Tag: Canada

Posted on

Travelling around the world – who’s holding events?

Globe with flight paths

Last week we looked at how our European neighbours are managing Covid-19, what restrictions there are on travellers and whether they can hold conferences, meetings and events. This week we’re looking at some popular destinations which require long-haul flights from the UK.

Travel corridors were suspended 4am this morning, 18 January 2021. This means that if you arrive in England from anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, you will need to self-isolate for 10 days.

Travellers must have proof of a negative coronavirus test to travel to England.

Mexico and Canada have closed their land borders with the United States until 21st February. Japan has brought in a state of emergency in Tokyo since Covid-19 cases have risen to record levels. But what’s happening elsewhere?

Australia

The regulations vary state by state and there are restrictions on moving between states. Before travelling to Australia, you need to have a negative Covid-19 test. On arrival all international travellers are escorted to a designated facility (hotel) and must quarantine for 14 days. State and Territory governments. The traveller must pay a fee to cover the cost ($3,000 for an adult in New South Wales).

However, once in Australia the rules have been relaxed with Melbourne allowing meetings for 150 people indoors and 300 outdoors, in New South Wales the limit is 20 people and 50 in Queensland.

Canada

From 7th January, all international arrivals to Canada must have received a negative Covid-19 test result before boarding the plane. Then there is a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

The regulations do vary from state to state, but gatherings are banned where social distancing is not possible. There is a curfew or closure of bars and restaurants in some places. The limit on the amount of people allowed to meet inside and out varies according to tiers.

China

All direct flights between the UK and China have been suspended. There are restrictions on movement around the country and there are quarantine requirements for internal travellers. The rules vary depending on the risk level in that region.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong and Singapore have delayed a planned air-travel bubble for the time being. This would have allowed travellers between the cities to avoid a quarantine by presenting a negative Covid-19 prior to their journeys. Flights from the UK were suspended on 23 December.

Gatherings are limited to two people, who aren’t from the same household.

Japan

Tokyo currently has its highest level of Covid-19 since the pandemic started. It has declared a state of emergency and the measures will be in place until 7th February. Residents are advised to leave their homes only for essential reasons and must avoid gatherings. Restaurants have been ordered to close by 8 p.m.

Mexico

The US land border will be closed until 21st February. Some hotels and restaurants are open, depending on the area and quarantine is not required on arrival in the country.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s border has almost been completely closed to international travellers and as a result the country has light restrictions. The meeting regulations are governed by tiers. In Level 3 the rules are a maximum of 10 people, Level 2 a maximum of 100 people. In Level 1 there are few restrictions on businesses.

Singapore

Visitors to Singapore who have been in the UK for 14 days prior to travel are not permitted to enter or transit Singapore.

The country has a plan called Connect@Singapore which will allow a few business travellers at the end of January. They will need to apply in advance and take multiple Covid-19 tests prior to and during their visit.

Currently, business events of up to 250 people are allowed, with permission from the Singapore Tourism Board. Attendees must be distanced between five zones of 50 people.

South Korea

All direct flights between the UK and North Korea have been suspended. The current rules on gatherings are a maximum of 50 people indoors and 100 people outside.

United Arab Emirates

Each Emirates has different regulations and airlines are still flying between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the UK. A negative Covid test is required prior to travelling. Quarantine for 14 days is required on arrival but can be carried out at a hotel or private residence.

Hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions are open. Conferences and meetings are permitted in Dubai.

This information is subject to change and we advise you to check the regulations before booking, check your insurance cover before booking.

18 January 2021

Posted on

Marriott to open the W Toronto in 2020

Due to open next Summer the W Toronto is a 9-story, 255-bedroom property located at 90 Bloor Street East in Toronto’s fashionable Yorkville neighbourhood. It will be surrounded by high-end boutiques, galleries and design studios as well as cafes, bars and fine-dining restaurants. The $40 million transformation, which began in July 2019, will redesign the property’s guest rooms, restaurants and amenities.

Upon entering the hotel, guests will interact with nature in a laboratory style experience, which includes indoor/outdoor spaces, perfect for soaking in spectacular sunsets and sounds. A key feature of the hotel will be an indoor/outdoor lobby bar and lounge equipped with a DJ booth/recording studio.

When it opens, W Toronto is expected to feature multiple food and beverage outlets, with a specialty restaurant and a 9th floor roof top restaurant, accessible from street level with a glass exterior elevator and a coffee and cocktail bar.

There will be 4,800 square feet of meeting space for social and corporate events, the number of meeting rooms and capacities are to be confirmed nearer the launch date.

W Toronto will also feature a 3,300 square foot fitness facility, with a weekly workout programme.

Posted on

Take a look at Vancouver for your events

Vancouver recently came top of a survey of event organisers, who voted it the city where delegates feel safest. I recently visited Vancouver and Whistler on an educational trip with Accor Hotels to look at their Fairmont properties and the Convention Centre and see what it can offer for conferences, meetings and events.

After a 9-hour flight from London, the transfer from the airport to the city centre is around half an hour, so quick and easy. It’s a wonderful city with mountains, water and a great destination for both conferences and incentives. The waterfront hotels are just steps away from the Convention Centre, which has two sections, East and West.

