Travel

By: Catherine Skrzypinski

When approaching Vancouver International Airport, a Chinese jetsetter gazes out the airplane window at the vast, blue-hued North Vancouver mountain range, the sparkling waters of English Bay, Strait of Georgia and the Pacific Ocean, and the futuristic architecture of Vancouver’s urban skyline. The province of British Columbia is rolling out the red carpet for China’s most affluent travellers.

According to Statistics Canada and Destination British Columbia Research, Planning and Evaluation, around 454,000 Chinese tourists visited Canada in 2014. In fact, Canada has welcomed more visitors from China than from any other country last year, surpassing the United Kingdom for the first time. Approximately 256,300 of these travellers entered Canada directly through British Columbia. The Canadian Tourism Commission reported B.C. is the preferred destination among Chinese pondering a Canadian vacation, slightly ahead of Ontario.

“British Columbia is one of the top tourism destinations in the world,” Naomi Yamamoto, minister of state for tourism and small business for British Columbia said in a news release. “Our tourism sector is an important economic driver and a key contributor to the prosperity of B.C. communities.”

Travel and tourism to B.C. has rebounded well since the global economic downturn of 2008, tourism leaders say. Chinese who travel for leisure to Canada has tripled since 2009, according to Destination British Columbia because of China’s economic growth, an expanding middle class, and lessening travel restrictions from the Mainland. An agreement between Canada and China in January 2014 has allowed 10-year multiple-entry visas to Chinese citizens to visit Canada for business, tourism or family purposes.

“This is welcome news given the challenging years our industry has faced,” Ian Robertson, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia, said in a statement. “The revitalization of B.C.’s destination brand will go a long way in reinforcing British Columbia as a world-class tourism destination.”

Luxury Adventures

The most popular activities for vacationing Chinese in British Columbia include sightseeing – which has increased 8 percent from 84 percent in 2009 to 92 percent in 2012 – and shopping, which remains at 84 percent as of 2012, Destination B.C. statistics indicate. The average Chinese tourist group spent CAD $2,555 – including accommodation, transportation, food, beverages, entertainment and recreation – during a visit to Canada in 2012.

While a majority of leisure travellers from China come to Canada to see family and friends, many are looking to spend some of their holidays outdoors. Outings to national or provincial parks have increased nearly 20 percent from 2009, Destination B.C. statistics stated. Many Chinese tourists express interest in viewing scenic beauty during their trip to B.C., as well as exploring nature and watching wildlife.

Destination British Columbia’s Manager of Market Development, Asia Monica Leeck told Caifu Magazine fully independent travel, or FIT, is the largest growing sector for a new generation of sophisticated and independent Chinese tourists. FITs are those who are over 35, earn an upper middle-class income, and prefer to travel in small groups, or as couples. They eschew mass tourism and holiday packages, and favor an individualistic approach to travel.

“British Columbia is perfectly situated geographically to attract luxury travellers from China,” Leeck explained. “B.C. is easily accessible by air from Asia, and its climate makes [the province] a year-round destination. The sky is the limit in B.C. for the Chinese visitor.”

Outdoor enthusiasts from China who want a glamorous alternative to camping can partake in “glamping.” No need to pitch a tent, unroll a sleeping bag or build a fire for s’mores – happy glampers can explore the great outdoors without sacrificing luxury in a tent, yurt or hut at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, an exclusive eco-safari located near Tofino on Vancouver Island. Luxury en suite tents with private showers and flush toilets are available from May-October, ranging from CAD $6,050-CAD $12,705, depending on the time of season and length of stay.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is accessible by a scenic 45-minute private seaplane transfer from Vancouver, or a 30-minute boat ride from Tofino. “[Clayoquot] is luxury in the middle of nowhere,” Leeck said.

Guided adventure activities at Clyoquot Wilderness Resort include hiking,  horseback riding, mountain biking, ocean and fresh water fishing, river and sea kayaking, rock climbing, surfing, tree platform climbing, and whale and bear watching, Those who want to pamper themselves at the Healing Grounds Spa can choose from body wraps, facials, massages and foot treatments. A Yoga fitness studio is also on the premises.

