Vancouver

The most common way for business travelers to enter Vancouver is through Vancouver International Airport. This airport acts as the main hub for western Canada and provides services for domestic and international travelers who need a variety of services. Vancouver International Airport has three terminals with shops, restaurants and other services for business travelers who are far away from home. The airport rivals Toronto's Pearson International Airport in terms of global coverage with flights from Asia, Europe and Africa all year round.

Your travels may require a trip to Calgary, Edmonton or points further east like Toronto. The VIA Rail system that runs from coast to coast in Canada is a slow but steady travel option for business travelers who aren't in a hurry. VIA Rail runs through major cities from Toronto through Vancouver's Pacific Central Station on a daily basis with cabins for business travelers who need to get a quick nap. It is wise to pick up tickets for a VIA Rail trip in western Canada at least a month ahead of your trip to reserve a spot on this popular rail system.

There are several international airports elsewhere in British Columbia that can help you access Vancouver. Kelowna International Airport provides service from cities in the United States and Mexico for business travelers who can find a great deal on a flight. The province's capital city of Victoria has an international airport that serves government officials and travelers who want to see the sights of British Columbia.

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One of the characteristics of Vancouver is a well-funded and efficient public transit system. Your experience in Vancouver will be intimately tied into the city's TransLink system. This multi-tiered transit network has helped millions of Vancouver residents and visitors get around the growing metropolis since the early 20th century. The traditional bus system in Vancouver stops at all of the major buildings and public squares for travelers who want to see everything the city has to offer.

If the TransLink bus is too slow for your needs, you can use the Rapid Bus Service to get from one major destination to another. A series of bicycle taxis contracted by the city and provincial governments can give you a slow tour of the city while you move from meeting to meeting. The latest update to the Vancouver mass transit system is a commuter rail line through the city that has been the focus of investment by Canadian officials. There are various ways you can get around Vancouver without a car as long as you don't mind waiting a bit for a ride.

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The economy of Vancouver hinged on the tourist trade prior to the 1990s. The beautiful waters, green spaces and clean public spaces of the city attracted people from around the world who helped fund public programs. The city has diversified its economy in recent years to reflect a glut of talented graduates as well as a progressive trend within the city government.

A corollary to the tourism industry in Vancouver has been a thriving film community: producers and directors use Vancouver as a backdrop for their art. The partnership between civic leaders, the artistic community and the Vancouver Film School has brought in millions of dollars to the city in the past decade.

Your business trip may require a more in depth knowledge of the city's economy. You should become familiar with the items moved in and out of the Port of Vancouver if your company wants to invest in the city. The city's proximity to Washington State has caused the growth of software design firms throughout Vancouver to take advantage of Canada's desire for homegrown technology. Construction firms and architects have also thrived in Vancouver's new economy with the development of a high priced condo market in the city.

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The speed of growth in Vancouver may make travelers believe that they cannot find quaint accommodations within the city. There are plenty of neighborhoods in and around Vancouver with hotels and inns that will make you comfortable during your trip. A number of national and international hotel chains serve the area surrounding Vancouver International Airport and the Pacific Central Station in recognition of the high number of travelers in need of accommodations. If you search a little bit, you can find a hotel near your meetings and destinations to cut down on travel concerns.

The downtown portion of Vancouver features a number of squares with hotels within walking distance. It is likely that your engagements during a trip to Vancouver will take you to Harbour Centre, Robson Square and Georgia Street. Inn keepers and bed-and-breakfast owners who want to take advantage of the needs of an average jet setter have set up shop in these areas. You need to look for non-chain accommodations which offer special amenities like a business center, Wi-Fi and stylish furniture to entertain guests.

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The city of Vancouver reflects the diversity of major cities throughout Canada. Vancouver's location in western Canada makes it a permanent home for a large number of Russian, Japanese and Chinese residents entering the country. The idea that Canada is similar in its politics and social values to the European continent has drawn in residents from Greece, Italy and Eastern Europe. This diversity can be appreciated on a daily basis when you had visited the restaurants owned by immigrants from all over the world.

You can begin your day with a quick cup of coffee and Greek pastries down the street from your hotel. After a morning filled with business meetings and consultations, you can enjoy a hearty meal at a Russian restaurant near your temporary office. Sushi at local Japanese restaurants and a nightcap at a bar with televisions showing world sports can help you enjoy the rich diversity of Vancouver. You should pay particular attention to the specific touches that restaurateurs bring to the Canadian city. Many business owners add touches from their homeland including furniture, paintings and textiles that add ambience that cannot be found at a chain restaurant.

