Fusion Dogs Take Vancouver By Storm
Fusion hotdogs are all the rage in Vancouver, with Japa Dog leading the way. Come lunch or dinnertime, there's always a lineup for these hot dogs at one of their two downtown hot dog carts. The first appeared at the corner of Burrard and Smithe a few years ago, just outside the Sutton Place Hotel. The second popped up on the corner of Burrard and Pender this past year. With its popularity and rave reviews, owner Noriki Tamura says an indoor location will be opening soon somewhere in downtown Vancouver with possible future sites in the United States and Japan.
Menu items include Oroshi, a bratwurst with green onions, grated daikon and teriyaki sauce; and Terimayo, a beef dog with seaweed and wasabi mayo. These unconventional dogs cost anywhere from $4 to $6. If you're visiting Vancouver, or just happen to be in the downtown area, don't forget to try one of these out. Dee-licious!
Russia House Coming to Vancouver for the Games
Russia House will be coming to Vancouver and will be located at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) grounds. Russia House will be an exhibition of Russian art, sport, culture and trade that will include ticketed concerts and appearances by Russian entertainers and Olympians. The PNE is also the site of the Pacific Coliseum where the Olympic short-track speedskating and figure skating events will take place.
Sochi, Russia will be the host of the next Olympic Winter Games in 2014. The Russian Sochi 2014 House will be located at the iconic Science World in downtown Vancouver.
Touring the New Vancouver Convention Center
I toured the new Vancouver Convention Center today. Amy gave a great tour, taking our group to the 2nd floor to view the "living roof" featuring 23 native plant species and covers the entire roof of the convention center. It is the largest non-industrial living roof in North America. Everything in the building is made from recycled materials. Starting next month, it will become the site of the media broadcast center for the 2010 Winter Olympics. CTV and NBC obviously secured prime spots with spectacular views of the north shore and Stanley Park. In total, there will be 10,000 media on site come Olympic time.
I highly recommend this tour as it gives real insights into what the upcoming Olympics will be all about. But if you're interested in this tour, you only have until October 9th when VANOC completely takes over the building.
Vancouver Becomes World's Third Port to Offer Shore Power to Cruise Ships
Cruise ships docking at Vancouver Port can now significantly reduce marine diesel emissions by plugging into the city's electricity grid which uses mostly hydroelectric-generated power that is 90 percent nonpolluting. The port becomes only the third in the world to make shore power available for cruise ships (the other two are Seattle and Juneau). The $9 million project has been in the works since 2005, and is a collaboration between the Government ofCanada, the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, BC Hydro and Port Metro Vancouver.
Princess Cruises and Holland America Line have pioneered this technology within the industry and have invested heavily in outfitting their fleet with shore power equipment. Currently nine Princess Cruises ships and six Holland America Line ships have this capability. Port Metro Vancouver is the largest port in Canada and is the home base for the popular Vancouver-Alaska cruise.
Landmark Wind Turbine To Rise Above Vancouver
Metro Vancouver will get its first wind turbine this summer. Last month, three 37-metre fibreglass composite wind turbine blades were airlifted to the top of Grouse Mountain 1,250 metres above sea level. Next, a 65-metre main tower will be making its way from Anacortes, Washington. The facility should be built by August or September and generating power by early 2010. Tourists will be able to ride an elevator up the tower to a viewing area 58 metres above the ground.
The landmark wind turbine will have a maximum generating capacity of 1.5 megawatts and is expected to meet 20 per cent of the ski resort's power needs. More than anything, it serves as an iconic symbol for Vancouver about how we need to be viewed: as a leader in alternative energy and environmental technology.
Whistler Olympic Athletes' Village to be "Alpine Escape"
The Olympic Athletes' Village in Whistler was unveiled to the media on August 20th. The 40-hectare site, located six kilometers south of Whistler Village, is expected to house 2,850 Olympic and 1,000 Paralympic athletes, officials and coaches. With terraced streets separating the condos and apartments, the accommodations will have a homey, village feel. Each room has Internet connectivity, comfortable beds, and two washrooms. The site is anchored by the Whistler Athletes Center, a 5,500-square-foot high-performance fitness centre.
After the Games, the village becomes Cheakamus Crossing, with nearly 97 percent of the 220 apartments townhouses and condos already sold as affordable housing to area employees.
NBC's Today Show, Live from Grouse Mountain
NBC's Today Show will broadcast live from Grouse Mountain's Peak Chalet during the 2010 Games. The Today Show is America's most watched morning news program and features anchors Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry. It will be the four anchors' second time broadcasting from an international Olympics, Beijing being the first. Grouse Mountain will be open 24 hours a day during the Games, and the program will air live from 4am to 8am.
