The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Turns 15: Award Winning Hotel Offers Specials in 2014

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport is to the right of the control tower at YVR. 

Hard to believe The Fairmont Vancouver Airport turns 15 this year. When it opened in 1999, there was no shortage of buzz. As the first hotel in the world to offer in-room airline check-in service, it was also the first in North America to provide satellite check-in kiosks. I've stayed at the hotel several times (once on the allergy free floor), and it's one of my favorites. The 392-room hotel is accessed by an escalator from the US Departures Terminal at Vancouver International Airport.

To celebrate the occasion, each month through October 2014, there will be "15" offerings from the hotel and guests may share their favorite memories through social media at #FairmontYVR15. Current specials are featured on their website, including a limited number of $15 room rates on the actual anniversary date of October 7. A year-round Celebrating Anniversaries package offers rooms from $249 with a $15 per person food and beverage credit. Reservations may be made through 800.441.4114 or www.fairmont.com.

A well appointed and comfortable room at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport.

No surprise The Fairmont Vancouver Airport picked up Best Airport Hotel in North America in 2011 and 2012 by Skytrax World Airport Survey. The hotel features a full-service health club, mechanized lap pool, spa, restaurant and lounge that caters to a variety of dietary needs. and top notch business facilities.

The hotel also offers a number of unique packages. If you're traveling to the sun, store your winter woolies at the hotel and retrieve them on your return; newlyweds may leave the wedding gown behind and pick it up cleaned and boxed following their fly-away honeymoon; and families may book a second room at half price.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport also has a Fish Valet who "checks in" prize catches upon their return from BC's west coast fishing lodges. The hotel stores them in its special fish freezer on the Departures level. Recent "stayovers" included a 900-lb. sturgeon and a 180-lb. halibut, while others end up on dinner plates, courtesy of the hotel's chef. And on the human side of things, blogger Jaeger Mah "lived" at the airport for 80 days, which I wrote about in a previous blog post. How fun would that be?

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport. Photos by Sue Frause.

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Celebrate Chinese New Year in Richmond, BC

The celebrations aren't over! Chinese New Year, which is January 31 this year, is a second chance to say farewell to bad habits and bring in some good ones. Also called the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, Chinese New Year is the largest celebration of the year for many cultures throughout Asia. Chinese New Year 2014 is the Year of the Horse, supposedly a lucky year.

One of North America's most authentic and elaborate Chinese New Year celebrations is in Richmond, BC. With a Chinese population of more than 44% (Canada's largest per capita percentage of Chinese descendants), Richmond is celebrating for two weeks, from January 24-February 8. Events include traditional lion and dragon dances, live music, art displays flower markets, gift fairs and food. 

Lunch at one of Richmond's many Asian restaurants. Photo by Sue Frause.

During Chinese New Year, many of Richmond's 400 Asian restaurants will be offering 10-12 course New Year's Eve feasts on January 30. Also known as the reunion dinner, it's the most important meal of the year, a time for bonding and giving thanks. Plus it's a time for eating purposefully and symbolically. Noodles represent long life; dumplings shaped like ancient Chinese money are for wealth and prosperity; lettuce wraps play on the Chinese word for fortune, which is also the word for lettuce; and the head and tail of a fish served whole symbolize a good start and end to the year. Among the many restaurants featuring reunion dinners are Fisherman's Terrace, The Jade Seafood Restaurant, Sea Harbour Seafood, Vivacity and Suhang. Reservations are advised.

Even YVR (Vancouver International Airport in Richmond) is getting into the Lunar New Year. After all, YVR has the highest frequency of flights to China (75 each week) of any North American Airport. On Friday, January 31, airport retailers and restaurants will be offering special deals, with lunch specials for just $8.88 (eight is considered a lucky number in the Chinese culture). 

From 10 AM to 1 PM on January 31, gather 'round Bill Reid's The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe sculpture. There will be live music, Chinese ink brush calligraphy demonstrations, fortune telling and a traditional lion dance. Visitors will be able to park for $5 between 9-2; pick up vouchers at the customer care desk in the International Terminal, departures level. Or take the Canada Line to YVR.

