The Wrong Vancouver - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

USATVFAN · 02-14-2010, 04:42 PM

Many Olympics Fans confused over Vancouver Washington.

http://www.canada.com/travel/Oops+wr...182/story.html

VANCOUVER, Wash. - Sallie Reavey picked up the phone at her charming Briar Rose Inn and the caller asked about rooms in mid-February. "We have a nice selection of rooms for those dates," she replied, to which the caller gasped: "You still have rooms during the Olympics?"

Reavey had to tell him: wrong Vancouver.

The Briar Rose is in Vancouver, Washington, not Vancouver, British Columbia, the Canadian city that will host the 2010 Winter Olympics starting on Feb. 12.

"America's Vancouver", as a former town mayor liked to describe it, sits 400 km south of the Olympic host Vancouver and has a population of some 165,000 people -- far fewer than the Canadian city.

The Hilton Vancouver Washington has also fielded Olympic enquiries and trained its reservations staff to be sensitive to the possible mistake and, naturally, turn it into a marketing opportunity.

"We absolutely want them to come here," Gerry Link, the hotel's general manager said, adding of the Vancouver mix-ups: "So far it has all been pretty good-natured."

To prevent any problems, the Hilton is also scouring its mid-February reservations and calling people who it fears might have booked rooms in the wrong country.

"We don't want anyone to be disappointed. We want the Olympics to be a good experience for everyone," Link said.

Vancouver, Washington, is used to playing second fiddle. It has long been overshadowed by its larger neighbour Portland which sits just across the Columbia River in Oregon.

The confusion with the Canadian city happened even before the Olympics, but American Vancouver's new mayor thinks the Games present his community with an opening.

"We think this is a gold-medal opportunity for our Vancouver to stand out... It gives us an opportunity to tell who we are and what we have to offer," Tim Leavitt said.

Both Vancouvers can trace their names to Captain George Vancouver, who explored the Pacific coast for the British Navy in the 1790s.

America's Vancouver started out as the western headquarters for the Hudson's Bay Company -- a Canadian icon and a sponsor of the 2010 Olympics -- and had a thriving army post, Fort Vancouver -- now one of the town's biggest tourist attractions.

"If people are getting confused, it gives us an opportunity to talk about the first Vancouver," Jennifer Kirby of the Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau said gamely.

The city was incorporated in 1857, before the Johnny-Come-Lately in Canada in 1886.

The Vancouver confusion has dredged up a decades-old idea to change the American city's name to Fort Vancouver.

Most people, including Mayor Leavitt, think the name change movement does not have any traction. Citizens have voted down the name change on three occasions, but some think now may be the time.

"I think it would be a fine idea," Reavey said. "It would certainly ease some of the confusion."

© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Today-...-83476852.html

Schmoopie · 02-15-2010, 12:54 AM

OMG, that is absolutely hilarious!

Can you imagine? I mean, if you are going to shell out all that money for Olympic tickets, wouldn't you at least make sure you're in the right Vancouver? I've driven through Vancouver Washington probably fifty times, if not more. It's literally across the bridge from Portland, Oregon. The cool thing is that there is no sales tax in Oregon, so a lot of people live in Vancouver, WA because of no state income tax, but they do their shopping and stuff in Portland.

Makes you wonder about the mentality of these people. I mean, I'm sure it's pretty easy to get a hotel room in Vancouver, Washington right now. I wonder if they even noticed the cheap rates. No way is Vancouver, BC going to have cheap rates these days.

That being said, though; I was in Whistler last summer and we stayed at the Four Seasons Whistler Resort. We are on their e-mail address and they sent me an email a couple of weeks ago. It said that Whistler had gotten 52 inches of snow in the mountains and they were offering one free room night when you book two nights. That's actually an awesome deal; particularly so close to the Olympics! I wonder if that was an exclusive? I wish I could have participated.

Marvo301 · 02-15-2010, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

OMG, that is absolutely hilarious!

Can you imagine? I mean, if you are going to shell out all that money for Olympic tickets, wouldn't you at least make sure you're in the right Vancouver? I've driven through Vancouver Washington probably fifty times, if not more. It's literally across the bridge from Portland, Oregon. The cool thing is that there is no sales tax in Oregon, so a lot of people live in Vancouver, WA because of no state income tax, but they do their shopping and stuff in Portland.