Biking the Stanley Park Seawall
Volunteering at Tourism Vancouver, you never know what your shift will bring. Last week, it was all about Victoria. This week, it was all about bike-riding around Stanley Park. I had so many inquiries about that today, I'm sure the bike rental business down at Denman Street experienced a major spike. I really enjoy recommending biking the Stanley Park seawall because as a visitor you really get a feel for the vibe of the city.....the bikers, the joggers, all the people walking their dogs. I swear downtown Vancouver has the highest density of people walking their dogs of any major city in the world!
I spoke to one lady who had just finished jogging the seawall. She jogged to the 6km mark and, not knowing that it only an additional 3km to get back to the starting point, jogged back! That's 12 kilometers, and she had barely broken a sweat! Impressive!
Stanley Park is an absolute oasis of things to do. There are the world-famous totem poles, Painter's Circle (displaying local art), the Nine O'Clock Gun, swimming at relatively secluded Third Beach, and for the kids.....the Vancouver Aquarium and the miniature railway are a treat. Then there's the Stanley Park Shuttle that conveniently takes people to the 15 most popular spots around the park for the price of a coffee ($2). You can't beat that really!
For all you tourists out there planning to visit Vancouver in the near future, stop by the Visitor Center and grab our brand new "Vancouver's Stanley Park Map + Guide." It's put out by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, and contains a great map, some fascinating history of the park, and everything you need to know to navigate your way around the park and get maximum enjoyment out of it. Definitely check it out!
"Vancouver Nicest Place We Know"
Read an article recently from Vancouver Sun columnist Peter Simpson where he asked readers what they liked most about Vancouver. The following excerpt from Bryan and Barbara Simmons of Memphis, Tennessee caught my attention.
"We own a condo in downtown Vancouver, but live in Memphis, Tenn. We love it when we can visit Vancouver because the city is so alive with young, active individuals and families out walking, riding bicycles or using roller blades. We use mopeds to travel but find walking along the seawall relaxing. The nightlife is just as good as the daytime activities with plenty of plays, shopping, cultural activities and good eating. We can spend hours in Stanley Park and never get weary of being there. The views of the mountains and ocean are constantly uplifting. Vancouver is indeed the nicest place we know."
From Vancouver Sun, Saturday, July 18, 2009
2009 World Police and Fire Games Coming to Vancouver, Canada
This summer, over 10,000 firefighters, police officers, corrections officers and border guards will descend upon Metro Vancouver to compete in the 2009 World Police and Fire Games, taking place July 31 to August 9th. This annual competition brings athletes together from 55 countries around the world, and will feature 63 sports ranging from the traditional, such as track & field, soccer and softball; to the offbeat such as darts, angling and wrist wrestling. There is also the addition of two additional events not seen in previous Games, the Grouse Grind and field lacrosse.
These games are also considered a dry run to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games being held next February. The over 10,000 athletes currently signed up makes these Games the second largest in history, surpassed only by Barcelona which drew 10,576. For this reason, Vancouver's transit system, airport and other facilities will be tested to the max.
Amtrak Ready to Roll
A second daily Amtrak passenger train will begin service between Seattle and Vancouver, starting August 2009. It is estimated that this additional service will carry 50,000 passengers in its first full year of operation, injecting $13 million into the local economy. This expanded service is part of a seven-month trial that is expected to transport American visitors north for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The existing Amtrak Cascades train leaves Seattle early in the morning, and departs Vancouver for the return trip in the evening. It's expected that this second train will run a morning southbound trip, and an evening northbound trip.
And the local economy could get an additional boost down the line as the U.S. government is contemplating establishing high-speed passenger rail service from Portland to Vancouver.
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First Nations People Will Co-Host 2010 Olympic Games
For the first time in history, the International Olympic Committee is allowing indigenous cultures to act as hosts of an Olympic Games. That means the Four Host First Nations will stand side-by-side with the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee and the Federal Government in welcoming visitors to Canada and helping tell the story of the First Nations people.
The four First Nations groups include the Musqueam, Squamish, Lil'Wat and Tsleil-Waututh, and the Games will be played in their traditional lands. They have signed agreements with First Nations, Inuit, and Metis across Canada to promote aboriginal tourism to roughly 350,000 visitors, and an estimated three billion watching from all around the world. The Four Host First Nations will have an 8,000-square-foot pavilion in downtown Vancouver to showcase some 28 Aboriginal Cultural Tourism experiences across Canada.
Vancouver Roller-Coaster Deemed "Landmark" and "Classic"
In 1958, experts bet $100 that Vancouver's wooden roller-coaster wouldn't make it through the first hill. Builder Walker LeRoy not only proved them wrong, but the roller-coaster is still going strong after 50 plus years. Last week, the coaster was given "classic" and "landmark" status by the American Coaster Enthusiasts, the first coaster in North America to be given both designations, and only 20 worldwide.
