REUTERS/David Gray

Around this time last February, our city was crawling with athletes, media and tourists from all across the world. A massive countdown clock in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery was making its final countdown after 8 long years of talks, excitement, media hype and a fair share of controversy.

Flickr: Brandon Godfrey

I think most of us didn’t really know what to expect with arrival of the 2010 Winter Olympics in our city. Would it be a success? Would things go smoothly? Would it be worth the troubles? – we’re all questions on the minds of locals and tourists alike.

In my opinion, the 2 week run was the best thing to ever happen to Vancouver. It brought a unity to the city (and country) like we’d never seen before. It showcased our land and welcomed strangers into our homes with open arms. History was made on the podium and off it…And who could we forget the party houses and pandemonium on Granville Street *tear*

Being around the Pan Pacific Vancouver was a huge perk during the Games. Located next door to the Olympic cauldron (which will be re-lit on February 12) and home to the entire media crew of NBC, the Hotel was in the center of the action and full of energy. I got to see first hand some of the exciting events that took place around the Hotel and in our backyard, Downtown Vancouver.

Here are a few of my favorite memories and photos from the Olympic games. If you had any special moments you want to share, be sure to include them in the comments!

Memories from 2010

Things got kicked off at the opening ceremony in BC Place Stadium. Vancouver was officially in the world spotlight.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Jon Montgomery of Canada celebrates after he won the gold medal in the men’s skeleton on day 8 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at the Whistler Sliding Centre on February 19, 2010.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The pressure was high on which Canadian would win the first Gold medal ever on Canadian soil. In the end, Alex Bilodeau didn’t dissapoint with his spectacular win in the Men’s Freestyle Moguls. This photo was taken only a few days after at the Pan Pacific Vancouver, where Alex finally got a chance to spend some time with his family.

The streets of Vancouver turned into a sea of red during the Games…especially after a Gold medal victory from Canada

The moment we all waited for. Sidney Crosby celebrates with teammate Scott Niedermayer after defeating the US in the Men’s final. The defining moment of the 2010 Games and the greatest goal in Canadian hockey history.

YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images

While the Hotel Georgia was under construction, it raised a 15 story Canadian Flag which became an instant landmark during the Games.

Brandon Godfrey

The perfect ending!

REUTERS/Chris Helgren

As I got a chance to surf their uber-cool website and blog, I discovered their organization provides informative, up-to-date information on all things that are going on in the city and are able to help tourists and locals plan events and activities.

Tourism Vancouver can help you in planning: where to stay, where to eat, where to go and what to do.

Photo: alykat

During the Games

While all eyes were on Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Tourism Vancouver launched a number of important initiatives to make sure that visitors maximized their time and knew where they were going.

Here are the stats for the month of Feb 2010:

• Tourism Vancouver’s Visitor Services team assisted over 173,000 visitor parties throughout the month. This includes those serviced at the eight Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre satellite kiosks around the city, and through the organization’s Volunteer City Hosts who roamed heavily-trafficked tourist areas. The Burrard Street Visitor Centre saw a 350% increase in the number of visitor parties that were assisted compared to the same period in 2009, helping a total of over 10,000 parties.
• Tourism Vancouver had 280 people volunteer to help visitors, including 158 people who worked as City Hosts during the 17-day Games period. The group contributed a combined total of 9,353 volunteer hours.
• Over 90,000 of Tourism Vancouver’s Official Visitors’ Guides were distributed during the Olympic Winter Games, along with 163,000 printed maps.
• Tickets Tonight, Tourism Vancouver’s community box office grossed more than $1.3 million in ticket sales, compared with gross sales of $470,000 in February 2009. Additionally, more than 10,000 Olympic tickets were picked up from Tickets Tonight’s box office in the Burrard Visitor Centre.
• The organization’s website, tourismvancouver.com, saw 307,000 visitors during the 17 days of the Games, generating 1.2 million page views. The site’s interactive map was viewed 40,000 times, while the printable map was downloaded 15,000 times. In addition, Tourism Vancouver’s “Inside Vancouver” blog (insidevancouver.ca) saw an additional 58,000 visits as the site’s bloggers posted 80 new stories during the Games.
• Tourism Vancouver’s Media Relations team made the most of their positions within both the Main Press Centre at the Vancouver Convention Centre and the BC International Media Centre at Robson Square, personally working with 900 media parties during the Games period. The team assisted visiting journalists with story ideas, interview coordination, access to images and footage, and local information.
• myCITYsmart, the mobile application developed for Tourism Vancouver through a partnership with SatSports Ltd and smartphone manufacturer HTC, was downloaded more than 44,000 times. The app is the world’s first completely interactive tourist and sporting event mobile application.

