Posted by JP Obbagy on Tue, Aug 17, 2010 @ 08:00 AM
Did you know that there is a City of Vancouver flag? It's quite simple, attractive and represents the city very well.
Here is a description of it's origins taken from the City of Vancouver website:
"The City flag was approved by City Council on May 17, 1983. It was designed by Robert Watt, former Director of the Vancouver Museum. The bottom chevron of green represents the land on which the City is built and the forest from which much of its property has come. The alternating waving bars of blue and white symbolize the sea, which is the other principal foundation of the City's growth. The shield represents Vancouver's status as a corporation. On the shield is the City Badge, a specific mark of civic government."
To learn more about the City of Vancouver's flag and other official symbols, visit their website at http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/symbolsofthecity/index.htm.
Posted by JP Obbagy on Fri, Aug 13, 2010 @ 06:51 PM
Friday is a great day for laughs, celebrations and ice cream. Toss in an expecting mom, an event team and all of the sudden we found the company lunchroom (officially named the Green Apple Cafe) the site of a fun little baby shower!
Our very own smiling Jen from the Event Team will soon be a first-time mom. A few scoops, some sprinkes, chocolate drizzles and of course presents were in order to help send her off on maternity leave in a couple weeks.
Happy mommyhood Jen...come back soon, 'cause we'll miss you!
Posted by JP Obbagy on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 @ 08:00 AM
While exploring the concept of a backyard suited to the ultimate Meeting Professional, we really thought about what it is that we enjoy. As we grow up, the backyard becomes a place to entertain and savour time with friends. It becomes a haven to relax, where we are able to take time to just enjoy.
The "World's Greatest Backyard" theme for MPI's WEC 2010 Welcome Reception provided plenty of opportunities for creative freedom.
- The functionality of a backyard laundry line becomes something new with ocean breezes providing a refreshing change
- Lounging takes on new meaning when you enjoy incredibly comfortable seating with the sound of the ocean lapping below
- There's the ultimate grape vine where wine fairies wait to aid your thirst
- A backyard barbecue takes on new meaning with incredibly excellent food, and
- The "firepit" delivers he most amazing fire of all, in this case the flame of the Olympic cauldron that really did lead to “glowing hearts” around the world!
Welcome to Vancouver, the new Vancouver Convention Centre and
Cantrav Services where we're ready to impress!
Contact us for your next meeting, event or destination management needs.
Posted by JP Obbagy on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 @ 08:00 AM
Cantrav's goal in working with the Vancouver Convention Centre for creating the Welcome Reception for MPI WEC 2010 was:
To ensure that no matter where you went,
something interesting was happening,
that you could engage in,
or not.
As with all venues and events, there are challenges and obsticles. Our approach needed to take all of the following into consideration:
- the VCC outdoor event space is beautiful and vast
- the group size was over 2,000
- we were not working with a sit-down function
- there was no single focal point, such as a main stage.
We wanted to create an environment where guests could actually:
- Enjoy the space
- Hear each other talk (without yelling)
- Move around and explore, or
- Just sit and enjoy the view.
The "
World's Greatest Backyard" was the end result. The backyard lemonade stand was even staffed by smiling kids, the balloons were suited to the space, the swing set had the best view EVER, and the trampoline was, well a little more awesome than some!
Goal achieved AND it was fun! :)
Posted by JP Obbagy on Tue, Aug 10, 2010 @ 01:35 PM
The goal of any Event Producer is to meet client requests and exceeding expectations. When producing for your peers, this becomes an even bigger challenge as in the case of hosting the guests of the Meeting Professionals International 2010 event in Vancouver. 
Wowing MPI's roster full of talented professionals was a challenge that Cantrav's creative team embraced. They took the amazing environment available to them at the Vancouver Convention Centre and created what we called the “World’s Greatest Backyard”.
It all began when Tahira and her team thought of what we love about our own backyards, and what we loved as kids, when the backyard was a bit of a magical place you could get lost. Naturally, we thought of bikes, of having a sandbox and of throwing some bocce balls! That was just the beginning…
Meeting client requests and exceeding expectations is the goal of any Event Producer. In the case of hosting the guests of Meeting Professionals International, a roster full of talented professionals, this was indeed a challenge that we embraced as we took the amazing environment we had and created what we called the “world’s greatest backyard”
It all began when we thought about what we love about our own backyards, and what we loved as kids, when the backyard was a bit of a magical place you could get lost. Naturally, we thought of bikes, and having a sandbox and throwing some bocce balls! That was just the beginning…
Meeting client requests and exceeding expectations is the goal of any Event Producer. In the case of hosting the guests of Meeting Professionals International, a roster full of talented professionals, this was indeed a challenge that we embraced as we took the amazing environment we had and created what we called the “world’s greatest backyard”
It all began when we thought about what we love about our own backyards, and what we loved as kids, when the backyard was a bit of a magical place you could get lost. Naturally, we thought of bikes, and having a sandbox and throwing some bocce balls! That was just the beginning…
Meeting client requests and exceeding expectations is the goal of any Event Producer. In the case of hosting the guests of Meeting Professionals International, a roster full of talented professionals, this was indeed a challenge that we embraced as we took the amazing environment we had and created what we called the “world’s greatest backyard”
It all began when we thought about what we love about our own backyards, and what we loved as kids, when the backyard was a bit of a magical place you could get lost. Naturally, we thought of bikes, and having a sandbox and throwing some bocce balls! That was just the beginning…
Posted by JP Obbagy on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 @ 01:09 AM
Here is a sneak peek at some of the fun that guests of the MPI WEC 2010 had at the Welcome Reception, where we welcomed you all to the World’s Greatest Backyard!