Vancouver Convention Centre & views of the city

There are plenty of activities for groups in and around Vancouver, it’s the only place where I know that you can travel on the top of a cable car or hire Grouse mountain for exclusive use. But for the less adventurous, there is a food tasting tour of Granville Market, float plane flight, e-bikes, harbour cruise or suspension bridge walk through the woods.

Whistler is less than two hours from Vancouver and a beautiful drive along the shore.  The town was host to the winter Olympics in 2010. There’s a convention centre and variety of hotels with meeting facilities as well as unusual venues for dinners or team building. The skiing is extensive in the winter and summer activities include ziplining, walking, cycling, scavenger hunts and other outside activities.

Suspension bridge, float plane and cable car

All the hotels and venues that I visited had good meeting facilities and accommodation, here’s a few things that made them memorable:

  • Fairmont Waterfront Hotel – has a roof terrace and paved gardens, which can be used for groups who want outside space.
  • Fairmont Hotel Vancouver – the first hotel to open in Vancouver. It has: two hotel dogs, who come to work for 5 days to welcome guests; there’s a ghost, the lady in red, who appears from an empty lift shaft; Fifty shades of Grey was filmed in one of the suites
  • Fairmont Pacific Rim – has a destination cocktail bar in the foyer with live music every night.
  • Vancouver Convention Centre – the building uses a lot of wood and glass and is bright and airy. The meeting space is surrounded by large foyer areas which have views of the water and mountains and there is a terrace looking over the bay.
  • Pan Pacific Hotel – this hotel is built over the water and has sea views all the way around.
  • Westin Bayshore Hotel – offers guests water yoga (on thick mats in the swimming pool) in the summer. Yoga is inside in the winter.
  • Fairmont Chateau Whistler – has two ballrooms and a large permanent marquee, so it is easy for a large group to meet, eat and have a different venue for dinner.
  • Whistler Conference Centre – feels like you’re in the mountains, th ebuilding uses wood and stone and has a fireplace in the entrance foyer.
  • Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre – this museum explains the art, history and culture of the First Nations in the Whistler area. It has inside and outside event space which can be used for dinners and a chance for attendees to learn about the first nations culture.
zip wire, Whistler Olympic rings & museum

If you’d like more information about holding a meeting, conference or event in Vancouver, please contact enquiries@edgevenues.com or call 01780 484051.

Posted on

Considering North America for your event?

Photo of Katharine Jordan
by Katharine Jordan, Marketing Director, Trinity Event Solutions

The Watkins Research Group produces a report every 2-years about destinations in North America. This year, as well as in 2016, Vancouver topped the poll of the most likely city that organisers would recommend to a business associate or colleague for an important meeting. I’ve just visited Vancouver and can endorse the findings. The city has a quick transfer from the airport to the centre, the hotel stock is excellent and accommodation is close to the convention centre, which is on the waterfront with beautiful views and it offers good value for money.

The survey was completed by almost 1,000 event organisers and the destinations with the best hotels for large meetings are as follows:

photo of Orlando, Florida
  1. Orlando
  2. San Diego
  3. Las Vegas
  4. Chicago
  5. Seattle
  6. Vancouver
  7. Indy
  8. San Antonio
  9. Houston
  10. Toronto

This is based on:

•  Proximity of hotels to the convention centre
•  Rational convention rates
•  Close coordination between the convention bureau and hotels
•  Making sure adequate room blocks are available
•  Attractively furnished meeting rooms

The top 10 easiest destinations to fly to:

Photo of Chicago
  1. Chicago
  2. New York
  3. Washington
  4. Atlanta
  5. Las Vegas
  6. Orlando
  7. Los Angeles
  8. Dallas
  9. San Francisco
  10. Boston

Top 10 cities that feel “safest”:

Photo of Vancouver
  1. Vancouver
  2. Salt Lake
  3. Montreal
  4. Toronto
  5. San Diego
  6. Nashville
  7. Minneapolis
  8. San Antonio
  9. Phoenix
  10. Austin

5 tips to consider when you’re planning an event in North America:

  • Think about transfer time to the destination, as well as the flight time, compare this with the length of stay and make sure everything is in proportion. No-one will thank you for a flight, followed by a lengthy transfer, which results in limited time at the destination. Also look at whether the transfer is by coach, train, boat or taxi and think about what the possible problems are – then try to pre-empt them.
  • Check the nationalities of the attendees and what passport they travel on. Make sure that any visas or visa waivers are organised well in advance – you don’t want people dropping out because they are unable to enter the country.
  • Speak to the Conference Bureau – a good conference bureau will help with contacts at Convention Centres and hotels, give you suggestions for off-site dinners, recommend DMCs and can assist with site visits.
  • Check the rates, as pricing is structured differently in North America. The meeting space is allocated depending on the quantity of bedrooms and is included in the bedroom rate, but syndicate rooms will be chargeable. Usually breakfast, dinner, lunches and breaks are priced separately and there will be a minimum food and beverage spend.
  • Rates are usually quoted excluding tax and the rates may be different on different items eg bedrooms, meeting rooms, food and beverage etc. The local tax and state tax vary, depending on the destination and they will also add a gratuity charge which is taxable. There can be a tourist tax per night or for the whole stay. A rate that initially looks great can be less attractive once the taxes are added.

For more information about venue finding and planning an event in North America, contact enquiries@edgevenues.com