Travel & Lodging

UVIC- IBS Rate

Arriving by Air
Air Canada Discount
Arriving by Ferry
Ground Transportation
Visa and Passport Information
International Travel Visa Requirements
Traveler Program Cards
Buses and Transit
Lodging
University of Victoria Housing Option

Important Travel Note:

Save your passengers trouble: know the new Canadian rules!

Starting 15 March, 2016, citizens from countries other than the United States who do not need a visa to enter Canada will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before flying to or transiting through Canada.

The eTA process is similar to that of the United States ESTA: travellers apply individually online. They must pay CAD$7 by Visa, Mastercard or American Express, and their eTA is valid for 5 years. Travel agents can apply for their clients, but they cannot charge a fee for this service.

For more information about this new requirement, visit the eTA page for videos and fact sheets in multiple languages.

Arriving by Air

Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is the 9th busiest in Canada and serves 1.5 million passengers per year. Victoria is well served with more than 120 daily flights throughout North America including non-stop service from Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, San Francisco and Seattle. For more information on the airport, please visit VictoriaAirport.com.

Downtown Victoria is also serviced by local and regional flights — Harbour Air Seaplanes, Helijet International and Kenmore Air Seaplanes — which serve both Vancouver and Seattle. For more information on these, please visit Harbour-Air.com, Helijet.com and KenmoreAir.com.

Air Canada Discount

Special Airline Offer

Air Canada, is the official airline for the 2016 International Biometric Conference, which will be held Sunday, July 10, 2016 to Friday, July 15, 2016. Air Canada will offer a 10% discount to those traveling to Victoria for the IBC.

To book a flight, using the promotion code, access aircanada.com and enter your promotion code in the search panel.

To qualify for the special fares, a minimum of 10 delegates is required traveling from various origins to Victoria, BC within Air Canada’s extensive North American and international network.

Promotion Code

Your promotion code is: F3FJPCA1

This promotion code can be used for 80 passengers on aircanada.com.

Applicable Rules

The booking is to be made to the following city: Victoria, YYJ (BC)

The travel period begins Sunday, July 03, 2016 and ends Friday, July 22, 2016.

No discount will apply to Tango and Executive Class lowest bookings for travel within Canada or between Canada and the U.S. However, all bookings made using the promotion code will count toward the minimum 10 passenger requirement for Meetings and Conventions events.

Arriving by Ferry

Ferry service efficiently connects Victoria on Vancouver Island to its Canadian and U.S. neighbours. Frequent daily service by BC ferries between Vancouver (via Tsawwassen), and Victoria brings cars and passengers to its terminal at Swartz Bay, approximately 32 km north of Victoria. The Coho (Black Ball Ferry Line) links Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, and the Clipper’s passenger-only service connects our city to Seattle, WA. For more information on these services, please visit: BCFerries.com, ClipperVacations.com and CohoFerry.com.

Ground Transportation

Travel from Victoria International Airport to the VCC, by your choice of airport shuttle, taxi cab or rental car takes approximately 30 minutes. Transportation from the airport to downtown is also served by public transit, through the Victoria Regional Transit System. A single fare is $2.50 and only EXACT change is accepted. Transit tickets are available at grocery and convenience stores. Pacific Coach Lines offers daily scheduled bus transportation service between downtown Vancouver, YVR (Vancouver International Airport) and downtown Victoria. The highlight of this scenic transfer is a 95 minute ferry ride through the Gulf Islands on BC Ferries.

Visa and Passport Information

If you are travelling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda, you must present a valid passport.

If you are travelling by land or sea (including cruises and ferries) between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda, and you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen age 19 and older, you must present a passport or other approved secure document denoting citizenship and identity for all land and sea travel into the United States (effective June 1, 2009).

Enhanced Driver’s Licences (EDLs) have been formally identified as acceptable documentation requirements for land and sea crossings. If you are a U.S. citizen and a Washington State resident, you are eligible to purchase an EDL, which will meet the requirements for proof of citizenship to re-enter the U.S. from Canada and Mexico by land or sea. Further information for Washington residents is available at the Department of Licensing website.

International Travel Visa Requirements

To find out if you need a visa to enter Canada, please click here. For more information on applying for a visa to enter Canada, please click here.

Traveler Program Cards

Trusted traveler program cards will continue to be accepted for cross-border travel.
For more information on NEXUS: U.S. residents click here.

If you are a U.S. citizen looking for information on passports, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

For more information, please visit:
US Customs and Border Protection
Canada Border Services Agency
Passport Canada

Buses and Transit

The Victoria Regional Transit System runs seven days a week serving the region, including all ferry terminals (Sidney, Swartz Bay, Brentwood Bay, Ogden Point and downtown, as well as the Victoria International Airport. If you need to use more than one bus to complete your trip and are using cash or tickets as fare payment, you will need a transfer to board the connecting bus. Be sure to request the correct transfer as you board the bus. Transfers are valid for one-way travel only (you cannot use it on your return trip). Stop-overs are not permitted, and transfers must be used on the first connecting bus. Transit tickets are available at grocery and convenience stores. A DayPASS allows you to bring four children, 12 years and under on board for free with a fare paying parent or guardian who are 19 years or over. For information on schedules and fares, please visit: http://bctransit.com/victoria/home.

Directions from the University of Victoria to the Victoria Convention Centre

Public Transportation: Victoria Regional Transit System – Bus
Walk to Southbound Ring at West Campus (#100991), Head west toward Ring Rd. Turn left onto Ring Rd. Destination will be on the right.

Southbound Ring at West Campus (#100991), #15Bus towards 15X Esquimalt Express via Fort/Yates.

Arrival Stop Name: Westbound Yates at Broad (#100048).

Walk to 721 Government Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5, Canada.

Head west on Yates St toward Broad Street.

Turn left onto Government Street, Turn left, Destination will be on the right.

Fares – All fares are exact cash only. No change will be given.
Adult Fare: $2.50 / 10 TICKETS: $22.50 / DAYPASS: $5.00

Lodging

Currently the IBS discounted room block at the Empress is SOLD OUT. Please check with the hotel directly to see if there is a cancellation. Otherwise, click here for other lodging alternatives.

The Fairmont Empress graces Victoria’s sparkling Inner Harbour and is steps away from the Victoria Conference Centre. There are 464 guest rooms and suites at the Empress. Reservations phone: 1-800-441-1414 Online: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/ibc2016. When booking by phone, please quote block code “IBC2016” to access group rate.

Lodging Options in the Vicinity of the VCC

University of Victoria Housing Available

Dormitory-style housing has been arranged at very reasonable rates at the University of Victoria. The 2016 rates for the participants of the upcoming IBC (10-15 July) are as follows:

• Single Dorm $66.05 per night including taxes and breakfast
• Twin Dorm (two beds in one room) $88.39 per night including taxes and breakfast

To secure a room at these rates, email: bookings@uvic.ca or click here for more details about UVic accommodations.

When emailing UVic for booking rooms include your name, address, email, and the conference name so you can be matched to the proper booking. Book your room as soon as possible to ensure a room at these rates!

Buses from UVic to Conference Centre

The bus from UVic to the Victoria Convention Centre takes 20-30 minutes depending on the route and time of day. From the UVic bus loop people can take bus number 4, 7, 11, 14, or 15 (express), so they leave very frequently. The bus fare is $2.50 one way and one must have exact change. A book of 10 tickets can be bought, which is a little cheaper ($22.50) are are available at numerous locations (grocery stores, convenience stores, etc.).

UVic is a short walk to a lovely beach where there is a small village with grocery store, pub, and a couple of restaurants right near the beach.