Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544721
the luxurious Fairmont Spa. Victoria's largest conference facility, the Victoria Conference Centre features 77,000 square feet of meeting space across 21 multipurpose rooms and can host up to 2,000 guests. With more than 35 years of operation, the venue has long been committed to sustainability, achieving carbon neu- tral designation in 2021, while focusing on energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction to support eco- friendly meetings and events. Beyond the meeting room, Victoria offers a range of excit- ing team-building and off-site experiences for groups. Take advantage of one of the mildest climates in Canada with a guided forest excursion with Rainforest Tours, exploring sce- nic trails in East Sooke Park or along the coastal Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. Groups can also head out on the water to spot iconic orca whales with carbon-neutral and ocean- friendly tour operators like Orca Spirit, Eagle Wing Tours, and Prince of Whales. For a locally immersive experience, visit FED Urban Farm, where guests can tour rooftop gar- dens and help harvest produce that supports the local com- munity. CAIRNS CONVENTION CENTRE LAUNCHES INNOVATE RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN 2026–2028 Cairns Convention Centre has launched its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2026–2028, marking a major commitment to embedding reconciliation across every part of the Centre's operations and the delegate expe- rience. Developed in consultation with Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji Elder Professor Henrietta Marrie, the Innovate RAP has been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. As a worldclass business events venue, the Centre exists to create lasting economic and social value for Cairns by attracting national and international conventions. The Centre's vision for reconciliation is an Australia where First Nations Peoples, cultures and histories are embraced as an essential part of every event experience, with respect, equal- ity and truth telling guiding how we connect, share ideas and create meaningful experiences. General Manager Janet Hamilton said the Centre is com- mitted to ensuring reconciliation is a lived and visible part of the organization, and a meaningful element of what dele- gates experience when they come to Cairns. "Cairns Convention Centre is proud to launch our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, which sets a clear path for embedding reconciliation into how we work, who we partner with and how we welcome the world," Ms. Hamilton said. "This plan strengthens our commitment to creating employment pathways for First Nations Peoples, growing procurement with First Nations owned businesses, and con- B M & T ••• May/June 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 6 IN THE NEWS SUSTAINABILITY MEETS WORLD- CLASS EVENTS IN VICTORIA, BC In downtown Victoria, Parkside Hotel & Spa is a climate- positive, Biosphere Certified, and carbon-neutral property offering six flexible event spaces, locally sourced catering, and expert planning services. Nearby, the Inn at Laurel Point, British Columbia's first carbon-neutral hotel, features more than 10,000 square feet of event space with sweeping 180° views of downtown, the Inner Harbour, and the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Set along the Pacific Ocean, Oak Bay Beach Hotel is an ele- gant boutique retreat blending old-world-charm with contem- porary style. One of the first hotels in British Columbia to achieve Biosphere Certification, the property also offers ocean- front event spaces including The Theatre, Seaside Gardens, and The Conservatory. With seasonal West Coast ingredient-driven menus, sweeping views of Mount Baker, and exclusive AV serv- ices through a partnership with Lumera Productions, the hotel provides a refined and intimate setting for meetings, retreats, and special events. Overlooking Victoria's Inner Harbour, the iconic The Fairmont Empress, known as Canada's "Castle on the Coast," has been the city's social centerpiece since 1908, hosting everything from royal visits to grand galas and large conven- tions. Today, the historic hotel pairs elegant, state-of-the-art meeting spaces with varied sustainability initiatives, including its Bee Sustainability Program, locally sourced cuisine, and the removal of single-use plastic amenities, all while offering easy access to downtown Victoria, nearby parks and beaches, and