Playland, the home of the roller-coaster, is open throughout the summer until September 27th.
"Hell's Kitchen" Going to Whistler
Foul-mouthed international superchef Gordon Ramsay has chosen one of Whistler's high-end eateries, Araxi Restaurant, as the grand prize for his reality show kitchen competition. Sixteen chefs will duke it out this coming season, the sixth, for the chance to snag a prime job at Araxi. Besides having a great experience learning about Pacific Northwest cooking and ingredients, the winning contestant will have the added privilege of joining executive chef James Walt in welcoming the world for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The two-hour premier is set to air July 21st on Fox.
2010 Winter Olympics Poster - Newly Released
Two posters, each featuring half of a stylized maple leaf, have recently been released for purchase. Each one contains wavy, wiggly hues of blue and green representing the host cities, and the psychedelic maple leaf design is a modern, youthful and spirited take on Canada's national symbol.
An 18-by-27 inch lithography print is available for CAD$15, and a limited edition 20-by-28 inch Giclee print sells for CAD$150. Posters can be purchased at www.vancouver2010.com/store or at the Olympic Stores located at Vancouver International Airport or in Whistler, BC..
Economist Ranks Vancouver "Most Liveable" City
Vancouver snagged top honors as world's most livable city, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's global livablity poll. The poll ranks 140 cities on factors such as healthcare, stability, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.
With a rating of 98 percent, Vancouver's only challenges as noted by the Economist were petty crime and availability of good-quality housing.
The top 10 cities are as follows:
1. Vancouver
2. Vienna
3. Melbourne
4. Toronto
5. Perth
Calgary
7. Helsinki
8. Geneva
Sydney
Zurich
http://www.economist.com/markets/rankings/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13809770\
Olympic Partnership Aims for Carbon-Neutral 2010 Winter Games
The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee has announced a partnership with B.C.-based firm Offsetters Clean Technology to produce the first carbon-neutral Olympics. Offsetters will provide VANOC with offset projects aimed to reduce at least 110,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. The company will also work with Games partners, sponsors and participants to reduce an additional 190,000 tonnes of emissions during the Games that are mainly caused by air travel. Proposed projects include fuel-cell technology in transit buses, energy efficiency systems, biomass gasification and hydrogen fuelling stations. Offsetters will work with B.C. firms such as Nexterra, Sempa Power, Lignol Innovations, Ballard Power and Powertech on such clean technology initiatives.
Bachelorette Episode Boosts Local Economy
A single hour of prime-time television has resulted in a flood of business for Vancouver. Monday's episode of the Bachelorette, starring Jillian Harris, featured shots taken from Granville Island, Grouse Mountain, Coal Harbour, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and the curling club. Immediately following the show, Tourism Vancouver experienced a 25% bump in its website traffic, and local tourist operators such as the classic Pacific Yellowfin charter boat company were flooded with calls for rates. Inquiries have come from as far away as Miami, Kansas, Omaha and Seattle.
During the show, there were also numerous mentions of next year's Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. And after Jillian Harris wore a blue Vancouver 2010 zippered hoodie on the show, the calls have been pouring in inquiring about where the hoodies can be purchased. Aritizia, the Vancouver fashion store that licensed the Olympic hoodie, had originally planned to release the hoodie in the fall, but has since decided to release a limited edition starting on Thursday.
Next week's episode will be situated in Whistler, the co-host city of next year's Olympics. Tune in to see the show......and what happens on the local economic front.
During the show, there were also numerous mentions of next year's Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. And after Jillian Harris wore a blue Vancouver 2010 zippered hoodie on the show, the calls have been pouring in inquiring about where the hoodies can be purchased. Aritizia, the Vancouver fashion store that licensed the Olympic hoodie, had originally planned to release the hoodie in the fall, but has since decided to release a limited edition starting on Thursday.
Next week's episode will be situated in Whistler, the co-host city of next year's Olympics. Tune in to see the show......and what happens on the local economic front.
Passport Required
Starting June 1, 2009, Canadian and American citizens will be required to show one of four documents when crossing the border at land or sea ports. Canadian travelers will require a passport, NEXUS card, or province-issued Enhanced Driver's License. Children under age 16 only need proof of citizenshp such as a birth certificate or a citizenship card.
Temporary Hostels Planned for 2010 Olympics
2010 Olympic organizers have set aside $250,000 to create one or more temporary hostels in the Metro Vancouver area to accommodate the expected rise in young people who plan to travel to Vancouver to be part of the big event. The hostels will have sleeping and bathroom facilities, but no kitchens or food/beverage facilities. These hostels will operate between November 15th, 2009 and March 15th, 2010. Vanoc expects there will be a need for 100 hostel beds during November, December and March, and 300 in January and 400 in February.