The Ripple Effect

In addition to Tourism Vancouver’s own statistics, downtown Vancouver experienced a hotel occupancy rate that exceeded 90% during the 17 days of the Olympic Winter Games. In comparison, the overall rate for February 2009 was 65%.

Tourism Vancouver chair, Rick Baxter said:

“The initiatives put in place by Tourism Vancouver and the city’s tourism industry both served Vancouver well in the short term and also sets the stage for longer term tourism growth. Making sure that our Olympic visitors received the information and service they needed to enjoy their time in the city is an important step in turning them into repeat visitors.”

Geoffrey Howes, director of Operations for Toseki Entertainment, owner of Aqua Riva and The Salmon House restaurants, agreed with the sentiment:

“It’s great to see the successes specific to Tourism Vancouver – they were certainly reflected in the strong business that many downtown retail and restaurants saw during the Olympic Winter Games.”

Tourism Vancouver’s focus is on building exceptional customer relationships with meeting planners, travel influencers, travel media and independent tourists. The organization’s brand essence is about “exceeding expectations.”

Photo: spatial mongrel

Here are 10 great reasons to visit Vancouver and stay at the Pan Pacific this spring:

#1 – The 2010 Paralympic Games, March 12 – 21

Watch some of the most inspiring and gifted athletes in the world compete at the highest level of competition. Event tickets are also less expensive and more available than last month’s Olympic tickets

#2 – Get your photo taken in front of the Olympic cauldron – located steps from the Pan

Take a walk along the harbourside and check out the cauldron, it’s only here for a short time!

#3 – Play at Robson Square celebration site and take a free zip trek – open March 12-21

Experience the thrill and exhilaration of ziplining 170 meters over Robson Street! Once your done, head downstairs for a skate at the icerink.

#4 – Have fun at LiveCity Vancouver – open March 12-21, Granville St, Yaletown, Gastown, Downtown – you STILL gotta be here!

Watch exciting Paralympic competition on the big screen, and then join the nightly stage entertainment to keep the celebration alive throughout the Games.  There are also several other free city hosted events to enjoy.

#5 – Take in the views and activities at Grouse Mountain, home of the Today Show during the Olympics

Beautiful Grouse Mountain will be open during the Paralympic Games and will offer a number of snow sports and alpine recreational activities to all visitors.  Grouse was also the home of the Today Show which aired live everyday throughout the Olympic Games.

#6 – Visit Canada’s Northern House, open until March 31 – located 2 blocks from hotel

Experience the warmth, welcome and wonder of Canada’s North! Come to meet northern performers and artists, buy handmade crafts, and watch demonstrations of traditional Arctic games throughout the 2010 Olympic Games. Definitely one of the more popular pavilions during the Olympic Games.

#7 – Drive or bus it to Whistler – the road is open! Stay at the Pan Pacific Whistler.

#8 – Bask in the after-glow with Vancouverites – we still want to party with the visitors!

There are still tons of tourists in the city and lots to do. Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the Pan Pacific is in the thick of the action.

#9 – No traffic jams, road closures, 9 hour pavilion line ups, crowded sky trains, wall-to-wall people, 3 hour restaurant wait lists…

Enjoy the buzz without the wait.

#10 – Stay at the luxurious Pan Pacific this spring and save hundreds of dollars!

Missed the Olympics because you couldn’t get a room? The Pan Pacific Vancouver is offering three nights for the price of two for the months of March and April, resulting in savings of more than 30% from our best available rate!

Check out the rooms and book now.

Any events/sights we missed for March? Share your ideas in the comments!

NBC was the exclusive provider of Olympic coverage to the United States and required its entire team on hand.

Included were TV personalities: Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Al Roker, Natalie Morales and many more. The team could be seen coming and going between the hotel and the Vancouver Convention Center (the site of their studios throughout the Games).

While the NBC crew was frantically working around the clock, they had little time for leisure. However, on the last day of broadcasting, Bob Costas – NBC’s lead sportscaster had a chance to sneak away to spend some time with our staff before his departure home to the United States.

Bob was a gracious and thankful guest. He took photos, answered questions and offered his thanks to the city of Vancouver and the Pan Pacific as well:

The people of this city truly stood out to all us at NBC who had the chance to stay here for an extended period of time. Never have we seen such kind and respectful people who loved their country and wanted to share it with the rest of the visitors in town[...] even the people who recognized us in the city were very respectful and polite, so it was a real pleasure to be guests in your city.