A complete list of Chinese New Year events may be found at Tourism Richmond's website

Live at YVR for 80 days? Vote for your favorite airport dweller

Nearly 100 people submitted videos in the Live@YVR contest held by Vancouver International Airport. Yup, 96 adventurous souls responded to the invitation to spend 80 days and 80 nights at YVR's Sea Island home. It's all a part of YVR's 80th anniversary celebration. From that large lot, five finalists were selected from across British Columbia. The winner will be employed as a special correspondent at YVR, Canada's second busiest airport. Here are the finalists in alphabetical order:

Carrie Dymond (The Dance), 36, Vancouver (originally from Hamilton, Ontario)
Christopher Jordan Lee (Chris Lee at the Tool Library!), 22, Maple Ridge
Jaeger Mah (The Heart of YVR), 29, Vancouver (originally from Port Alberni, BC)
Marelle Reid (Circus School), 29, Coquitlam
Sarah Szlobody (Sorry YVR I Tried!), 24, Vancouver (originally from Richland, BC

Rebecca Catley, Director of Communications for Vancouver Airport Authority, said they were "incredibly impressed by the quality and quantity of video entries." But now it's up to the public to decide who will tell the behind the scenes tales of YVR. Vote online at www.liveatyvr.ca until Aug. 5, 2011. The selected correspondent will sleep at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, live in the YVR community and experience the endless stories of YVR’s 23,600 employees and 400 businesses.

The Live@YVR correspondent will be equipped with a camera and editing equipment act as an all-in-one producer, director, reporter, editor and post-production supervisor. He or she will uncover stories and share the trials and tribulations of living full time at an airport on the Live@YVR website, Facebook and Twitter.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel (at right) at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). As seen from Pacific Coastal Airlines. Photo by Sue Frause.

Happy Anniversary, YVR! Vancouver International Airport Turns 80 Years Old

Vancouver International Airport aboard London Air Services helicopter en route from Sonora Resort Photo by Sue Frause

YVR is lookin' pretty good for being 80 years old. When Vancouver International Airport opened in 1931, it only had a single runway and a small, wooden building. Today, it's a world-class airport that serves 16.8 million passengers and employs 23,600 people.

To celebrate the July 22 milestone anniversary, the Vancouver Airport Authority is throwing a public celebration at the airport with free open houses on July 22-23 from 10-3 daily. Highlights include:

• 80 Memorable Moments Photo Gallery: Relive YVR's 70 years through a photographic display. The gallery runs from the Domestic Terminal food court to the International Terminal's "Spirit of Haida Gwaii." Level 3 of the Main Terminal.
• In-Terminal Entertainment: Live DJs, magicians, face painters, balloon twisters and lots of giveaways. Lunch specials and product sampling at YVR restos and shops. Main Terminal Building (Domestic and International).
• Airside Ballet: YVR's airfield firefighting emergency trucks showcase their unique "ballet" in a display of coordination, timing and sheer equipment size. Domestic Terminal, Public Observation Area, Friday and Saturday at 11 AM.
• Vintage Aircraft Display and Flypast: See vintage aircraft parked on at the original location of the airport. Best views are from the outdoor viewing platform. Flypast by the Fraser Blues on Friday at 2 PM. South Terminal Building, south side apron.

An 80th Anniversary Grand Prize will be given away to a lucky winner during the two-day celebration. Just pick up one of the commemorative brochures from the Green Coat volunteers for a chance to win a two-night stay in a deluxe room at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport plus $200 YVR bucks.

Globe@YVR: The Farmont Vancouver Airport Hotel's restaurant is celebrating with a Five Course Anniversary Table d'Hote menu, priced at $80 per person (plus taxes). The hotel is also offering a special: Book two nights in a row between July 22-31 and receive the second night at the anniversary rate of $80.

Discount Parking: Locals and visitors are encouraged to take the Canada Line to YVR. If you drive, pick up a $5 flat-rate parking coupon good for up to four hours at YVR's Customer Care counters in the Main Terminal. Complimentary shuttles will transport visitors between the Mai and South Terminals from 10-3 each day.

Live at YVR for 80 Days: Read my previous blog post about a contest to select a lucky person to live at YVR for 80 days!