Other upscale resorts throughout B.C. focus on intimate experiences with nature, as the province’s coastal geography and proximity to the mountains offer dramatic contrasts, Leeck added. Those with means interested in delving more into Aboriginal culture can take a private helicopter tour offered by Klemtu, B.C.-based Spirit Bear Lodge on a five-day tour across the land of the Kitasoo/Xaix’ais First Nation people, flying over snow-capped peaks, majestic waterfalls and glacier-carved landscapes. They should also be on the lookout for the spirit bear – a rare sub-species of the black bear with white fur – indigenous to British Columbia’s rainforests. “Sightings of the spirit bear are rare, so it’s spiritual to see one,” Leeck added.

VIPs can charter helicopters to fly into the heart of glaciers in the Kootenay region of the B.C. Rocky Mountains. They can custom design their heli-hike into the Canadian wilderness to fit their lifestyle with Canadian Mountain Holidays. Those seeking to make a pilgrimage to B.C.’s renowned vineyards in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley can book a helicopter with Sparkling Hill Resort. Daytrippers can explore several Okanagan wineries, indulge in VIP wine tastings and relish a gourmet farm-to-table meal al fresco – either in a picturesque vineyard or in an alpine setting. Prices start at CAD $2,530 per helicopter, and seats four.

Other vacation activities, such as visiting historic and cultural attractions, exploring museums and/or art galleries, dining at B.C.’s West Coast fusion-style restaurants, or gambling at casinos are becoming increasingly popular among Chinese visitors.

As aficionados of seafood, the Chinese love coming to B.C. because of its “the bounty of the sea,” Leeck said. Swallow Tail Tours offers foodies a chance to catch their own Dungeness crab for lunch. A chef demonstrates how to prepare crab, and how to cook it West Coast style without boiling. Afterward, gourmands will savor their catch in a fine-dining setting – either in the sunshine on the beach, or in a supper club. A private tour for a minimum of two guests costs CAD $149 per person, including the meal.

One festival that has captured Chinese tourists’ attention is the Adams River Sockeye Salmon Run in Kamloops, which occurs every October. Once a year, several species of salmon make their way upstream in B.C.’s rivers and streams to produce offspring. In October 2015, salmon enthusiasts can see more than 100,000 sockeye return to spawn. “The Chinese enjoy this, as they like to view the whole circle of life – the salmon return to the place of their birth to spawn and die,” Leeck said.

Business Travel

China is also moving toward global dominance of the business travel market. A study by the Global Business Travel Association forecasts business travellers from China will surpass the United States by 2016 or 2017.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) President and CEO Craig Richmond said the airport is the key North American gateway to Asia. According to the Vancouver Airport Authority’s February 2015 Traffic Update, traffic to the Asia-Pacific region reached almost three million passengers in 2014, up 9.8 percent over 2013. Traffic to Mainland China is up 6.5 percent as of 2014, and aviation experts expect that will rise.

YVR has more than 70 weekly flights, and 48 direct flights to China– the most of any airport in North America. Airline carriers Air Canada, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Sichuan Airlines fly between YVR and several nonstop destinations in China – including Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong SAR, Shanghai and Shenyang. A three-time weekly direct service between YVR and Kumming Changshui International Airport – one of China’s most livable cities with a pleasant climate – will start in June 2015.

Business travellers can fly between Vancouver and Guangzhou – Mainland China’s third largest city – in luxury on China Southern Airlines’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner as of February 2014. Four passengers can experience a first-class journey in comfortable cocoon seats that can convert into a flat bed. They can enjoy entertainment throughout the flight on a built-in 17-inch TV screen. The cost of a round trip first-class ticket is around CAD $13,200.

“…[China Southern’s] service connects British Columbia’s people, products and businesses with important trade and travel opportunities in China’s most populous province, Guangdong,” YVR CEO Richmond said in a news release.

Whether a Chinese frequent flyer is further exploring what B.C. has to offer, or heading back home to China, Vancouver International Airport passengers – regardless of airline or fare class – can enjoy a five-star experience at four lounges throughout YVR before takeoff.

A single visit to the Plaza Premium Lounge, which opened in YVR’s domestic departures near Gate B15 in March 2015, starts at CAD $40 per person for two hours. This fee includes use of its comfortable lounge facilities stocked with news magazines and international newspapers, a business centre with computer workstations, a place to charge up electronic devices, large-screen televisions, and high-speed complimentary Wi-Fi. Three private luxury shower rooms are available with full amenities.

