This is your chance to connect with respected industry experts in the Vancouver Bridal business. The show is filled with fresh ideas, the latest trends and will showcase the best in decor, flowers, cake and more. At 2pm there will also be an exclusive fashion show put on by Bisou Bridal. Admission is $20 and all proceeds will be donated to the Canucks Place Chidlren’s Hospice

When: April 22: 11am-5pm
Where: Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel, “R” Level
To purchase your tickets, click here.

Located in the Pan Pacific Vancouver, Spa Utopia is 11,400 square feet of pure luxury. Whether it’s the beautiful facilities, luxury amenities and service or the relaxing ambiance – it’s the perfect getaway.

To celebrate the Spa’s latest achievement, we’ve decided to do what we do best….and that’s treat you like Royalty!

The Royal Getaway

Win a Free Royal Massage + a 2 Night Weekend Stay (value of $800)

Have you ever experienced a ROYAL Massage from the Spa Utopia? No? well me neither! (*sigh* I haven’t been lucky enough). The Royal Massage is a heavenly 100 minute Swedish Massage:

It includes warm towel wipes that increase circulation to the skin, warm stones placed on the back that provide deep penetrating heat to back muscles, steam to the face and scalp to calm common tension areas and a relaxation massage that pays extra attention to the face, scalp and feet in order to ease your achy muscles, reduce anxiety and give you a calm peace of mind that is so deserved.

To top things off, we’re also throwing in a 2 night weekend stay on March 23-24 in our luxurious Premier Corner 10 Type Room!

How To Enter:

1. Tell us in the comments what you love most about the Spa Utopia Vancouver. (It could be your favorite service, the great staff, the convenient location…it’s up to you!)

OR

2. Retweet the following post on Twitter:

• I RT’d to win a FREE weekend getaway from @PanPacificVan + a Royal Massage from @SpaUtopia! http://bit.ly/yXmnmb

On Friday March 16 at 12 Noon, we’ll announce the lucky winner on our Facebook page.

GOOD LUCK!!

The Gelato World Cup is regarded as the highest level of competition in the pastry-industry world wide. For the first time ever, a team from Vancouver represented Canada this past January at the 2012 World Cup of Gelato. For four days, Team Canada competed against 12 other countries for the most conveted Gelato Titles in the World. Team Canada members with their collective passion, expertise and creativity unveiled five different disciplines; gelato in a cup, cone, cake, pan, as well as incorporating gelato into a savoury dish. These culinary gelato’s after 4 days were brought together in the final presentation which included a grand chocolate sculpture and an artisan ice carving.

Although in the end Team Canada finished in 11th, they learned plenty and now know what to expect from the judges and their competitors for 2014!

What an amazing experience for our first competition. Lots of learning and a great finish at 11th, ahead of Team USA and Team Mexico. We wanted to finish better, so while happy with the experience, everything we learned, observed and went through will help us in 2 years when Team Canada returns. – Hans Pirhofer

Here’s a look at a few photos from the competition!

Marking its 34th year with the Theme Region - Wines of Chile and a Global Focus on Cabernet(s) – the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival runs from February 27th to March 4th, 2012.

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival is widely regarded as the best consumer wine show on the continent and this year’s event will bring 180 participating wineries from 15 countries. Expected to entertain some 25,000 wine enthusiasts at 64 events, the Festival will offer seven days of tastings, seminars, and wine focused minglers hosted at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.

Although the weekend is packed with wine seminars, luncheins and industry events – nothing tops the Tasting Room where you can hop from country to country sampling over 791 different wines.

Once you walk in, you’re handed an empty glass and given a license to start sampling! Everything is on display and nothing is off limits. Sample the very best of wine, port, rosé, sparkling, erlot, champaign and plenty more! Not a wine coneisseur? No worries! Each winery booth will give you the rundown on exactly what you’re tasting whether you’re a novice or a pro. Be sure to purchase your tickets in advance as many events sell out fast.