BC Residents: Live at YVR for 80 days and share your stories

So sorry I'm not a BC resident! YVR (Vancouver International Airport) is celebrating its 80th anniversary in a very big way. They're holding a contest to select the perfect person to live at YVR for 80 days and share his/her stories with the world. Wow. Live, sleep, eat and shop for 80 days in a row!

The winner's stories, videos and photos will be posted on the Live@YRV online channel. During your 80 days, you'll receive hotel accomodation at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, camera, editing equipment and have access to all the people and places that make YVR tick. Even behind the scene stuff. The job includes interviewing people, producing, directing, reporting, editing and doing the post-production of all the online stories. Here are the requirements:

• Be at least 19 years of age by 8/17/11
• Be a resident of British Columbia
• Be the sole producer, videographer and editor of the video submission
• Be willing and able to live at YVR for 80 consecutive days from 8/17-11/4, 2011
• Be available for up to three (3) das of orientation and briefings from 8/15-17, 2011
• Be generally awesome

How to submit your audition video for Live@YVR, which must follow these guidelines:

• Tells the story of a person, place or event in the community
• Is a maximum length of three (3) minutes
• Is shot and edited solely by you
• Shows us your interview skills
• Includes some footage of you on camera
• Is accompanied by a text description, to be entered on the contest entry form, in 100 words or less, that describes the video and answers the question “Why do you think you should be the Live@YVR Storyteller?”
• Is in English

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Fairmont Vancouver Airport from HeliJet

Photo by Sue Frause

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport: Best North American Airport Hotel

One of my favorite airport hotels, The Fairmont Vancouver Airport, was awarded Best Airport Hotel - North America at the 2011 World Airport Awards held on March 30, 2011 in Copenhagen. This is the first year that airport hotels have been included in the annual awards.

 The Fairmont Vancouver Airport came in the number one spot over the Grand Hyatt Dallas/Fort Worth and the Westin Detroit Metropolitan. The hotel also placed fifth in the world for Best Airport Hotel Worldwide.

The Skytrax World Airport Survey was distributed to more than 11 million passengers around the world, representing more than 100 nationalities and 240+ airports. The results were tabulated from more than 860,000 responses from guests who rated their hotel experiences.

I've stayed at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport several times, and it's truly tops. Located just above the USA Departures Level of YVR, it has 392 spacious and fully soundproof guestrooms and suites. All have floor to ceiling views of the runways, ocean and mountains. A designated Quiet Zone floor offers day use rooms for travelers on long layovers, and a Hypoallergenic Floor features low-allergen amenities.

All guests may enjoy Globe@YVR restaurant and the Jetside Bar (both with runway views) for dining and beverages. The full-service Absolute Spa and a health club is also on site.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport

Photo by Sue Frause

Best of 2010: Fun food finds in British Columbia and Alberta

I was somewhat surprised that my 2010 adventures in Canada were limited to British Columbia and Alberta. Maybe that's 'cuz I got to enjoy so much more of it the year before during Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure.

Fortunately, there was nothing dull about the dining scene in the two provinces where I spent time in the past 12 months. Here is my Best of 2010: A dozen fun food finds in BC and Alberta.

Bon Appetit!

Cinnamon Rolls: Nancy's Bakery in Lund, Vancouver Island, BC

Afternoon Tea: The Urban Tea Merchant, West Vancouver, BC

Molecular Gastronomy: Apron, The Westin Wall Centre at Vancouver Airport, Richmond, BC

Cool Name, Cuisine & Atmosphere: Skinny Legs & Cowgirls, Edmonton, AB

Date Night: Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar, Vancouver, BC

Handmade Potato Chips: Blink Restaurant & Bar, Calgary, AB

To-Go Bags with Piggy Paper Clips: CHARCUT Roast House, Calgary, AB

Non-hip and Trendy Yaletown Resto: Hamilton Street Grill, Vancouver, BC

Fabulous Burger: crazyweed restaurant, Canmore, AB

Asian Eatery: Wild Tangerine, Edmonton, AB

Eloise at The Plaza's Canadian Outpost: Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, AB

Morning Wake-Up Call: Elm Coffee, Edmonton, AB

A sampling of desserts at Yaletown's Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar in Vancouver.
Photo by Sue Frause.