10 New Vancouver Venues for Spring 2019 Meetings and Events

Light is a hot commodity during the drizzly winter and spring months in Vancouver, which makes the newly renovated Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel’s light-filled meeting spaces a draw for meeting planners. Located downtown, the hotel features 13 state-of-the-art meeting rooms across 20,000-square feet. The 6,633-square-foot Pinnacle Ballroom is the largest space and seats 600 theater style or holds that many for receptions. The contemporary meeting spaces feature floor-to-ceiling windows (in all spaces except the ballroom). The project had a grand opening in October.

Opened in November, luxury boutique hotel the Josie is situated at the base of Red Mountain Resort in Rossland, British Columbia. The hotel features 106 one-bedroom suites, guest rooms, and studio suites with a modern-meets-mountain-adventure design. Floor-to-ceiling windows, recycled wood paneling, and earthy tones abound. The thoughtfully designed meeting and event space features state-of-the-art technology and onsite catering. Both the 16-seat boardroom and 1,500-square-foot ballroom lead to a nearly 2,600-square-foot terrace that seats 112 guests and is suitable for cocktail receptions, weddings, yoga classes, and more.

Access a premium backcountry teepee via snowshoe in Whistler’s majestic Callaghan Valley. Blackcomb Snowmobile is offering two new tour options. The Après Teepee Tour enables guests to snowshoe through the forest to a remote teepee where an indoor fire, hot mulled beverages, and charcuterie platter awaits. The Daytime Teepee Tour includes a brief history of the local First Nation’s traditions. The teepee can accommodate 30 people comfortably and includes sofas, indoor heaters, tables, and music.

From boardroom to bales of hay, Covert Farms Family Estate in Oliver features 650 acres of sprawling natural landscape and two acres of dedicated event space including a cozy wine lounge for 36 people and a rustic log barn that holds 200 people. Event planners can arrange a private farm tour for delegates or outdoor teambuilding games from horseshoes to bocce ball. A farm-to-table feast is also an option. New this spring, Covert Farms is introducing an obstacle course, sunrise bluff hike, and hands-on wine harvest tour.

Minimalist burger joint Hundy opened in December. Tucked behind a seven-foot wooden wall topped with plants in the back of Kitsilano bakery and coffee shop Their There, the nighttime venue specializes in burgers, double-cooked fries, and local beer. The 300-square-foot space is available for buyouts for 20 seated guests. For groups as large as 50 people, the entire 2,300-square-foot space can be booked. Features include a coffee bar, full bar, stand-up arcade machine, and two flat-screen TVs suitable for presentations.

Victoria International Marina, Victoria’s new mega-yacht marina, includes several event rooms that highlight stunning ocean and harbor views. The Exclusive Waterfront Parlor features breathtaking southeast views and two-story windows. The space has room to seat 100 guests or hold 200 for a reception. There are two boardrooms, one that seats 10 people and a smaller one that seats four.

New this ski season, Canadian Wilderness Adventures is offering a Blackcomb Après Igloo Tour. The custom-built igloo can hold 10 to 12 people comfortably and is located in a picturesque valley between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. Guests can access the igloo via a snowcat or snowmobile that travels up cat tracks and through an old-growth forest.

Collective Wine Bar & Kitchen, specializing in handcrafted cocktails and beer along with a casually elegant food menu, is located in Victoria’s vibrant Cook Street Village. Opened in August, the 1,900-square-foot venue holds 70 people for private events. The cozy and welcoming interior design combines natural and reclaimed wood mixed with metal. The walls are adorned with art by established local artists.

Opened last fall in the Fraserhood neighborhood of Vancouver, Dark Manor Inn is a meeting space with a spooky vibe. Based on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland, the venue is designed to replicate a 19th-century whiskey bar with a menu to match. The 1,400-square-foot, dimly lit space can accommodate 50 people. The decor includes chandeliers, skulls, a coffin table, and even a Gothic chair from Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Retro pinball and arcade game mecca Quazar's Arcade is a different spin on an event meeting space. Located in Victoria’s historic Trounce Alley, a street complete with gaslights and one-of-a-kind shops, the arcade features a rotating collection of 20 pinball machines and 25 arcade games from modern shooters to golden age classics such as Centipede and Ms. Pac-Man. The basement-level venue opened in November and can hold 80 people. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are on offer, while outside catering is permitted.