Makes you wonder about the mentality of these people. I mean, I'm sure it's pretty easy to get a hotel room in Vancouver, Washington right now. I wonder if they even noticed the cheap rates. No way is Vancouver, BC going to have cheap rates these days.

That being said, though; I was in Whistler last summer and we stayed at the Four Seasons Whistler Resort. We are on their e-mail address and they sent me an email a couple of weeks ago. It said that Whistler had gotten 52 inches of snow in the mountains and they were offering one free room night when you book two nights. That's actually an awesome deal; particularly so close to the Olympics! I wonder if that was an exclusive? I wish I could have participated.

The reason Whistler was offering that deal was a lack of customers. Apparently people were assuming Whistler would be closed for Olympic preparations. The resort was actually open but with very few customers so they offered this deal. I've driven through Vancouver Washington before and can't imagine how anyone could confuse it with our Vancouver!

Schmoopie · 02-15-2010, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

The reason Whistler was offering that deal was a lack of customers. Apparently people were assuming Whistler would be closed for Olympic preparations. The resort was actually open but with very few customers so they offered this deal. I've driven through Vancouver Washington before and can't imagine how anyone could confuse it with our Vancouver!

Now you tell me!

Actually that hotel is a good deal at any price! I agree, I think Vancouver, WA would fit inside BC Place geographically speaking! I would like to go to Vancouver, WA some time, though. I'm sure it's a nice place and they seem to have some nice hotels there. We met an artist from there last December and he was such a great guy. He has a gallery in Vancouver, WA, so that's a great excuse to check it out! I can't believe I've lived in Washington since 1996, and have never been to Vancouver (WA, that is!)!!!

James · 02-20-2010, 04:08 AM

I will go on record as saying I have been through Vancouver, Washington, but not Vancouver, British Columbia. (And I got off of I-5 to do it!)

One thing the "American Vancouver" has going for it is its being headquarters to Burgerville, a regional hamburger chain. See www.burgerville.com. I ate at one, too, and I didn't have to pay tax on my meal, having stopped at one of the Oregon locations!

TripperFan · 02-21-2010, 11:01 PM

Hey (some Americans) crack an atlas sometime. There ARE other countries other than the U.S. in this world!!

70s show watcher · 02-22-2010, 01:28 AM

i lived in vancouver washington for 3 years if you dont want to live right in portland vancouver is a good bet as its only 15 minutes from portland

Schmoopie · 02-22-2010, 04:24 AM

I really want to go to Vancouver, Washington sometime. It looks like a nice place! I agree, that some people have some interesting ideas about Geography! I want to know how many people actually drove to Vancouver, Washington thinking they were going to attend the Winter Olympics. Now wouldn't you think that the fact that they could just breeze down I-5 and NEVER come to a boarder crossing MIGHT give them a clue? Hmmm... maybe not!

Schmoopie · 02-22-2010, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

i lived in vancouver washington for 3 years if you dont want to live right in portland vancouver is a good bet as its only 15 minutes from portland

No state income tax in Washington and no sales tax in Portland. Sounds perfect to me!

