Don't Fence Me In
North or South, Meetings across the Border are Bound to Please
By Kevin Woo

Meetings in America are great. But sometimes there becomes a need to stretch out a little and explore what’s on the other side of the border. Increasingly, groups are looking north to Canada and south to Mexico for unique meeting destinations. Groups in search of the less exotic might favor a trip north, where the favorable Canadian dollar exchange rate, the lack of a language barrier, and similar cuisine types might make you forget you were on foreign soil. More adventurous planners might prefer the gorgeous beaches and spicy foods of Mexico. Both countries offer the excitement of international destinations without the burden of overseas travel. However, getting to Canada or Mexico does require a little extra effort. Passports are not required for US citizens in either country, but both countries require photo IDs or birth certificates to enter. Visitors to Mexico must also have proof of citizenship papers and “tourist cards” (available from the airlines) which must be carried at all times while in the country. If the tourist card is lost, there is a risk of being detained indefinitely when exiting the country. Travelers from other countries may need a visa. If you drive into Mexico you will need vehicle registration or a lease contract (rental agreement), a driver’s license, and an international credit card to enter the country. If the driver does not have an international credit card, a deposit of up to $20,000 may be required upon entry. United States citizens and permanent residents traveling to Canada require a birth certificate, a resident alien card, or a green card together with picture I.D. or passport to enter Canada. A driver's license is not accepted as proof of citizenship.

Once across the border, here are a few destinations to consider for your next international meeting.

NORTH

Calgary, Alberta
At the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountain foothills, 150 miles north of Montana, you’ll find Calgary. Established in 1875 as a fort by the Northwest Mounted Police, Calgary’s growth can be traced to three events: completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s transcontinental line; the Canadian government’s offer of free “homestead” land; and two major oil discoveries. Today, Calgary is home to a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, environmental sciences, food processing, finance, and high tech. “Calgary is a vibrant city. It’s safe, clean, and famous for its western friendliness,” says Joe Fardell, president and CEO, Tourism Calgary. “Calgary offers the best of all worlds – a cosmopolitan city of nearly one million, with outstanding outdoor adventure and pristine wilderness in its own backyard. Business and leisure visitors alike are attracted by our environment, infrastructure, parks, western hospitality, opportunity for adventure, and enthusiasm for living.”

The newly renovated Telus Con-vention Center is Calgary’s largest meeting facility. With 130,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the TCC can accommodate groups to 2,500. For smaller and more intimate meetings, the Ripley Ridge Retreat & Spa (http://www.ripleyridge.com/) is an extraordinary country retreat, located just 15 minutes from downtown. Ripley offers a resort-style setting on eight forested acres nestled in the foothills of the Rockies. The five unique lodging facilities, which sleep up to six each, are perfect for small executive retreats and planning sessions. For unique evening events, Creative Restaurants (http://www.creativeri.com/) is Calgary’s leading special event dining company. In addition to catering services, Creative Restaurants also operates three restaurants, the most popular of which is The Catch Oyster Bar, Restaurant & Events Centre. The Ranche Restaurant (http://www.theranche.com/) celebrates the area’s ranching heritage with a menu that includes pheasant, elk, venison pate, and Alberta beef. Built in 1886, the Ranche is not only one of Calgary’s finest restaurants, it is also one of the best corporate meeting venues. The Ranche has five conference rooms that can accommodate groups to 110, and custom catering is available.

Banff, Alberta
Located in the center of world famous Banff National Park in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains is the beautiful city of Banff. Just 90 minutes from Calgary and a short ride from Lake Louise, Banff offers luxurious lodgings and fine dining, set amidst some of the most breathtaking scenery anywhere. Skiing, shopping, and wildlife watching are a few of the activities for which Banff is famous. The area has a long tradition of hosting international guests and meeting attendees; nearly four million people have visited the area yearly since 1996. Peak months are July and August, when temperatures are typically in the mid-40s at night, and in the low 80s during the day. Winters can be harsh in Banff, with temperatures rarely above freezing. But for those who enjoy winter sports like skiing and dog sledding, the area is a winter wonderland.

The Banff Centre (http://www.banffcentre.ca/) offers more than 400 guestrooms and 60 different meeting venues, which can accommodate groups to 1,000. Reception choices, from casual BBQ buffets, to elegantly served banquets can include diabetic and vegetarian styles of dining. The Rimrock Resort Hotel (http://www.rimrockresort.com/), a five-star resort, offers 346 guestrooms, most with spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains or Bow Valley. With 16,000 square feet of meeting space, the Rimrock Resort can accommodate groups to 600.

Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is comfortably nestled between the sea and mountains only 20 miles north of the Canadian border. British Columbia’s largest city, Vancouver meanders along the Frasier River and offers visitors world-class skiing, golf, trendy shopping and entertainment, and some of the most breathtaking scenery in North America. Getting around in the city is easy via the extensive bus network, light rapid transit (LRT), and SeaBus, a network of super-modern catamarans. Vancouver’s weather is the mildest of all Canadian cities, with average summer temperatures of 70 degrees and winter highs in the mid 30s. “Vancouver is a four-season city,” says Emily Armstrong, spokeswoman, Vancouver CVB. “You can visit anytime during the year and have a fabulous meeting or event. Summer is our busiest season, but there are great features of fall, winter, and spring as well.” Armstrong adds that during the off-season (November through February), hotels often discount rates, sometimes by up to 50 percent. There are more than 13,000 hotel rooms in downtown Vancouver, many with meeting space. The largest of these include the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel (48,000 square feet), Hyatt Regency Vancouver (45,000 square feet), and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (37,000 square feet). The Sutton Place (http://www.suttonplace.com/), a five-diamond Hotel, is a lavishly decorated European-style property offering spa services, 397 guestrooms, and 14,000 square feet of meeting space.

The University of British Columbia (http://www.conferences.ubc.ca/), located six miles from downtown Vancouver, has a variety of facilities available for group meetings, including the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, the War Memorial Gym, and several lecture halls. The Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre (http://www.vanconex.com/) located in the heart of downtown, is one of the most spectacular convention settings in the world. Recognized worldwide for its client service, technical excellence, and superb catering, the VCEC offers more than 150,000 square feet of event space, and is slated to undergo a major expansion that will triple its capacity by 2008.

Victoria, British Columbia
No trip to British Columbia would be complete without a trip to Victoria, located on an island so beautiful James Douglas described it as “perfect as Eden.” A quick ride on the B.C. Ferry will deposit you in a place where hanging baskets of flowers adorn every lamppost and musicians fill the air with sound on nearly every street corner. Victoria’s most famous attraction is Butchart Gardens (http://www.butchartgardens.com/), a 55-acre garden that boasts some of the most beautiful floral displays in the world. Evening fireworks make summer visits even more enticing, and private picnics or buffets can be arranged through the sales department. The Maritime Museum (http://www.mmbc.bc.ca/), located in Bastion Square, is a unique venue for event attendees. A perfect location for cocktail receptions, guests can stroll leisurely throughout the galleries where historic marine artifacts and other memorabilia abound. Over-night programs including exclusive access to the galleries and meals can be arranged for groups of at least 15.

Victoria’s downtown area features more than 3,200 hotel rooms within a short distance of the Victoria Conference Centre (http://www.victoriaconference.com/), the city’s largest meeting facility. With 40,000 square feet of meeting space, the VCC has several meeting options. The largest room can accommodate 1,450 theatre-style, and a 400-seat lecture theatre is also available for presentation-style meetings. The centerpiece of Victoria’s Inner Harbor is the Fairmont Empress (http://www.fairmont.com/), a turn-of-the-century hotel that spoils its guests with unparalleled service, famous afternoon tea, and exceptional meeting facilities. With 10,000 square feet of meeting space and five conference rooms, the Fairmont adjoins the VCC so meeting attendees can move easily between facilities.

SOUTH

Mexico
If the proximity to the United States, its world-class hotels and resorts, or its gorgeous beaches aren’t enough to lure meeting planners south of the border, there’s now another reason to consider Mexico: as of January 2004, the country’s 15 percent sales tax has been eliminated for international congresses, conventions, exhibitions, and fairs. “The tax waiver is just one of the many measures taken by the Mexican government to attract international events,” says Eduardo Chaillo, director, Oficinas de Congresos y Convenciones. Mexico offers 38 convention centers, nearly 250,000 hotel rooms for conventions, and 1.8 million square feet of event space. Two destinations, Monterrey and Ensenada, are within 150 miles of the U.S. border.

Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
The capital city of Nuevo Leon is Monterrey, Mexico’s third largest city. Located 150 miles west of Brownsville, Texas, Monterrey is surrounded by the Sierra Madre’s, and the Cerro de la Silla, a saddle-shaped peak which has become a symbol of the city. The city is reachable by air via connections in Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas, and the city’s metro public transportation system makes it easy to get around once you’ve arrived. Winter temperatures are very mild with highs in the mid 70s, but summertime highs can be as high as 105 degrees.

