderdale; Valley of Fire state park, Las Vegas
(photo credit: LVCVA)

A

Access over acquisition. It's the new motto to plan by. Attendees have
long moved into this area of experience over things, and even though
quality does still matter, the idea of being pampered by luxe amenities
and Michelin-star cuisine is just as relevant and important to them as
the stories of an indigenous elder, opera in a local courtyard or a hike
through the Andes. We've reached out to destinations across the
globe to find out exactly how they define luxury. Bling, as it turns out,
ain't nothing but a thing.

VANCOUVER, CANADA
Garden hopping is a thing in Vancouver, and one of the best places
to tiptoe through the tulips, as well as by fountains, sculptures and
real-time local painters, is located at the highest point in the city
at 500 ft above sea level. Queen Elizabeth Park spans nearly
130 acres with indoor/outdoor
gardens, including an arboretum
with 1,500 Canadian trees and the
Bloedel Conservatory with more
than 200 free-flying exotic birds-all
just 15 minutes from downtown.
The conservatory offers a colorful
backdrop for tai chi classes or cocktail
parties for up to 150 attendees.
Groups can then hop on over to
Seasons in the Park for a fine dining
experience above the trees that
includes views of the park's orientalinspired North Quarry Garden and
its arched bridge, not to mention
stunning lake and mountain views.
One of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America
can be found at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Among
its booty of spoils, the UBC Botanical Gardens' Nitobe Memorial
Garden offers a Japanese "tea and stroll" experience, or a traditional
tea ceremony followed by a stroll among myriad flowering trees,
azaleas and irises. In between meetings, groups will also find
numerous workshops and cultural performances year-round-
ranging from horticultural and botanical watercolor workshops to
opera and tea and dance performances among the magnolias.
Another must-do here for up to 25 attendees is a tour across the
Greenheart TreeWalk canopy walkway, a series of narrow aerial trails

that soar 50 ft above the forest floor. Greenheart has an adjacent
meadow that is regularly used for events, but the fetching Roseline
Sturdy Amphitheatre, offering tiered seating for up to 250, is a hot
spot for events.
Wendy Surkan, meetings and conventions sales manager for
Tourism Vancouver, elaborated on how it's increasingly the green
carpet that rolls out to meet attendees.
"In recent years, groups have become more interested in
the luxury of nature at their doorstep and fresh and healthy dining
options and activities that get them outside and enjoying the beauty
of Vancouver. Whether that means cycling the Stanley Park seawall,
enjoying a locally sourced meal or joining a guided walk though one
of the city's vibrant neighborhoods, delegates can take advantage of
the city's natural opulence and rich culture."
A 15-minute drive north of
downtown will bring groups to
Grouse Mountain for guided
snowshoe and fondue or igloo
team building experiences, two of
many creative after-dark excursions
available in the area. There's a lot to
do here-whether exploring caves, a
GPS-led Alpine adventure or taking
in 360-degree views from the top of
a wind turbine. Meeting and event
space caters to groups of 15 to 500.
Top choices are The Observatory, a
fine dining restaurant overlooking the
city, and the Hiwus Feasthouse, where
the stories of a Squamish elder unfolds and where attendees drum,
dance, sing and paint a team canvas inspired by indigenous
spirit animals.
On the hotel front, excitement is growing over the fall opening
of the Parq, a LEED Gold-certified urban resort with 466 rooms
and 51 suites that will hold a JW Marriott hotel and The Douglas,
a boutique property, as well as a 30,000-sf elevated outdoor park
and the largest hotel ballroom in Vancouver. The Fairmont Pacific
Rim's new Owner's Suite Collection caters to VIPs with king-size
canopy beds, marble spa bathrooms, local art and custom vinyl
collections that can be played on in-room turntables. Topping off the
wow factor: each of the 10 suites are around 800 sf and connected
to an outdoor terrace that overlooks Coal Harbour, Stanley Park and
the North Shore Mountains.

"Groups have become more
interested in the luxury of
nature at their doorstep and
fresh and healthy dining
options and activities that get
them outside and enjoying the
beauty of Vancouver."

Hey Ukulele
Oahu's rich cultural heritage is on full display this year in a
number of local festivals. Here are a few of our top picks:
prvue.me/2017-oahu-festivals

24 | prevuemeetings.com

OAHU, HAWAII
As the former seat of a royal kingdom and home to the only royal
palace in the US, Hawaii has a history with luxury that is as authentic
as its natural bounty and aloha spirit. Groups of up to 8,000 can
meet in and tour the lavish Iolani Palace in Honolulu, whose
http://www.prvue.me/2017-oahu-festivals http://www.prevuemeetings.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue May-June 2017