And on the Pan Pacific:

The hotel really did an outstanding job of meeting our every need. We had our whole NBC staff on hand so there were several last minute changes and requests that were all met and exceeded by your people. Out of all the places we’ve stayed in the past, there was not one complaint about this hotel. We really enjoyed the experience and we’ll never forget how we were treated.

Dick Ebersol – Chairman of NBC Sports and Olympics

Also on hand was NBC Executive, Dick Ebersol. Mr Ebersol stayed at the Pan Pacific for 6 weeks, and personally wrote these kind words of gratitude to Pan Pacific General Manager, Tim Tindle.

As we all wind down an extraordinarily successful Olympics Games, please accept my personal thanks and appreciation on the hotel’s invaluable contribution to NBC’s experience in Vancouver.

Each and every Pan Pacific Associate has been efficient, courteous and friendly… yet never intrusive. Their timely, gracious and consistent service created the perfect environment for our hardworking production team, and allowed us to perform at the top of our game. For that, I am personally grateful.

We will miss it here and look forward to returning soon.

Check out the full letter here:

Over the 3 week span they were at the hotel, the Pan Pacific and NBC developed a very close relationship; with the Today Show even deciding to do a live segment with the hotel’s executive chef, Daryle Nagata.

In the end, it was a pleasure to welcome NBC into our hotel and city and we look forward to seeing them again in the future!

Photo: Matt Solcum

Our Games have seen everything from gold medals and world records to stories of inspiration and passion. Our city was home to numerous social activities and events for the public to experience and enjoy. Vancouver answered the call by hosting an international event while leaving its fans, viewers and guests with a show to remember.

But despite all the success, the Games came with its share of scrutiny.  Just before the opening ceremonies began, news of the death of Georgian luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili emerged; immediately making headlines and threatening to cast a shadow on the evening’s opening ceremonies. 

The opening ceremony also had its own hurdles with a “technology glitch” and protesters crowding the streets outside.  The weather wouldn’t cooperate and everyone wondered if Canada would even win a single gold medal after a slow start.  The questions continued to mount and so did the pressure.

In the end, Canada proved all the naysayers wrong.

All of the events went off smoothly and in my opinion, Canada hosted one of the most spectacular Winter Olympics in recent memory. Not only did the Canadians set a record for the most gold medal victories in the history of the Winter Olympics (14) but it did so in true Canadian fashion: With honour and integrity.

More Than Just a Game

It began with the humble gold victory of Canadian mogul skier, Alex Bilodeau.  Alex completed a final run to eclipse Dale Smith from Australia and to receive the country’s first gold medal ever won on Canadian soil. 

It wasn’t just the victory and his ‘perfect run’, but rather his inspiration to compete: his older brother Frederic who suffers from cerebral palsy. The world watched as an emotional Alex sang the national anthem and honoured his brother for his victory.

Photo: Getty Images

Or take Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette.   Joannie battled her way to a bronze medal after her mother died from a sudden heart attack less than 48 hours prior to her performance. 

Joannie said “I want to live my Olympic experience to the fullest and to represent Canada proudly.  That is what my mom would have wanted”

It is stories like this made this year’s Olympic Games special.

A Party to Remember

Perhaps just as big as the Game’s itself was the atmosphere in the city.  Vancouver hosted numerous social events and activities which received critical acclaim (and long line-ups) from all over town. 

Various countries hosted their own Olympic houses which saw each country set up facilities to showcase their cultures for the world to see.  Livecity Vancouver held countless free performances with big-name artists from all over the world. 

After every Canada Men’s Hockey victory, Robson and Granville Street turned into its own version of Mardi Gras, with the fans piling into the streets to celebrate.  And probably the biggest parade in Canadian history came this past Sunday when Canada clinched gold on its soil and sent the USA packing home! 

The electricity in the city and the passion of the fans that afternoon will never be forgotten.  And let’s not forget the question will you’ll be answering for the rest of your life:

“Where were you when the Canada Men’s Hockey team won gold in 2010?”

Photo: Luis Acosta/Getty Images

These were just some of the moments that made this year’s Game’s one to remember and one for all Canadians to be proud of.

For more reflections on the games, check out articles on The Tyee, Beyond Robson, and the final tally from Miss 604.

Tell me what you think of this year’s Games. Was it a success or a disappointment?

For the duration of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, the popular American morning talk show is airing live coverage from North Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain.  Each morning, anchor Matt Lauer and his crew discuss all things Olympics and hold exclusive interviews with recent medal winners and athletes.

