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EVENT WIZARDS Galas, conferences and conventions contribute to the economic and social vitality of the city and province.
And none of them would be successful without the men and women — creative event professionals, vendors, and suppliers — working behind the scenes to make it happen. Led by the local chapters of the International Live Events Association (ILEA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), hundreds came together to promote, celebrate and support their own.
Once again orchestrated by seasoned planners Alex Bickers and Robert Porter, creative producers, venue managers, decor and design companies, photographers, audiovisual suppliers, caterers and industry sponsors convened at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver for the industry party’s third annual gathering — a Wizard of Oz themed affair.
Association members masterfully transformed the massive ballroom into an emerald city complete with a yellow brick road and a cast of colourful characters greeting guests.
Members showcased their products and services while celebrating with colleagues and clients. Always a party with a purpose, the Somewhere Over-titled merrymaker and elbow-rubber also raised funds for each of the respective organization’s scholarship programs, created to support talented individuals looking to enter the creative and dynamic profession.
“A year in the making, I could not be more grateful to everyone that supported the event, allowing us to showcase their incredible talents, as well, for all of us to give back to our industry and to continue to build a legacy,” says Bickers.
THE GRAPE ESCAPE When the Vancouver Wine Festival made its debut in 1979, the event featured one vintner — Robert Mondavi — and saw 1000 wine enthusiasts attend the two-day affair at Hycroft.
From a one-winery show, the tipple fest has evolved. In year four, 45 wineries were featured, all from California; 1987 saw the festival go global with six other countries participating. After outgrowing several different venues the festival eventually moved to the Vancouver Convention Centre, where the main tasting sessions have been held for the past 25 years.
The 41st annual Vancouver International Wine Festival, sponsored by Blakes, will take place Feb. 23 to March 3. Returning to its roots, this year’s celebration will feature wines from the California region, with one third of the 160 participating wineries from the sunny state.
Officially kicking off this year’s campaign, Harry
Hertscheg, executive director of the Vancouver International Wine Festival, hosted a Festival Taste at Blue Water Café. Wine aficionados, scribes and social influencers were on hand for the preview party, enjoying the first sips of exclusive California grapes and other fine wines to be uncorked at various events throughout the eight-day food and wine extravaganza.
As usual, The Bacchanalia Gala, the festival’s premiere party and fundraiser, will get the festivities started. Fourtime chair Jana Maclagan will steer once again the $450, fivecourse wine-paired gala dinner and auction, looking to net another $200,000 for Christopher Gaze’s Bard on the Beach, the society’s charity of choice.
Forgoing auctioneer duties this time around, Maclagan still hyped live auction packages at the preview reception, including rare wines and a tony Californian experience on the auction block.
California wine principals — bold faced names in the wine world — scheduled to appear at this year’s festival include E & J Gallo’s Gina Gallo, Ravenswood Winery’s Joel Patterson, Wente Vine
yards’ Karl Wente, and Genevieve Janssons, Robert Mondavi’s chief winemaker.
EATING OUT Dine Out Vancouver, the country’s largest food and drink festival, returns for its 17th staging.
Organized by Tourism Vancouver to get bums in seats in member restaurants post holidays, this year’s foodie fete will feature more than 300 restaurants from across the Lower Mainland participating offering prix fixe menus from Jan. 18 to Feb. 3.
Keeping it fresh for food enthusiasts, this year’s outing will see not three but four price points; $15, $25, $35 and $45 multi-course menus including, for the first time, breakfast offerings at several eateries.
Additionally, over 30 culinary experiences are on tap — everything from a dim sum tour to an oyster shucking workshop and secret supper soirée — making the ever-growing festival more than just discount dining.
World-renowned chefs will also be parachuted in adding star power. They include London’s Warren Geraghty ,Sydney’s Francesco Mannelli,
San Diego’s Jason McLeod,
Dusseldorf ’s Sascha Stemberg and Montreal’s Jeremie
Bastien. For the first time, a gala benefiting the B.C. Hospitality Foundation rounds out this year’s diverse epicurean offerings.
Attracting more than 100,000 locals and visitors, the festival pumps more than $5 million into the local economy, shared festival coordinator Lucas Pavan, addressing writers, bloggers, Instagrammers and other social media darlings at the festival launch reception held at the Douglas Hotel’s posh D6 Lounge.