Hotel Grand Pacific named tops in Canada - Two Major Chess Events - One Great Hotel

[Brian Raymer]

The Hotel Grand Pacific is the venue for the Grand Pacific Open and
Victoria Chess Festival Easter Weekend April 10-13, 2009
www.victoriachessclub.pbwiki.com

The Hotel Grand Pacific is also the venue for the Canadian Youth Chess
Championships and Victoria Summer Chess Extravaganza July 20-26, 2009
www.cycc2009.pbwiki.com

We hope to see you in Victoria next year.

Times Colonist

Friday, October 17, 2008

Victoria's Hotel Grand Pacific has been named the top hotel in Canada
in the Conde Nast Traveler magazine's annual readers' choice awards.

"Jeepers, pinch me. No, don't pinch me," said a delighted Reid James,
general manager of the Belleville Street luxury Inner Harbour hotel.
The Sooke Harbour House placed third in the same category.

This is the first time the 304-room Grand Pacific has placed on the
Conde Nast list. Along with the hotel's amenities and food and
beverage service, James praised the hotel's 190 employees, saying he
receives complimentary comments daily from guests. "They are just
tremendous."

This award comes "at the end of an extraordinarily challenging year
for the tourism industry," he said yesterday.

Several senior spots were snagged by Vancouver Island properties and
communities. The Island was named the top island in the Americas by
readers. Victoria tied with Quebec City as the top city to visit in
the Americas. They were followed by Vancouver, which placed second.

Placing so well in the awards, "gets our name out there around the
world and it is a huge impact for the city," Tourism Victoria's Kelsi
Woodward said.

Dave Petryk, Tourism Vancouver Island CEO, said that with the 2010
Olympic and Paralymic Games in Whistler and Vancouver, "we are looking
forward to showcasing our exceptional products and destinations" to an
international audience."

Readers picked the King Pacific Lodge, on Princess Royal Island on
B.C.'s central coast, as the top Canadian resort. Second place went to
The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino. The Long Beach Lodge Resort, also in
Tofino, was third.
(c) Times Colonist (Victoria) 2008

[John Henry]

Re: Hotel Grand Pacific named tops in Canada - Two Major Chess Events - One Great Hot

Vancouver Island has it all!!!!I have stayed at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino and was awestruck not only with the Inn but the rugged scenery around it.

[Larry Bevand]

Re: Hotel Grand Pacific named tops in Canada - Two Major Chess Events - One Great Hot

Is that why it is referred to as Lala Land? :)

[Brian Raymer]

Re: Hotel Grand Pacific named tops in Canada - Two Major Chess Events - One Great Hot

I agree with you John. The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino is well worth the visit. I recommend anyone planning on visiting Victoria to extend their trip and visit the Tofino/Long Beach area for at least 2 nights. April is a good time to spot grey whales on their annual migration to north to Alaska and the whales can often be spotted from the shore. Tofino is a 5 hour drive from Victoria. The beaches are spectacular. There are many options for accommodation in the area. Beachfront is best. http://www.wickinn.com/

Whale sightings are also possible closer to Victoria. Orca (killer) whales are common near Victoria in the summer months. Grey whales can be seen off the coast in the fall and spring months. My wife and I were at Sombrio beach a few weeks ago and saw numerous grey whales just off shore and a black bear on the beach! Sombrio beach is 1.5 hours from Victoria by car.

Orca Spirit Adventures is a sponsor for the CYCC http://www.orcaspirit.com

[Brian Raymer]

Re: Hotel Grand Pacific named tops in Canada - Two Major Chess Events - One Great Hot

Hi Larry, Yes. That is one of the reason why we are referred to Lala Land. When are you going to join us and move out west?

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Wickaninnish Inn

The Wickaninnish Inn is a great place to have a meal at sunset. You have to plan it, of course, and book your meal so that it coincides with the sunset ... but it's pretty cool if you can afford it. Sunny days are better as well.

