Vancouver's retail capital, the Robson Street district encompasses block after block of designer shopping, from Banana Republic to Armani and Tiffany, as well as some of the city's most acclaimed restaurants. Ample accommodations, and plenty of Robson Street venues make this an ideal destination for event planners seeking a vibrant, urban setting in the heart of downtown.
Robson Street is served by the Vancouver International Airport (VYR), located eight miles south from downtown Vancouver in Richmond, BC. VYR is Canada's 2nd-busiest airport, behind the Toronto Pearson International Airport, serving approximately 17 million passengers and approximately 300,000 take-offs and landings per year.
Less than one mile from Robson Street is the Vancouver Convention Centre, a newly expanded event venue suitable for the largest of groups. Boasting a total of 466,500 square feet of stunning waterfront meeting space, the Centre can accommodate groups of up to 12,000 people in its exhibit halls and 2,800 people in its ballrooms.
Sophisticated hotel venues in Robson Street and nearby include the historic 557-room Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, which has 55,000 square feet of meeting space, with a 11,400-square-foot ballroom. The sleek, ultra-modern 733-room Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel offers 48,652 square feet of event space, with a 10,489-square-foot ballroom. Nearby, the 397-room Sutton Place Hotel boasts 13,844 square feet of space, with a modest ballroom of 3,150 square feet. In the same immediate area, Vancouver's 644-room Hyatt Regency has 45,000 square feet of space, with a ballroom of 13,940 square feet, while the 357-room Empire Landmark Hotel has a 4,836-square-foot ballroom and a total of 13,666 square feet of meeting space.
Off-site event venues include the Vancouver Art Gallery, a graceful Neoclassical building that can accommodate 250 people in 10,426 square feet of space. Nearby, the stunning Vancouver Public Library, with its Coliseum-like exterior, holds 400 people in 12,000 square feet of space. For truly massive groups, 234,000-square-foot BC Place Stadium, with its signature retractable roof, has 60,000 seats (10,000 on the floor). Unique options include the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, with room for 75 and 4,000 square feet, and The Bay, Canada's signature department store, which offers highly flexible spaces and can handle large groups.
Dining venues around Robson Street include perennial award winner CinCin, which offers fine Italian for up to 140 people. On nearby Alberni Street, trendy, urban COAST Restaurant can serve seafood for 230 people, while The Italian Kitchen offers acclaimed family-style Italian for up to 125 people. A Vancouver classic, Joe Fortes is the go-to dining venue for steaks and accommodates 150 people. For a meal with a view, check out Cloud 9 Revolving Restaurant atop Empire Landmark Hotel, which seats 140 people.