The dining area offers an array of healthy food and beverages, including hot breakfast, soups and salads, juice, espresso, lattes, coffees and teas, and Canada’s most famous dish – poutine with confit meat. Guests will find a bar stocked with beer, wine and cocktails open after 11 a.m. For a separate cost, guests can unwind or take a nap in a semi-private resting area outfitted with comfortable recliners.

“Vancouver is a very important market for us, and this new lounge is the next step in our plan to grow the Plaza Premium lounge brand throughout North America,” Song Hoi-see, Plaza Premium Lounge Management Ltd. founder and CEO, said in a news release. “For 10 years travellers through YVR have embraced the comfort and convenience of having a lounge option.”

A globetrotter in YVR can also enjoy this VIP experience in a lounge designed by Hong Kong interior designer Kinney Chan of Kinney Chan and Associates (KCA). The luxurious lounge, located in International Departures in Pier D, can accommodate up to 180 guests.

Lounge guests can dine on international cuisine, such as Hong Kong-style fish ball noodle soup. A VIP room is available to rent for business meetings. Access to the VIP room, which requires at least six guests, costs CAD $50 per person for two hours.

The hospitality industry in British Columbia is also eager to cater to the elite Chinese business traveller. Hilton Hotels and Resorts started a Huanying (the Chinese word for “welcome”) experience for Chinese guests worldwide. More than 30 Hilton properties in 13 countries have participated in the program since its inception in August 2011, including the Hilton Vancouver Airport and the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown.

When a Chinese guest arrives at a Hilton property, the staff greets him or her with a welcome note in simplified Chinese. They can request a Mandarin-speaking Hilton team member for interpretation services.

In their posh hotel room, Hilton guests will find in-room slippers to wear, a tea kettle to boil Jasmine tea, and they can tune into several Mandarin-language TV channels. Guests have the option to start their day with a traditional Chinese breakfast of dim sum, fried dough fritters, or crullers, hard-boiled eggs, green tea and soy milk.

Chinese guests are big fans of the Starwood hotel brand, which includes high-end accommodations like Aloft, Four Points, Le Meridien, the Sheraton, the St. Regis, W Hotels and the Westin. The Starwood Personalized Travel program also makes its guests feel at home with a welcome packet in Mandarin of sightseeing and shopping recommendations and room service menus, as well as a translation service onsite. In the morning, comfort foods such as fried rice, fried noodles and congee are available.

“B.C. strives to be destination for all travellers,” Leeck concluded. “Whether you want to have breakfast with the belugas [at the Vancouver Aquarium] or dinner at one of Richmond’s many popular Chinese restaurants, it’s all here. You are limited by your imagination.”

Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT)

One of the best-performing stocks in the hotel sector over the past year has been Hilton Worldwide Holdings, one of the largest hotel companies in the world with a market capitalization of nearly $30-billion (U.S.).  It franchises, manages, owns or leases more than 4,300 hotels, comprising more than 715,000 rooms in over 90 countries.  Its brands include the Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Hilton, DoubleTree and Hampton Inn.
The Blackstone Group took Hilton private in 2007, restructured the hotel company and brought in a new CEO, Christopher Nassetta, who created an expansion plan.  Blackstone, happy with the progress, listed the company once again on the New York Stock Exchange in December, 2013, after selling IPO shares at $20.  The stock has since climbed more than 50%, has outperformed the S&P 500, and analysts rate Hilton as an outperformer.  Wes Golladay of RBC Capital Markets recently initiated coverage of Hilton, rating it an outperformer with a price target of $34.  Mr. Golladay echoes the sentiment of Deutsche Bank, Jefferies & Co., J.P. Morgan and Barclays Capital, all of which rate the stock as either a buy or a strong buy.

Blackstone remains Hilton’s largest shareholder, but it sold 207 million shares in 2014 and decreased its controlling interest to about 55%, with most analysts predicting Blackstone will continue unloading its position.

Analysts also anticipate Hilton will begin paying a dividend in the second half of 2015, which will attract new investors. RBC Capital’s Mr. Golladay predicts a quarterly dividend of 7.5 cents commencing in the third quarter of 2015, which works out to a yield of 1% based on current levels.