02-14-2010, 04:42 PM	#1
USATVFAN Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2007 Location: Kalispell, USA Posts: 1,742	The Wrong Vancouver Many Olympics Fans confused over Vancouver Washington. http://www.canada.com/travel/Oops+wr...182/story.html VANCOUVER, Wash. - Sallie Reavey picked up the phone at her charming Briar Rose Inn and the caller asked about rooms in mid-February. "We have a nice selection of rooms for those dates," she replied, to which the caller gasped: "You still have rooms during the Olympics?" Reavey had to tell him: wrong Vancouver. The Briar Rose is in Vancouver, Washington, not Vancouver, British Columbia, the Canadian city that will host the 2010 Winter Olympics starting on Feb. 12. "America's Vancouver", as a former town mayor liked to describe it, sits 400 km south of the Olympic host Vancouver and has a population of some 165,000 people -- far fewer than the Canadian city. The Hilton Vancouver Washington has also fielded Olympic enquiries and trained its reservations staff to be sensitive to the possible mistake and, naturally, turn it into a marketing opportunity. "We absolutely want them to come here," Gerry Link, the hotel's general manager said, adding of the Vancouver mix-ups: "So far it has all been pretty good-natured." To prevent any problems, the Hilton is also scouring its mid-February reservations and calling people who it fears might have booked rooms in the wrong country. "We don't want anyone to be disappointed. We want the Olympics to be a good experience for everyone," Link said. Vancouver, Washington, is used to playing second fiddle. It has long been overshadowed by its larger neighbour Portland which sits just across the Columbia River in Oregon. The confusion with the Canadian city happened even before the Olympics, but American Vancouver's new mayor thinks the Games present his community with an opening. "We think this is a gold-medal opportunity for our Vancouver to stand out... It gives us an opportunity to tell who we are and what we have to offer," Tim Leavitt said. Both Vancouvers can trace their names to Captain George Vancouver, who explored the Pacific coast for the British Navy in the 1790s. America's Vancouver started out as the western headquarters for the Hudson's Bay Company -- a Canadian icon and a sponsor of the 2010 Olympics -- and had a thriving army post, Fort Vancouver -- now one of the town's biggest tourist attractions. "If people are getting confused, it gives us an opportunity to talk about the first Vancouver," Jennifer Kirby of the Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau said gamely. The city was incorporated in 1857, before the Johnny-Come-Lately in Canada in 1886. The Vancouver confusion has dredged up a decades-old idea to change the American city's name to Fort Vancouver. Most people, including Mayor Leavitt, think the name change movement does not have any traction. Citizens have voted down the name change on three occasions, but some think now may be the time. "I think it would be a fine idea," Reavey said. "It would certainly ease some of the confusion." © Copyright (c) Canwest News Service http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Today-...-83476852.html
	__________________ Love watching 1960's-1990's TV Classics! 1970-2004: The best Years of Televsion

02-15-2010, 12:54 AM	#2
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	OMG, that is absolutely hilarious! Can you imagine? I mean, if you are going to shell out all that money for Olympic tickets, wouldn't you at least make sure you're in the right Vancouver? I've driven through Vancouver Washington probably fifty times, if not more. It's literally across the bridge from Portland, Oregon. The cool thing is that there is no sales tax in Oregon, so a lot of people live in Vancouver, WA because of no state income tax, but they do their shopping and stuff in Portland. Makes you wonder about the mentality of these people. I mean, I'm sure it's pretty easy to get a hotel room in Vancouver, Washington right now. I wonder if they even noticed the cheap rates. No way is Vancouver, BC going to have cheap rates these days. That being said, though; I was in Whistler last summer and we stayed at the Four Seasons Whistler Resort. We are on their e-mail address and they sent me an email a couple of weeks ago. It said that Whistler had gotten 52 inches of snow in the mountains and they were offering one free room night when you book two nights. That's actually an awesome deal; particularly so close to the Olympics! I wonder if that was an exclusive? I wish I could have participated.
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

02-21-2010, 11:01 PM	#6
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Hey (some Americans) crack an atlas sometime. There ARE other countries other than the U.S. in this world!!
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

02-20-2010, 04:08 AM	#5
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	I will go on record as saying I have been through Vancouver, Washington, but not Vancouver, British Columbia. (And I got off of I-5 to do it!) One thing the "American Vancouver" has going for it is its being headquarters to Burgerville, a regional hamburger chain. See www.burgerville.com. I ate at one, too, and I didn't have to pay tax on my meal, having stopped at one of the Oregon locations!

02-22-2010, 01:28 AM	#7
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	i lived in vancouver washington for 3 years if you dont want to live right in portland vancouver is a good bet as its only 15 minutes from portland

02-22-2010, 04:24 AM	#8
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I really want to go to Vancouver, Washington sometime. It looks like a nice place! I agree, that some people have some interesting ideas about Geography! I want to know how many people actually drove to Vancouver, Washington thinking they were going to attend the Winter Olympics. Now wouldn't you think that the fact that they could just breeze down I-5 and NEVER come to a boarder crossing MIGHT give them a clue? Hmmm... maybe not!