Contest: Win 2 Tickets to the Playhouse Wine Festival

This year the Pan Pacific Vancouver will be giving away 2 tickets to the wine tasting event on Thursday March 1, from 7 to 10pm.

To Enter, all you have to do is:

*Winners will be selected Monday February 27 at 12 noon. Must be 19 years of age to enter and win. Photo ID will be required for pickup.

Plan a Safe Ride Home
Each year we remind all guests to never drink and drive after the Wine Festival – so be sure to plan your transportation in advance!

If you’re looking to make a night out of this special evening, The Pan Pacific Vancouver (which is footsteps away from the Vancouver Convention Center) will be offering offering hotel stays for $199 a night throughout the Wine Festival.

If you’re not already convinced Vancouver is the most beautiful place on earth, then have a look at the video… and be sure to enter the contest below!

Contest: Win 2 Lift Tickets to Grouse Mountain

To experience some of beautiful Vancouver on your own, our good friends at Grouse Mountain are offering 2 tickets for you are your besty to come experience the mountain.

To enter:

Contest closes and winner announced on Wed, Feb 22 @ 12 Noon. Good luck!

Surprise surprise, I decided to check out our sister property the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside and see what all the good fuss was about.

What started as a last minute one-night ski and stay with a few friends turned into the perfect little getaway as we conquered Whistler Mountain, went out on the town and had a chance to relax and unwind at the hotel. Instead of the usual run-down, I thought I’d summarize my first visit to the Hotel with 5 good reasons to stay at the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside:

1. The Location

Being located in the heart of the Whistler Village has its perks!

Don’t enjoy lugging around heavy ski and board equipment when you’re on your way to the mountain? Neither do I! The Whistler Mountainside location sits at the base of both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains – where their gondolas meet in Whistler Village. This means the Hotel lobby is located 10 steps away from the foot of the Whistler tram. The best address in Whistler means goodbye to back aches and stress!

2. The Rooms

Did you know that ALL rooms at the Pan Pacific Whistler come standard with a FULL kitchen, fireplace and private balcony? That means you can live out your dream of hitting the slopes, preparing a hearty winter meal for the family and sipping hot cocoa on the balcony in your knitted woolen sweater…(Ok maybe that’s not your dream but you get the point!). The kitchen also comes fully equipped with a microwave, oven and most of the common kitchen supplies you’ll need.

3. A Ski Equipment store and rental right in the lobby!

One of Whistler’s most trusted Ski Equipment and rentals stores – The Salomon Store – is located in the Hotel lobby. Before my stay, the staff asked for my equipment requirements in advance and had everything ready once I arrived. They had an expert staff that knew their stuff and made sure I was on my way in just a few minutes.

Guests of the Hotel can enjoy the convenience of signing privileges right to their suite and even offer free Tuning & service.

4. The DUBH!!

The Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub is literally “in the house”.

The bar is decorated to showcase a pictorial journey through Ireland’s culture and believe me, every last detail of this bar is Irish! They offer a huge selection of beer (over 25 taps) and live music throughout the week. It’s definitely one of the places to be on a Friday or Saturday night in the Whistler Village. Be sure to check out their events list in advance. And after a night at the Dubh Linn Gate, being just a few steps from your Hotel room certainly has its privileges!

5. All the little extra perks!

The Pan Pacific Whistler is known not only for its quality service and high standards – but also all the little perks that most hotels wouldn’t dream of offering:

All gests of the hotel receive free high-speed Wi-Fi access and free local calls. Valet service is included in the parking fee, so the Valet team parks the cars at no additional charge. Slope-side valet ski storage for all Pan Pacific guests is also free. The Hotel truly prides itself on no hidden fees or surprises at check out. These are just some of the few reasons Pan Pacific Whistler has been ranked #1 on Trip Advisor for the past two years running.

If you’re looking for a great place to stay on your next trip to Whistler, try the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside for its great service, perfect location and luxury accommodations!