The Pan Pacific’s Daryle Nagata

Invited on set for a special cooking feature with hosts Al Roker and Natalie Morales was Executive Chef Daryle Ryo Nagata.

In front of more than 7 million viewers, Daryle had the chance to give the audience a taste of traditional Aboriginal food from the West Coast of Canada.

Later that day, I asked Daryle about his experience on the Emmy winning morning show:

It was an wonderful experience for me and a privilege to be asked to come on the show.  It was a real honor to reach so many people and to represent my region and my country.  I really believe Canada has many beautiful things to offer, including its unique cuisine and it was a pleasure to share it with the world.

On peeking behind-the-scenes of the Today Show:

The show is truly remarkable, I’ve never seen such an organized team of people working together to make a broadcast come alive.  There were so many things you don’t get to see on camera and so much happening behind the scenes that brought the show together.  It was really like watching a symphony or orchestra performing!  Another huge perk was getting the chance to meet some of the Olympic athletes!

The Newest Stars

Yesterday’s show also saw a number of guest appearances which included Canada’s recent gold medal winners in ice dancing, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

Daryle got a chance to take a quick pic before their segment!

Also on hand was USA’s silver medal winners, Meryle Davis and Charlie White who are shown here with Pan Pacific`s PR spokeswoman – Marie Rogers

Daryle and his team of chefs have prepared a unique menu for the public to enjoy during the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver which include the traditional Native food displayed on the show.

The chefs at the Pan Pacific will be cooking authentic First Nations cuisine to compliment the Kla-how-ya Aboriginal Village – a public display of Aborignal art and culture free to the public during the Games.

During the race, Alex needed a near-perfect run to defeat the reigning Olympic champion from Australia, Dale Begg Smith.  In the end he came up with gold by landing a flawless backflip and an amazing 23.17s run into history.

At the podium, Alex broke down in tears and thanked his brother for being the inspiration behind his victory. Alex’s older brother Frederick, suffers from a disability known as Cerebral Palsy, which limits physical development.

“I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have the same perseverance if I didn’t grow up with him. If my brother would have that chance, would he take it? Would he try more? I always – I always – come to that same answer and it’s, Yes, he would try more. That’s why I can do it.”

Bringing home the Gold

Alex has now been etched in the record books of Canadian Olympic History.  He has already received a plethora of media attention and has already garnished endorsement interest by General Mills, Mcdonald’s,Canada Post and Nike.

Since his victory, Alex proclaimed he had yet to spend any time with his family. The Pan Pacific Vancouver offered the Bilodeau’s a place to unwind and held a private dinner for him and his family.

As Alex and his family arrived to the hotel by an entourage of police and security, hundreds of fans, media and autograph seekers awaited as they welcomed him with open arms and chants of praise.

Alex signed all the autographs and took as many photos as he could.  The humble champ seemed poised, yet excited and told the crowd he was proud to be a Canadian.

A few days ago he was an Olympic skier with aspirations of reaching the podium and representing his country. 23.17 seconds later he became a national icon.

The CBC’s Justine Ma recently dropped by for an exclusive report:

The hotel lobby has hundreds of guests, tourists and locals coming in to soak up the experience and take in the spirit of the Game’s.  Many of the visitors snap photographs of the magnificent harbour-front view and to enjoy the Kla-how-ya Aboriginal display, showcasing Aboriginal art, performances and culture, free to the public during the Game’s.

I chatted with the concierge team this afternoon, and they are literally working overtime to ensure all the guests and visitors’ questions and requests are being met. Miriam Edwards, our Chief Concierge said that she’s never seen the hotel this alive with energy. 

On hand to enjoy an afternoon lunch at the Cafe Pacifica Restaurant was former Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien.  As the crowd grew around him, I said a quick hello and snapped a photograph with him and Marie Rogers, the Pan Pacific’s Public Relations Manager.

How have you been enjoying the games so far? Share your stories in the comments!

Directed by David Atkins, the ceremony was an action packed display of Canadian culture, diversity and talent.

Photo: Sue & Marty

A few memorable moments included – performances by K.D. Lang, the lighting of the cauldron and of course, the final countdown which saw Canadian snowboarder Johnny Lyall landing a 40 foot jump to welcome the crowd.

And as for the worst kept secret, the final torchbearer was no surprise: The Great One, Wayne Gretzky. It was inspiring to see him ride on the back of an SUV through the streets of downtown as the fans ran alongside… only in Canada! (And was it me or for the first time did Wayne look nervous?)

View a fantastic gallery of the Opening Ceremony

What did you think of the final ceremonies? Share your thoughts in the comments!