[John Henry]

Re: Hotel Grand Pacific named tops in Canada - Two Major Chess Events - One Great Hot

What I would love to do is visit Wickinanish Inn in November to watch and hear the storms pounding the surf from the spectacular dining room.The beach is massive,water cold,but the scenery,Inn is second to none. I read recently where the Inn from another survey was voted #1 in North America and I think in the top dozen worldwide! Tofino is nice ,interesting places and tours-bear watching etc.and some nice restaurants.But just 30 minutes away is Ucluelet where Jack Nichlaus will be building a spectacular Golf Course-Jack is quoted as saying" this is the most spectacular setting of any course I have designed".

[Pierre Renaud]

Re: Hotel Grand Pacific named tops in Canada - Two Major Chess Events - One Great Hot

Let's not forget to add, Brian, that if one doesn't have the money for a hotel room, you can now legally camp out at any number of beautiful city parks between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.:)

Leah and Pierre

[Brian Raymer]

Re: Hotel Grand Pacific named tops in Canada - Two Major Chess Events - One Great Hot

There is always the camping option. I recommend Goldstream Provincial Park. About 25 minutes from downtown Victoria. And there are lots of motels and hotels in between.

[Erik Malmsten]

Re: visiting Tofino and Victoria

Twenty-five years ago, I enjoyed the all-day walk along Long Beach from Tofino to Ucluelet. There were telescopes available to look out at the sea lions. I remember a humming bird staying still near me. The forest was great. I hitched a ride back with some natives. Only problem I had was the ocean roar was too loud and scary for me to get asleep. There's so much to see I wouldn't want to play golf there. I didn't take the trip to the hot springs.

I enjoyed the long bus ride out from Victoria, seeing wildlife out the window, although my seat mate, a prof from Chicago, spent the whole time looking at our chess game (which he lost). It might be more fun to take the boat ride from Port Alberni.

Victoria has many fun museums, Butchart Gardens nearby, totem poles, fresh salmon and cultural events. I enjoyed a choral concert, comedy skits and a biology lecture titled Sex on the Beach -- It was about evolution and mating patterns of spiders, clams and such. On my recent visit I enjoyed renting a bicycle and circling the town didn't take very long. Being there a week I got restless and tired of walking down the main street again -- luckily Vancouver or Seatte are easy to get to. I also had trouble finding an after-hours Internet cafe. But I had dinner with an ex-Torontonian and met a member of the other family in Canada with the same last name as mine.

And the players at the chess club were friendly and strong enough to beat me.

[Brian Raymer]

Hotel Grand Pacific now available for booking

The CYCC organizing committee has arranged an excellent rate for you at the Hotel Grand Pacific. Luxury 5 Star Hotel - $159/night based single or double occupancy. This rate is available up to 3 days before and 3 days after the CYCC. Suites available for an additional $60/night. Children under 18 stay free in same room with accompanying adult(s). Cancellation policy - 24 hours prior to arrival . The hotel is ideally situated on the beautiful inner harbour and includes free high speed internet, free access to health club, ozonated 25 m pool and many other amenities for hotel guests. Rooms will be held until May 15th, 2008 subject to availability. We expect the rooms will sell out at this rate well before May 15th. Book early to avoid disappointment by calling toll free 1-800-663-7550. Quote: July08Chess1 when booking. The Hotel Grand Pacific was recently voted Top Hotel in Canada in Conde Nast Traveler magazine's annual readers' choice awards. www.hotelgrandpacific.com

The Hotel Grand Pacific is recommended by the organizing committee. It is ideally situated in downtown Victoria. The Hotel Grand Pacific is close to numerous restaurants, cafes, grocery stores and shops. A car is unnecessary if you stay in this location. We will provide complimentary airport pickup and drop off for players and their families who are pre paid and registered prior to May 15th, 2009. To request complimentary pick up and drop off send an email before May 15th to cycc2009@gmail.com .

There are other hotels and motels in the area if you prefer. It is also possible to camp at Goldstream Provincial Park campground less than a 30 minute drive from downtown Victoria.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the 2009 CYCC in Victoria BC. www.cycc2009.pbwiki.com

Brian Raymer

on behalf of the 2009 CYCC Organizing Committee