A request for proposals has been posted, with the deadline being June 22nd. Hotels are to be located in Vancouver or the surrounding municipalities, and the location needs to be within walking distance of direct public transit to the downtown core. The fee is yet to be determined, but downtown hostels are currently charging $31.50 a night for a dormitory bed this summer, and will charge $40 a night during the Games.
CruiseShips at the 2010 Winter Olympics?
Cruiseships will be prominent in the waters of Vancouver's Burrard Inlet during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Edmonton-based Newwest Travel has an agreement to bring the Norwegian Star to Vancouver for the Games. The ship would leave Los Angeles on February 6th and arrive in Vancouver 4 days later. It will be moored at the bulk marine terminal near the Lions Gate Bridge in North Vancouver, and will provide accommodations for 2,240 passengers.
The RCMP Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit is also getting into the act. They have chartered 3 ships to provide accommodation for 5,000 police personnel before and during the Winter Olympics. The ships include the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation, the 1,916-passenger Holland America MS Oosterdam, and the 1,258-passenger MS Statendam. The ships were originally scheduled to be in service, but instead will sail empty when it cruises to Vancouver in early 2010. The total bill comes to $76 million. Passengers who were booked to sail on these ships will be offered alternate ships or sail dates or a full refund.
Olympic Games in Canada Have Strong Appeal to Travellers
A survey by Visa Inc. indicated that a quarter of all international travelers were interested in attending the Olympic Games in Vancouver next year. The survey (conducted between Dec 11, 2008 and Jan 8, 2009) of more than 5,500 experienced global travelers in 11 countries also found that the majority of these potential visitors also planned to visit other parts of Canada. This indicates that the Games could bring real economic impact to Canada. The survey also showed that Canada has a strong showing as a repeat destination, as nearly 75% of survey respondents who had been to Canada wanted to return.
Of the countries surveyed, Hong Kong visitors to Canada spent the most on each Visa transaction ($248), followed by Russian tourists ($234), and Saudi Arabian tourists ($216). U.S. visitors spent an average of $114 on each Visa transaction.
Canada Tourism Gets $100 Million Stimulus
Major festivals and events across Canada will receive federal funding to draw tourists and boost tourism. "Marquee events" such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Caribana, Ottawa's Tulip Festival, the Calgary Stampede and other events could be eligible to apply for a $3 million per year fund. Many travellers are scaling back or canceling vacation plans amid the economic uncertainty. With summer bookings down 10% and the industry bracing for further declines, the two-year funding program will provide a much-needed stimulus that will also have postitive spinoffs for the local restaurants, businesses and other local attractions.
Where to Stay in 2010?
A quarter million visitors are expected to descend upon Vancouver next February for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and some people are wondering where they can stay? With a definite shortage of hotel rooms and short-term rentals available, the answer could be in the form of alternative accommodation such as a spare room, houseboat, mobile home or mansion to rent.
Check out clearinghouse and online ad sites such as DestinationPlanner2010.com (launched by a Tourism BC consortium), rent2010.net, and craigslist.org as possible sources for such accommodation. Recently launched iStopOver uses reviews and social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn to help travellers and homeowners overcome the worry of dealing with total strangers. Both hosts and guests can put in authentication requests which allow them 24 hours to view information from social networking sites that the users choose to share. The site takes payments from the traveller and in exchange gives our a reservation code.
"Buyer Beware" is advised and be sure to check for photos, maps, references and a fair negotiable price to ensure you are comfortable with the other party, and your visit to Vancouver and Games experience is a pleasant one.
Riding the Wave of the Games
Tourism BC unveiled several programs aimed at driving B.C. tourism revenues from $12.6 billion this year to $19.6 billion by 2015. According to Tourism BC president Rod Harris, a recovering economy and global exposure from the Games next February should create six straight years of revenue gains. Multimedia marketing will include television, online marketing, search-engine marketing, print, contests and promotions and partnerships with Games broadcasters. Hundreds of hours of high-definition film footage of B.C. have already been shot, and will be broadcast worldwide over the next 12 months. Foreign media will be picking up human interest stories throughout the province before and during the games.
Bucking a common trend for tourism industry falloffs in the immediate year after a Games, Tourism BC predicts provincial tourism revenues to climb from $13.3 billion in 2010 to $14.1 billion in 2011. The reason is that, unlike previous Olympics, Tourism BC has a long-term tourism strategy in place for the 2010 Olympics that is based on a performance-based model and will allow the business to grow as revenues expand.