The "World's Greatest Backyard!" concept was created by Cantrav’s Creative and Production Team. It was brought to life at the Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) by many talented Vancouver meeting and event suppliers. We can work with you to modify this concept in a myriad of ways to impress and delight thousands more as you consider Vancouver for your groups.
There were many, many highlights throughout the evening from the welcome chorus to the BMX demos and, of course, to the lighting of the fabulous Olympic Cauldron (only the second time since the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games were hosted)!
As guests wove their way through the venue, they could sample delicious BC wine from Peller Estates from the “wine fairies” on the vine being built by Mother Nature, microbrews from Granville Island Brewing, and truly incredible food being prepared by the Vancouver Convention Centre chefs. This is not your ordinary Convention Centre on any level!
There was so much fun to be had, and we will be posting more pictures on the awesome entertainment soon.
Posted by JP Obbagy on Thu, Jul 29, 2010 @ 06:38 PM
Check out this great article on Vancouver's Olympic Village on False Creek. This is where the bulk of athlete's from the 2010 Olympic Games stayed and is now Vancouver's newest, greenest community.
Why do we care? Cantrav offices are only a block away and we wanted to share our neighbourhood with you!
Globe & Mail Article: www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/on-the-edge-at-olympic-village/article1653555/
Posted by JP Obbagy on Fri, Jul 23, 2010 @ 01:48 AM
A big, warm welcome to all the Meeting Professionals from around the world who are attending the MPI Vancouver 2010 WEC event! Over 2200 of you are gathering in Vancouver over the next couple of days and we are excited to be your host.
It's pretty certain that you'll leave MPI’s World Education Congress 2010 with powerful strategies for success AND a profound appreciation of the power of Vancouver as a meeting, conference and event destination.
The MPI 2010 WEC schedule is choc-a-bloc with fun, education and networking events. We have the inside scoop that Saturday's welcome reception at the Vancouver Convention Centre will be refreshingly eclectic.
Have fun, enjoy our City and call us if you are looking for some local insight.
Posted by JP Obbagy on Thu, Jun 17, 2010 @ 04:36 PM
Lifetime achievement awards are great honours and on June 10th Tourism Vancouver bestowed theirs on our President, George Bartel. We are ecstatic! For the people that know George, and many do, this is a fitting recognition of a lifetime of dedication to tourism and promoting our destination.
If you don't kno
w George, he is a people's person who is at once enthusiastic, entertaining and energetic. It's undoubtedly why he has such a vast network of friends and contacts that extends locally, nationally and internationally.
George's commitment to both the customer and the destination is legendary. On top of this he embraces opportunity and is not afraid to take risks - which have both stung deeply and paid off handsomely!
It might sound like this is just sucking up to the boss, but don't just take our word for it. The introductory speech by Rick Baxter, Chair of Tourism Vancouver, says it all. Here is a copy of Mr. Baxter's words as he introduces George Bartel for the presentation of Tourism Vancouver's Lifetime Achievement Award:
Rick Baxter: Each year we present the Hugh B. Main Lifetime Achievement Award for the development and promotion of tourism in Greater Vancouver.
Hugh Main, a former Vice President of CP Air, served as General Manager of Tourism Vancouver from 1972 to 1981, and this award is named in recognition of his leadership and lifetime of achievement.
This year's recipient began his career in tourism at the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel in the early 1960's where he learned to do whatever it took to serve the customer. He rose quickly from "ask me George" at the Hotel (a sort of "know it all" position) to a bellhop so well tipped that his family suspected he had his hand in the till!
In the late 1960's and early ‘70's there was one true believer in what Vancouver had to offer to the world. He opened the eyes of a young tourism community to the impossible, such as:
- closing off the streets of Gastown for a party
- pitching tents on Jericho Beach for a BBQ, and
- flying clients to the top of the Lions Peak for a glass of champagne.
He knew then - and still knows today - everyone in town from the taxi driver to the doorman, from the cocktail waitress, to the hotel manager, and he challenges each of them to do more than they think is possible.
But most importantly, he knows the customer, and knows what it takes to bring
convention and incentive business to the city. He has travelled extensively and has built relationships around the world. He listens to what the customer wants and convinces them that Vancouver can do it better than any competing destination.
Most recently, he worked with international sponsors, and even royalty, to coordinate their Olympic experiences. And he continues to successfully sell Vancouver as THE place to hold a meeting, to launch a new product, or to run an incentive program.
Never short of an opinion, he still espouses a vision of what Vancouver could and should be. Ladies & Gentlemen, this year's recipient of the Hugh B. Main Lifetime Achievement Award is the president of Cantrav Services, Mr. George Bartel.
Posted by JP Obbagy on Fri, Jun 11, 2010 @ 05:42 PM
A Cantrav staffer and a very discerning client
embarked on an impressive
Vancouver restaurant dine around and tasting effort earlier this year. Our client is due to host 40 committee dinners for an international convention later this year. The goal of this "
Olympic foodie marathon" was to ensure that the restaurants and menus reached the high standards required her program.
Together, the Two Foodies bravely embarked on a Vancouver dine around that encompassed 42 restaurants in just 6 days, cramming in 3 lunches and 3 dinners each day. This amounted to 48 menu items per day!
Due to the Vancouver's large number of high quality restaurants, we are pleased to say that almost all were selected by our client as ideal for their event meals! It was another confirmation for us that Vancouver's evolved dining scene stands up on a world-class level as judged by our clients.
Now, where are those darned antacid tablets....?