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Business travelers who are tired of airport bars and chain restaurants can enjoy the diverse nightlife of Vancouver. The city has a number of sports teams that offer affordable ticket prices for hockey, basketball and baseball fans. The upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver has helped spur investment in new facilities for sports that will benefit travelers in the future who want new venues for entertainment.

Cultural events in Vancouver allow you to take in a show or see art and speak with friendly residents. You can listen to a show by the CBC Radio Orchestra on one evening and head to the Vancouver Art Gallery to take in European and Canadian art works. History nuts and travelers who want to learn about Vancouver's early history can head to the Vancouver Maritime Museum.

Music and movies play a major role in the nightlife activities of Vancouver's residents. You can enjoy punk music at one of the city's small music venues or take in a mainstream act at the Pacific Coliseum with tickets bought at the door. There are historical movie houses as well as dozens of genre-specific movie festivals held throughout the year to satiate the desires of movie buffs. The best part about entertainment in Vancouver is that there are enough venues in the city to keep you busy after a long day of meetings.

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The rapid growth of Vancouver and the province of British Columbia has meant an increasing concern over educating young adults. British Columbia shares this concern with other Canadian provinces and tax payers have invested heavily in public education through the University of British Columbia. This university along with private college Simon Fraser University has expanded from Victoria to Vancouver through distance learning and affiliate schools. Your business interests may require interaction with university officials and it is critical that you become familiar with the higher education values of Vancouver residents.

Students in Vancouver and the rest of British Columbia who value a different type of education have a number of options outside of the university system. The Vancouver Community College has been established to provide continuing education for adults as well as technical education for students who want careers in engineering, printing and design. The British Columbia Institute of Technology provides Canada with the scientific and engineering genius involved in advancing homegrown technology. Vancouver's thriving entertainment industry has spawned a film school and an art school that has drawn talent from the United States and Europe. You can tour these schools during your trip to Vancouver in an effort to mine British Columbia for new talent.

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Your connection to national and international news as well as entertainment, sports and weather can be maintained easily through Vancouver's vast media network. The two major dailies in Vancouver are the Sun and The Province that provides insight into the workings of Vancouver government as well as a look at local events. Most hotels feature CBC's television stations as well as cable networks featuring movies, sitcoms and documentaries for travelers who want a distraction from their work.

The city of Vancouver is similar to other Canadian cities in the presence of competing independent newspapers for media consumers with discerning tastes. The Georgia Straight is one of a half dozen papers published on a regular basis and distributed at no cost to visitors to coffee shops, groceries and train stations throughout the city. These independent sources for news can be placed against the stories and editorials placed on the CBC network of stations to get an objective view of events in Vancouver.

One of the interesting aspects of media in Vancouver is a concern with providing media resources in foreign languages. The city has a Ukrainian radio station that plays music from the country as well as cultural programming aimed at the sizable Ukrainian population in Vancouver. A sizable Chinese population has led to the publication of several Chinese-language newspaper and magazines available at newsstands throughout the city. This desire to meet the media needs of specific populations in the city makes Vancouver a God send for business travelers from around the world.

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The fact that Vancouver is the largest city in British Columbia and one of the largest in Canada gives it considerable clout in legislative bodies. Your trip may require a meeting with a Vancouver legislator or civic leader who can help advocate investment in your particular industry. The purse strings for the province and the nation run through the Assembly of British Columbia and the Canadian House of Commons. Travelers with a mandate to speak with government officials from their company should set up appointments with the five Vancouver legislators in the House of Commons if your business is looking to expand nationally. A conversation with the city's ten representatives in the provincial assembly can help you gain insight into the business profile of Vancouver.

It would be imprudent not to speak with local government officials if your trip requires consultations on private investments and business startups. The ten members of the Vancouver City Council have proven to be progressive in terms of their approach to new business investment. Educational supply companies, software firms and others who may benefit from a relationship with the Vancouver school system can approach one of the nine members of the city's school board. A consultation with the city's seven member Parks Board can help you clear up issues of land management, recycling and sponsorship of conservation programs by your business.

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