A lovely night with Tourism Victoria (@VictoriaVisitor) at the Fairmont Pacific Rim

It’s funny how some people who read my blog don’t realize that I travel a lot (mostly because I am an academic and have papers to deliver and presentations to give). At the same time, I have done several media trips to showcase beautiful British Columbia (in particular, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Island – read my Salt Spring Island, Sidney by the Sea, Qualicum Beach and Parksville posts for a taster – though I have also written about my travels to Toronto and Calgary). But lucky for me, some of the tourism associations in Western Canada DO know I have written about my travels and showcased our fair province.

Thus I was absolutely when Tourism Victoria invited me to a media event this past Thursday (and even more thrilled when I won a door prize!). I love the Fairmont Pacific Rim, and it’s SO close to my office at The Network Hub, I can always walk easily to the Fairmont Pacific Rim to their Skybar for a drink. Moreover, my good friend Shawn Soole (from Clive’s Classic) was mixing the cocktails, so it was absolutely a delight. And I got to see several good friends and make new ones. It was a lot of fun.

It was also a great opportunity to network with other travel writers, and get some tips from them. In particular, I found Julie Ovenell-Carter‘s thoughts incredibly enlightening.

And it was a pleasure to meet Holly Lenk from Tourism Victoria in person! Thanks again for the invite and for the door prize!

I look forward to my upcoming visit to Victoria!