Meeting Plans and Pacific Sands

Sitting by the window, an expanse of sand dissolves into Pacific blue water. The oatmeal-colored beach seems to stretch for miles. Sunlight bounces off the tiny marine pools like little mirrors scattered on the beach. And that's just the view from our meeting room!

No, I'm not on some fabulous west coast holiday, but soaking up a bit of the palpable ambiance at a conference in Parksville and Qualicum Beach - where hospitality and charm seem to come as easily as a breathtaking view.

For seaside resorts, spas, championship golf, and unique team building activities there's no place quite like Parksville and Qualicum Beach (which they also refer to as Oceanside). The region's meeting amenities and services are equal to those of centres many times their size, yet few can match the scenic beauty and tranquility found here in this central Vancouver Island location.

From corporate retreats and board meetings to large conferences such as the 2007 TOPS and the upcoming 2008 Rotary International, the Parksville and Qualicum Beach region has long been a favourite conference and meeting destination. Whether you have a group 20 people out on a much deserved incentive trip, or a large conference and you need room for a plenary session of up to 650 delegates, you're going to be able to find what you're looking for here in Oceanside - and they're going to put the power of their community to work for you.

Getting there is part of the fun
Easy access makes Parksville and Qualicum Beach an appealing destination to collect the team or attract delegates for your next function. Imagine - from Edmonton to Vancouver Island in under 45 minutes! There's a time change thrown in - but with direct flights between Edmonton and nearby Comox, getting to Parksville Qualicum has never been easier. You can enjoy a piece of West Coast paradise in the time it takes some people to commute to work.

Facilities & Services
On time and on budget- that's what it's all about. Parksville and Qualicum Beach can offer up to 64 meeting rooms over 13 properties, all with a commitment to making a meeting or conference a success, and something you'll remember.

And you're going to eat well. This is one of the most fertile and bountiful growing areas in Canada (they have a nine-month growing season), local chefs go the extra mile and create delectable dishes inspired by the abundance of fresh seafood, meats and vegetables, and artisan crafted cheeses, breads and wines around them.

Après Meeting
Personal time is precious. Being snarled in traffic or long commutes in the back of a taxicab doesn't quite help to unwind after a day of meetings. Moments away from any of the meeting locations are cabins, cottages or luxurious resort suites

The region has 33 resorts, hotels and motels, nearly 30 bed and breakfasts, and 32 vacation rental homes to choose from. And the shoulder season from October to April offers attractive rates.

Canadian Riviera
Until someone actually convinces the Canadian government to adopt the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean, the only homegrown off-season meetings beach destination in the country is Vancouver Island. Parksville and Qualicum Beach has the country's mildest climate and low annual rainfall, along with 19 km of sandy beaches, it has been called the Canadian Riviera.

It's also a golfer's paradise with year-round golfing, ocean and mountain views, and six golf courses from 9-holes to PGA caliber. Seven more courses are within an hour's drive.

Rewarding Work
What was magical about my conference experience and tour through this seaside sanctuary was the sense of energy I felt afterward. As either a meeting destination or a reward for a job well done, Parksville-Qualicum makes a lasting impression. You don't get distracted by the beauty around you, but by momentarily breathing it in - it revitalizes, refreshes and renews you. Simply, it is the aperitif that makes a conference covering quarterly reports, performance measurement and future quarter gains all that more palpable, appreciable and motivating.

And really - isn't' that what we hope these meetings are all about?

Contact:

Oceanside Tourism Association
Phone: 1-888-799-3222 or 250-248-6300
Website: www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com
Meeting Planners go to:
www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/cms.asp?wpID=95

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