Hilton generates most of its revenue from the U.S., though it has singled out China as its primary source of expansion.  About 60% of Hilton’s pipeline developments are outside the U.S., with the Asia Pacific region accounting for more than half of the company’s hotels currently under construction.  Hilton also plans to introduce its Hampton Inn chain to China, with expectations of opening the first Hampton Inn by the end of 2015, and 400 in the long term.  Hilton has partnered with Plateno Hotels, one of the most recognized names in China with more than 3,000 hotels in 300 cities, to develop the Hampton Inn project.

Investors have expressed concern recently that expanding in China is not so easy, with longer development lead times and delayed project starts cited as the main obstacles, but Hilton’s partnership with Plateno helps the U.S. company better navigate Asia and nearly 70% of its developments in China are already under construction.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (HOT)

Starwood, another large and well-established hotel company, either franchises, manages,

owns or leases 1,222 hotels, comprising 354,225 rooms in 100 countries. The stock has not performed as well as Hilton over the past year, but it has an upward trend and has risen each year over the past three years.  Starwood’s brands include Sheraton, St. Regis, Westin and Le Meridien.

The company currently generates about 54% of its revenue from international markets, with a goal of 80% by 2016.  Starwood is very exposed to the Chinese market, which currently generates about 15% of revenue, a percentage that will increase substantially over the next two years.

About one-third of Starwood’s pipeline is in China, though the company has had some trouble securing financing for a handful of projects in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.  The Chinese government has expressed a desire to slow a hot real estate market in smaller cities, which leads to longer wait times to begin development.  In the company’s third quarter conference call, Starwood management suggested many projects in China could take five or six years to complete compared with expectations of two or three years.  Starwood’s plan to increase exposure in China should provide good returns in the long run, but slower economic growth and longer lead-times for development could translate into lower relative growth for Starwood in the short term.

Mr. Golladay, the analyst from RBC Capital Markets, initiated coverage on Starwood last March with a sector perform rating and a price target of $84, while Deutsche Bank has set a higher target of $87.  In general, analysts are cooler on Starwood than Hilton, with firms such as MKM Partners and UBS Securities having recently downgraded their buys to neutral coverage.

Concerns about company include the ongoing search for a new CEO, following the departure of Frits van Paasschen, who resigned in February, 2015.  Adam Aron is the interim CEO until Starwood finds a permanent replacement.

Marriott International Inc. (MAR)

Marriott, another hotel stock that is outperforming the S&P 500, currently franchises, manages, owns or leases 4,175 properties, comprising 714,765 rooms in 80 countries.  Its brands include the Ritz Carlton, Marriott and Bulgari.

Nearly 80% of Marriott’s revenue is from operations in the U.S., but the company is beefing up its presence internationally with a focus on Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.  It has a pipeline of about 150 hotels comprising 40,000 rooms in China, which it forecasts will be built by 2017, increasing its current exposure in the region by 86%.

Executives at Marriott have expressed worry that the Chinese market has a limited supply of experienced managers, and as a result the hotel company expects to manage most of its rooms in China on its own.

A notable difference between hotels in the U.S. and in China is the amount of food and beverage sales from the hotels.  In Asia Pacific, Marriott generated 23% of its total revenue from food and beverages in 2014, twice the amount by percentage in North America.  A key reason behind this is that many Chinese host weddings and special events at high-end luxury hotels.

Marriott also expanded its presence in Canada, having recently completed its $134-million acquisition of Delta Hotels and Resorts.  The company is the largest full-service hotel in Canada, with more than 120 hotels and 27,000 rooms.

Marriott trades at a premium to other hotel companies, but it is warranted because the company has higher earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) growth.  Mr. Golladay of RBC Capital Markets initiated coverage of Marriott International in March, 2015, with an outperform rating and a price target of $94.  JP Morgan and Barclays both have an overweight rating on the stock.

Tourism explores new places. This is about the places of law and the ideas that made them.  Content tourism.  A new friend visiting Vancouver recently asked a simple question: why are some street signs in English and Coast Salish or Pinyin, or why are some signs not in English at all. We started thinking of the ideas which shape our cities and which then shape us. Things may look familiar in a digital world but the history tells a story.

