UBC Reports | Vol. 48 | No. 8 | June
6, 2002
Welcome to the UBC Hotel
Travel bargains for those in the know.
By Brian Lin
It is one of the best-kept travel secrets in British Columbia.
While the general public may not always be aware, thousands of
travelling academics and savvy tourists know that every summer UBC
Conferences and Accommodation transforms three on-campus residences
-- Gage Towers, Place Vanier and Totem Park -- into comfortable
rooms.
Dubbed Vancouver's affordable and most accommodating alternative,
Conferences and Accom-modation handles an average of 30 conferences
and 300 camps from May to August and stays competitive in the hotel
industry by offering the beauty of UBC's campus and great value.
Rates range from $22 for a hostel bed to $129 for the fully equipped
West Coast Suites.
"Our biggest advantage over downtown accommodation is the
large number of rooms available to groups. We can handle up to 3,000
delegates at a time," says General Manager Allan de Jong. "The
proximity of rooms to the meeting space is also a big draw for conference
organizers. We offer a one-stop service which includes professional
meeting planning and registration services."
While many clients are members of the university community -- visiting
scholars, ESL students and sports teams -- tourists and business
travellers who prefer to stay away from the hustle and bustle of
downtown Vancouver can stay at one of 47 West Coast Suites, which
are open year-round and equipped with a kitchenette and ensuite
washroom.
To meet the enormous challenge of turning dorm rooms into visitor
accommodation, the Dept. of Housing and Conferences hires approximately
100 housekeepers a year, many are UBC students; dozens of others
are hired to help organize conferences and receive guests.
The operation has consistently been a revenue generator for the
university, totalling approximately $6 million in gross revenue
per year. The profits go into building new residences, refurbishing
existing ones and keeping the rent of student residences low.
more information
For more information and bookings, visit www.ubcconferences.ca
or call 604-822-1060.
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