TRAVEL

Hotel Details

Attendees can book at the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel or the Marriott Inner Harbour Hotel, both steps from the Victoria Convention Center and the heart of downtown near the Inner Harbour, the British Columbia Parliament Buildings, the Royal BC Museum, and more.

Reserve your room before March 20, 2027 for the Marriott Inner Harbour or March 26, 2027 for the Fairmont Empress to take advantage of negotiated rates.

Fairmont Empress Hotel
721 Government Street
Victoria, British Columbia  Canada V8W 1W5
250-384-8111

Room Rates Per Night:  Single $329 + taxes CAD

Deadline to book: March 26, 2027

Booking instructions

Attendees can book using the online booking link or call the Reservations Department at 250- 384-8111 or our Global Reservations Centre at 800-230-6922 and mention the group name “Sustainable Forestry Initiative”.

Marriott Inner Harbour
728 Humboldt Street
Victoria, British Columbia Canada V8W 3Z5
250-480-3800

Room Rates Per Night:  Single $279 + taxes CAD

Deadline to book: March 20, 2027

Booking instructions

Click here to book your room at the Marriott Inner Harbour Hotel or call 1-877-688-0084 and mention the group name “Sustainable Forestry Initiative”.

The best way to get to Victoria depends on where you are arriving from. Many travellers fly directly into Victoria International Airport, which offers easy access from major Canadian hubs. Others take a ferry or passenger vessel from Vancouver or Washington State and enjoy a scenic journey through coastal waters.

Airlines from across Canada and the United States

• Fly direct between YVR (Vancouver) and YYJ (Victoria) in 30 minutes.
• Fly direct between SEA (Seattle) and YYJ (Victoria) in 55 minutes.
• Fly with as little as one layover between SFO (San Francisco) and YYJ (Victoria) in 3 hours.
• Fly direct between YYZ (Toronto) and YYJ (Victoria) in 5 hours 15 minutes.
• Fly direct between (YYC) Calgary and YYJ (Victoria) in 1 hour 40 minutes.

From Vancouver, BC (Canada):

Ferries from Vancouver

The British Columbia Ferry Service connects the BC Mainland to Vancouver Island welcoming vehicles, walk-on visitors, and cyclists. Your journey will weave through the Southern Gulf Islands as you cross the Salish Sea, offering tremendous photo opportunities.

BC Ferries provides direct service from Tsawwassen Terminal to Swartz Bay Terminal in Greater Victoria in 1 hour 35 minutes. After disembarking, it is a 35-minute drive to Victoria’s downtown Inner Harbour.

• If traveling by vehicle, reservations are strongly recommended.
• Note: Do not book from the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal to Departure Bay to Vancouver Island or you will end up in Nanaimo and have a 1.5-to-2-hour drive to Victoria.

Float planes from Vancouver

Harbour Air and Seair offers regular flights daily to and from Victoria.

• Both have terminals situated in the Inner Harbour on Wharf Street steps from the downtown core, the Parliament Buildings and many of the city’s iconic hotels and attractions.
• Both have two terminals in Vancouver – their downtown Vancouver terminal is located in Coal Harbour just steps from Canada Place, the Vancouver Convention Centre; and their other terminal is adjacent to the South Terminal of the Vancouver International Airport.

From Washington State (US):

As an island destination, getting to Victoria is straightforward and simple to plan. Regular ferries, direct flights, and seaplanes connect the city to Seattle and the rest of Washington State.

Travellers arriving by air from the United States must have a valid passport. Travellers arriving by land and sea from Washington State must have either a valid passport or an Enhanced Driver’s License issued by the Washington department of licensing. Find more information on what is needed to enter Canada, where to get passports and Enhanced Driver’s Licenses, and more, here.

Ferries from Washington State

There are two ways to get to Victoria from Washington State, the pedestrian only FRS Clipper or the Black Ball Ferry Lines, which welcomes vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

• FRS Clipper provides downtown to downtown service between Seattle and Victoria in 2 hours 45 minutes.

• Black Ball Ferry Lines provide downtown to downtown service between Port Angeles and Victoria in 90 minutes.

Driving: Mainland border crossings

24-hour B.C. border crossings are available at:
Highway 99, Peace Arch
Highway 97, Osoyoos
Highway 95, Kingsgate
Highway 15, Douglas truck crossing
Highway 11, Huntingdon
Highway 9, Roosville

Active and educational or relaxing and rejuvenating, Victoria’s got something for every interest—part of why it was voted the #1 Small City in The World by Condé Nast Traveler readers, three years in a row, in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

We encourage conference attendees to take some time before and after the conference to explore the city. Visit the world-class Royal BC Museum, tour 125-year-old heritage buildings, or explore diverse marine wildlife along the coast.

Discover more to see and do in Victoria on Tourism Victoria’s website, including a list of attractions, places to eat and drink, and ways to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Vancouver Island.

Our Commitment to Attendees:

The health and safety of everyone attending this event (attendees, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and suppliers) is a top priority for SFI. As such, we will undertake any necessary preventative measures to reduce the potential spread of illness in accordance with Public Health Guidance from the City of Victoria, should such measures be necessary. The organizers will update you reflecting our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and comfort of those joining us at the conference as the event gets closer based on government guidance available at the time. If public health requirements change prior to the event, we will inform you about these changes and their implications on your attendance at this event.

Your Commitment to SFI:

Attendees, event organizers, and partners agree to engage safely while adhering to public health guidelines in place at the time of the event.