Thinking about business and life in Canada we turned to a brief tour of western ideas of law.  When we look at digital photos of travel memories we see an invisible matrix of laws in a global marketplace:  international agreements; airline safety standards; customs regulations; personal safety codes; building and health standards; public-securities exchanges and monetary exchanges, and the tourist experience from hotels to shopping to golfing, to signage.
We thought about how even signage bylaws are not simple, and why.  Next month, June, 2015, is the 800th anniversary of the signing of a document known as the Great Charter, the Magna Carta.  A charter describes basic legal authority; the Magna Carta identified roles of the citizen, legislatures and courts.  Those men had noted that people will never agree on everything but an important start is having documents to review and upgrade. Apparently the Magna Carta only lasted a few months before someone wanted to change it.  So they started the ongoing process of solving infinite problems to bring together diverse cultures and interests. The Magna Carta itself was informed by streams of law from Anglo-Saxon, Celtic and Danish traditions, and French influences from the rediscovered Roman Emperor Justinian’s laws from a thousand years earlier. Those classical traditions later informed the American Constitution and the growth of western markets.  Our systems of contracts, regulations and business associations all emerged from these converging ideas.

These principles and practices would become the rule-of-law.  A young master of digital games understood when he compared it to the “realm” of law.  So our laws in Canada are those of the rule-of-law which is a bundle of ideas and rights about how things ought to be, and the realm of systems to get things done by learning, administering, judging and enforcing.  Then the interpreting, reviewing and updating continues.

An example is the principle that no-one is above the law.  This is one idea from the Magna Carta yet the idea is bigger than that.  It is based on respect for differences among status and beliefs, cultures and traditions, for laws which apply to all who are citizens or visitors. This framework of respect for complex interests includes ideas of fairness in equity and ideas of efficiency of commerce.  These are constantly changing as technology shapes us and our global marketplace.  It does not always work in practice, but is a work-in-progress.

So those street signs today are just stakes in the ground of one point in time in the Pacific Northwest.  Our laws are influenced by rights of the individual such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the U.S., but a hundred years later the founders of Canada highlighted rights of the community in our Constitution for peace, order and good government.  When we look at street signs we see an authority defined by that national Constitution and Charter, provincial legislation, municipal bylaws and local business associations.

Our laws now carefully define words for everything from contracts to conflicts-of-interests and consultation.  It has become a separate discipline of men and women who remember that the purpose is to help people get along with each other, and for their children. We are still learning from emerging global markets, and from First Nations legal traditions in the Americas stretching back thousands of years.  Everything matters over the long term;  we value lessons from China and around the world.  Huo dao lao, xue dao lao.

By: Sara Donelly



Descending into Vancouver on a clear day, travellers are greeted by a stunning jewel of a city. Surrounded by majestic snow capped mountains, the sparkling Pacific Ocean and bracing clean air, it's a stunning tableau. The next place visitors will encounter is the Vancouver International airport (YVR). As the first and often only impression many will have of the city and province, YVR has endeavoured to represent the unique culture of British Columbia, and provide its guests with the softest landing possible.

As Canada's second busiest airport, (after Toronto's Pearson) YVR welcomed 19.4 million passengers in 2014. Fifty three airlines serve YVR with 110 nonstop destinations worldwide. In the past few years, the airport has undertaken an aggressive improvement and expansion program with the goal of serving 25 million passengers by 2020 and becoming the preferred airport hub between Asia and the Americas.

In 2011 the airport enacted a program aiming to encourage airlines to start more flights between Vancouver and Asia, and has seen tremendous growth from it's Asia-Pacific market thanks to increased air services, terminal improvements and ambitious initiatives.

In 2014 it significantly increased it's presence in Asia through the expansion of it's Hong Kong office, and the arrival of Dreamliner aircraft from Japan Airlines, China Southern and Air Canada.

Asia-Pacific is one of the strongest markets in the world, and YVR has been working to attract more routes between Vancouver and Asia. Currently YVR has the most connections to Asia in all of Canada and the second most in North America with 13 airlines servicing this market.

Traffic between YVR and the Asia-Pacific region reached almost three million passengers in 2014, up 9.8 percent over 2013, with traffic to Mainland China up 6.7 percent.

YVR has strong linkages to China in particular with more than 70 flights per week during the summer and 59 flights per week the rest of the year. In total, 13 airlines fly to the Asia-Pacific region from YVR, with eight carriers flying to the Greater China Region, including Taiwan and Hong Kong. YVR is the only airport in North America with service from four mainland China carriers.

