ferry in water

Meetings on the Water

Posted on July 9, 2019

Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Greater Victoria has spectacular beauty and wilderness to spare. The best part of our island location? Your delegates don’t have to venture far to witness magnificent ocean views, they’ll be able to take it in from the moment they set out.

 

Standing meeting? Try a sailing meeting

Getting to Vancouver Island is a sightseeing tour of the Pacific Northwest in itself. As you enter British Columbia’s capital city, it is easy to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding Salish Sea and Olympic mountain range on the horizon – you may even catch a glimpse of whales from the ferry deck! Once you arrive, no shuttles, cabs or bus transfers are needed as you’ll be right in downtown Victoria.

 

Clipper Vacations

 

For meetings coming from the United States, Clipper Vacations will get you directly from Seattle to Victoria with a sailing time of two hours and 45 minutes. Forget the narrow seats and safety demonstration, the Clipper’s Comfort Class includes priority boarding, leather seating in a private spacious class cabin, panoramic views along with complimentary snacks, coffee and tea. Take this time instead to discuss with your team goals and outcomes for the business trip ahead.

 

Meals in ferry
V2V Vacations

 

If you’re hopping over to the island from Vancouver, book your passage with V2V Vacations. V2V offers an office on the water with free on-board Wi-Fi so you can get caught up on emails before you even dock in Victoria. With a uniquely beautiful, comfortable and convenient journey for travellers seeking a highly personalised and authentic experience, V2V offers two stylish seating classes, a selection of local cuisine and a selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

For delegates who prefer to bring their vehicle, BC Ferries offers passenger and vehicle service between the lower mainland and Victoria Vancouver – Victoria (Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay). From the ferry terminal at Swartz Bay it’s a quick 30 minute drive along the spectacular Saanich Peninsula into downtown Victoria. Also, Black Ball Ferry Line operates the M.V. Coho, a year-round passenger and vehicle ferry linking Victoria with Port Angeles, WA.

 

women watching the ocean from ferry

BC Ferries

 

Venues with a view

Take advantage of an ocean-view during a break-out session or let your delegates marvel at the endless horizon while they dine on fresh caught seafood. Here in Victoria, being surrounded by water means ocean-view properties are one of the things that we’re known for. No matter your event needs, we have a space that will match perfectly.

 

woman standing in hot tub

Oak Bay Beach Hotel

Treat your guests to a marvelous view as they network while super yachts sail by at the Victoria International Marina. Or, delegates can watch sea planes take off and land in Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour as you host your event at the Inn at Laurel Point. Looking to get outside the city limits for a company retreat? Pearson College’s beautiful campus is only a 45-minute drive from downtown Victoria and is perched on the serene waters of Pedder Bay. Or, offer your delegates the ability to lounge in the mineral pools at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel as they look out across the Salish Sea after a full day of networking and workshops. Lastly, perfectly accessible from the Victoria International Airport and perched on a common whale passage is the Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa.

 

aerial view of pier and hotel

Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa

Your options for oceanside venues here are almost as endless as the horizon. Make the most of your next event on Vancouver Island with help from our Business Events Victoria team. Contact us for more information on planning your next meeting on the water.

Destination Greater Victoria is honoured to be based on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation, whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.