It’s the perfect Valentines Day gift, mini stay-cation or just an (affordable excuse) to pamper yourself!

Choose between a Deluxe Harbour View Room starting at $249 or enjoy the exclusive Pacific Club Floor for just $279. The offer includes a Spa Utopia $100 gift card + a 2pm late checkout.

*Guests can book stay dates up till April 11. All booking must be made by February 8*

Check availability and book my stay! (*2 Night option also available by clicking here).

The FINE Print

• Rates based on single or double occupancy
• Black out periods apply and are as follows; February 15 – 18, March 17-20, March 31 – April 2, 2012
• Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion or negotiated offer
• Offer based on availability at Hotel and Spa (appointments are required in advance)
• Rates are prepaid & non-refundable

Vancouver BC – Canada by Kevin Mcneal

There’s something about a reflection photo which is beautiful, yet calming and simply an artform in itself. After a little surfing around on Flickr, I wanted to share a few great reflection shots I found from the Vancouver area. Do you have a great reflection photo? Be sure to add it to the Pan Pacific Flickr group and I’ll include it in the post!

Vancouver Skyline by Clayton Perry

Reflection on Granville and Georgia by: JimP (in Sarnia)

Canada Place Sails: by Natalia Mihai

This photo was taken by one of our very own server’s Natalia Mihai from the Cascades Lounge in the Pan Pacific Vancouver

On Golden Pond by Eyesplash

Carnival Splendor III by ecstaticist

Vancouver Reflections by Dripps

Christmas 2011! by: Clayton Perry

Reflection by Michael Whyte

City and Slope is a 4-day mountain and music festival that is taking place in Vancouver from Feb 9th to 12th, 2012. This year will mark the first in a (soon to be) annual signature winter event.

Since Vancouver is the only city in the world to feature three world-class skiing facilities within 25 minutes of its downtown sector – City and Slope has put together an exclusive bundled pass that allows guests to enjoy access to all three mountains – with a few unique themes on each mountain. From outdoor adventures at Grouse to snowboarding at Mount Seymour to Canada 2010 Olympics at Cypress Mountain. Grouse Mountain will even stay open on Feb 11-12 for 24 hours so you can ski, board or ice skate throughout the night.

City Events

In the city, the focus will be on cultural and music events, including illuminations in Yaletown and Science World; a day-long ice carving competition at Yaletown Park; animations at the Museum of Vancouver; and the music series, where a host of performances will be showcased by Live Nation and Blueprint Events – culminating in the Electric Avalanche – a 6,000 person music event featuring superstar celebrity Benny Benassi at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

All attractions and events will also come with a discounted hotel option as well including the Pan Pacific Vancouver, which is just footsteps away from the Vancouver Convention Center where the main musical performances will take place.

Pan Pacific Hotel Offer:
2 night stay: Thurs/Fri or Fri-Sat @ $366
3 night stay: Thurs/Fri/Sat @ $549

Win 2 Tickets to Benny Bennasi at the Vancouver Convention Center

Here’s your chance to win 2 tickets to see the main act DJ Benny Benassi live at the VCC

To enter

1. ReTweet the following:

“I RT’d to win 2 Free tickets to Benny Benassi at @CityandSlope Vancouver via @PanPacificVan: http://goo.gl/YgM0j”

OR

2. Tell us in the comments which is your favorite local mountain in Vancouver: Grouse Mountain, Cyrpuss Mountain or Seymour Mountain.

A random winner will be drawn on February 3 at 12 Noon!

For more information visit the City and Slope Facebook page or drop them a line on Twitter at @CityandSlope

GOOD LUCK!

Fresh Snow

Thanks for your contribution wfung99_2000!

Join the Group!

Do you have any pictures of Vancouver you’d like to share? If so, be sure to add them to the Pan Pacific Vancouver Flickr Group. Each week we’ll feature a new photo from the group on our blog.

Happy Friday!!