China Eastern Airlines recently announced a new service between Vancouver and Kunming, China. Vancouver is the first North American destination to be linked to Kunming. This service links YVR to the next phase of China's growth beyond the major cities. The Kunming-Shanghai-YVR service will bring in passengers from neighbouring provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan, expanding YVR's reach deep into southwest China. This service is recognition of YVR's importance as a gateway hub.

It also recently signed an agreement with Shanghai Pudong International Airport to collaborate on improving the perishable goods supply chain between Vancouver and Shanghai. This will expand cargo service which last year saw 250,000 tonnes of cargo moved through YVR.

Another project the airport is currently expanding is the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program. This program allows passengers aboard international flights to connect through YVR en route to another international destination without a Canadian visa. China Eastern Airlines recently obtained approval to be part of the TWOV program. They expect to be operational with this program in the near future.

YVR was named the number one airport in North America for the sixth consecutive year by the Skytrax World Airport Awards- a first in the history of the awards. The award is voted on by 13 million passengers, totally unsolicited and based on a wide variety of factors including customer care, airport efficiency, shopping, dining and more. YVR also received a 91% customer satisfaction rating from customers in 2014.

The airport offers language support, both in person from customer care staff and volunteers, as well as signage which is in English, French and Chinese. Arriving passengers who are transferring to another flight will notice how easy it is to do so at YVR. The airport has been working to make the connections of passengers and their bags as seamless and efficient as possible. A recent example can be seen with the A-B Connector, the new addition to the Domestic Terminal. This expansion means that a passenger could arrive from Beijing and connect to a domestic gate en route to Prince George, Calgary or Toronto in less than an hour.

For many visitors, YVR is the first and last impression of British Columbia. This airport  reflects the province’s diverse landscape and people. The art and architecture celebrate the natural beauty and the cultural heritage of BC while recalling the memories of significant local community icons and experiences. YVR also houses the largest privately owned curated collection of public displayed Northwest Coast Native art in the world.

With more than 170 shops, services and restaurants, ranging from the comforts of four Plaza Premium Lounges to duty free shopping, Airport Butler services, and free Wi-Fi throughout the airport visitors are well taken care of. Other technological advances at YVR have helped the overall design of airports around the world to ensure efficiency in operations.

A recent example is the BorderXpress Automated Passport Control kiosks which helps speed up the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) process by up to 50%. Developed at YVR, they are currently being used in 20 airports across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean and have helped millions of passengers through the US and Canadian border processes.

Transiting through YVR has also been made easy with The China Transit Program (CTP). This program allows foreign nationals from China to arrive in Canada en route to the US, without needing a visa. CTP applies to passengers leaving from Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila and Taipei on the following airlines Air Canada, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, Philippine Airlines, WestJet, Jazz Air, Sky Regional Airlines Inc. and Air Canada Rouge.

YVR prides itself on providing an accessible airport for everyone. There are 24-hour Customer Care employees and Green Coat volunteers to help travellers with any questions or assistance they may require. Many of the Green Coat volunteers speak another language, with over 30 languages being represented between the 500 volunteers. Travellers also have access to a Language Line service that provides translations into 170 Languages. All of the signage and maps are in English, French and Chinese. And just recently, YVR joined Weibo, and responds to inquiries on that channel.

The latest project of the Vancouver Airport Authority is a partnership with Europe’s leading owner, developer and manager of designer outlets, McArthurGlen Group. A luxury designer outlet centre near YVR is slated to open later this spring. Located just a few minutes from the terminal, this shopping destination will create 1,000 new jobs once all phases are open; there will be 600 jobs created this year and 400 more once phase two is complete.

It will be McArthurGlen’s first designer outlet in North America, and the centre is expected to draw customers from in and around Vancouver as well as visitors to the region. It also is adjacent to the Canada Line's Templeton station, making it just three minutes from YVR and 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver on the rapid-transit line.

As a signature feature of McArthurGlen Designer Outlets in Europe, The McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport is designed as an open-air village with two luxury piazzas and pedestrian-friendly walkways and tree-lined streets.

The centre is being developed in two phases: the first phase will offer 240,000 sq ft of retail space, including many sought-after North American and European luxury, designer and lifestyle brands, as well as restaurants and cafes, with an additional 135,000 sq ft once the second phase is complete.