Monterrey’s streets are lined with pedestrian malls, museums, restaurants, and numerous nightspots. At the heart of the city is the Macroplaza, an area that features cathedrals, theaters, government offices, museums, shops, a planetarium, and public parks. Primary among the meeting facilities in Monterrey is the Cintermex Convention & Exhibition Center (http://www.cintermex.com.mx/), located in central downtown. The Cintermex offers nearly 700,000 square feet of office, meeting, and exhibit space that can accommodate groups to 3,000. Adjacent to the Cintermex is the Holiday Inn Parque Fundidora (http://www.holiday-inn.com/), a modern eight-story hotel with a space-age circular design. The Holiday Inn has 244 guestrooms and nearly 2,500 square feet of meeting and convention space. The Crowne Plaza (http://www.crowneplaza.com/) and DoubleTree Hotel Rio Monterrey (http://www.doubletree.com/) are within a short distance of the Cintermex. The Crowne Plaza is one of Monterrey’s most popular business hotels because its bustling lobby bar and onsite nightclubs provide a festive atmosphere throughout the day. With 403 guestrooms and 63,000 square feet of meeting space, the property can accommodate groups to 1,200. The recently renovated DoubleTree is an ultra-modern high-rise with nearly 400 guestrooms and 7,600 square feet of meeting space accommodating groups to 420.

Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada is Mexico’s second most visited port-of-call, and a popular location for corporate meetings and outings. Located 70 miles south of San Diego, Ensenada’s Mediterranean climate and friendly atmosphere is particularly appealing for meeting attendees traveling with family. Whale watching, flea markets, parks, and warm sandy beaches provide a variety of outdoor activities. The pristine forests of the Constitution of 1857 National Park are popular with campers, mountain climbers, and hikers.

Increasingly, Ensenada is being recognized for its wine production. Nearly 90 percent of Mexican wines come from Ensenada, and wine-tasting tours or groups are a popular event at each of the area’s seven wineries. Known as Baja’s Bordeaux Belt, the wineries offer tours six days a week and private tours can be arranged by appointment. The oldest and most popular winery is the Bodegas de Santo Tomas. Founded in 1888, the winery was first run by 100 Russian families who settled in the area trying to avoid being drafted into the Czarist army. The families bought several hundred acres and planted vines for wine, raisins, and for sale as fruit. Over the years, they taught locals how to make high-quality wine.

The Riviera del Pacifico is the heart of Ensenada’s convention and social activities. The former casino offers meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 600 guests. The Hotel Coral & Marina (http://www.corporativovirtual.com/) is Baja’s largest resort hotel. With 147 oceanfront suites and 7,500 square feet of meeting space, the Hotel Coral is located north of the Ensenada business district and city center. The Hotel Coral also has a European-style spa offering massages, facials, body treatments, and fragrance therapy. Group discounts are often available during winter. The Paraiso Las Palmas Hotel y Centro de Convenciones (http://www.paraisolaspalmas.com/) is three blocks from Todos Santos Bay at the southern end of Ensenada. The hotel is of modest size, with 54 guestrooms, but the convention center can accommodate groups to 850.

Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Puerto Vallarta is Jalisco’s most popular vacation destination. Located 1,100 miles south of San Diego, Puerto Vallarta is on the edge of the Sierra Madre range and has been a favorite stop for travelers since the 1500s when pirates and explorers used the area to relax (and no doubt, to rob each other!). By the 1950s things had changed and the area became a hideaway for the rich and famous. In 1964, filmmaker John Huston chose Puerto Vallarta as the backdrop for his film, “Night of the Iguana”, which put the city on the map (and sparked the relationship between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor). Today, three million tourists visit Puerto Vallarta each year. The city has more than 18,000 hotel rooms with an additional 4,000 rooms in Nuevo Vallarta. At this time the city does not have a convention center, but the city government is currently considering proposals to build a facility. In 2002, many of Puerto Vallarta’s hotels were destroyed by hurricane Kenna. The Sheraton Buganvillas Resort & Towers (www.starwood.com/sheraton) was one of the hotels devastated, but it has since been renovated and the new, more contemporary style is a favorite among American visitors. The beachfront hotel has 600 guestrooms and its meeting facilities can accommodate as many as 1,800. The Westin Regina Resort (http://www.westinpv.com/) sits along the beach at Bahia de Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta’s marina district. Conde Nast and the Travel Channel rank the resort as one of the best places in the world to stay. In addition to 16,000 square feet of meeting space and 266 rooms, the resort offers guests a full service spa, parasailing, tennis, and golf. The Camino Real Puerto Vallarta (http://www.caminoreal.com/) is also located in Bahia de Banderas. In 2003, Travel & Leisure named the Camino Real Puerto Vallarta as one of the top 500 hotels in the world. The hotel is situated along a private beach and has over 15,500 square feet of meeting space and 337 rooms.