Easily accessible by plane or ferry, Vancouver Island and its neighbouring smaller islands in the Georgia Strait are a smart alternative to mainland B.C., especially if you’re looking for some great deals.
Hotels on the islands, especially in Victoria, are traditionally less expensive than their Vancouver counterparts, but still pack everything you need from luxurious surroundings to high-tech audiovisual gear.
For large conferences, start at the Victoria Conference Centre, which has recently upgraded its audiovisual system. Its 73,000 square feet of meeting space includes a 400-seat lecture theatre, 7,700-square-foot courtyard and 20 multi-purpose rooms for groups as small as 10. Carson Hall can hold 2,000 for a reception and 1,010 in banquet-style. Across the street, the 25,000-square-foot Crystal Garden can hold 1,100 for banquet or reception. For more on developments in the Victoria-area meetings industry, see page 20.
Second in size to the Victoria facility is the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo. The 38,000-square-foot venue has nine meeting rooms, the largest of which can hold 960 people in a banquet setting and 1,300 for a reception. Breakout rooms can hold 56 to 180 in theatre style. For a comfortable lecture format, the Shaw auditorium seats 200.
For other large lecture-format venues, consider the Victoria Conservatory of Music, which has a state-of-the-art PA system and can seat 800, or the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre in Duncan, which holds 730.
If you’re looking for meeting space that comes with accommodations, Oak Bay Beach Hotel is a luxury seaside resort with four meeting rooms ranging from 170 to 900 square feet, plus the David Foster Foundation Theatre, which can hold 150 for a banquet and 300 for a reception.
Other hotels in the Victoria area with dedicated meeting space include the Delta Ocean Pointe with room for up to 500, the Hotel Grand Pacific (300), the Inn at Laurel Point (250) and the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour (280).
North of Nanaimo, the Beach Club Resort in Parksville has a stunning seaside location with an outdoor patio. Have an intimate reception for 40 in the Sand Dollar Room or opt for the Oceanic Ballroom for a 150-person plated dinner.
In Courtenay, the Best Western Westerly Hotel and Convention Centre has 7,600 square feet of meeting space. Five meeting rooms can hold from 24 in boardroom setup to 150 for a reception. The ballroom holds 225 for either a banquet or a reception.
Interested in a mountain getaway? Mix your meetings with winter skiing or summer hiking at the Mount Washington Alpine Resort, which has six meeting rooms and can hold up to 250 for a banquet.
First Nations artwork greets conference-goers at every step in the 50,000-square-foot Victoria Conference Centre. Twenty multi-purpose rooms, a banquet hall and lecture theatre are all complemented by a 7,000-square-foot courtyard and nearby Crystal Garden | Tourism Victoria
On the northern tip of the island, the Kwa’lilas Hotel (formerly the Port Hardy Inn) has undergone a $4 million renovation and is now an aboriginal-themed four-star accommodation. The hotel reflects the culture of the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations. It has 85 guest rooms and offers a 1,250-square-foot ballroom that can hold 150 for a seated dinner and 250 for a reception, as well as several breakout rooms.
On the west coast of Vancouver Island, Sooke Harbour House has also been busy with renovations and expansions. A new 1,700-square-foot gallery, set to be completed by the end of 2016, will be available for corporate and social functions. It will accommodate 110 for dinner and 150 for a reception. The oceanfront hotel will also be adding accommodations and a spa facility.
Near Ucluelet, the Black Rock Oceanfront Resort offers luxurious amenities in a rugged coastal setting with dedicated meeting space for up to 140.
On the smaller islands, Sonora Resort on Sonora Island has six flexible meeting spaces and a 7,200-square-foot pavilion for conferences, wine tastings, social events and galas.
If you’re looking for a venue in which to meet but don’t need the accommodation, hundreds of cultural attractions, parks and historic sites are there for you.
Starling Lane Vineyard in Saanich oozes Old World charm and hospitality. Though the winery is closed, the vineyard is still active and its wines can be found in local stores. The collection of heritage buildings offers visitors a 19th-century feel with tented events.
The Legacy Art Gallery, part of the University of Victoria, can accommodate groups of up to 100 in the main gallery and meetings of up to 22 in the Legacy Classroom.
If you’d like to walk in the footsteps of action heroes, visit Hatley Castle on the grounds of Royal Roads University in Colwood for outdoor receptions. The 100-year-old heritage site has been a shooting location for Deadpool, Arrow, X-Men and many others.
