Built in 2009, The Parkside Hotel & Spa embraces sustainability at its core. The 126-room boutique hotel is situated at the southern tip of Vancouver Island in Victoria, British Columbia, and is within walking distance of the eateries, parks, and bars in downtown Victoria.
The property’s sustainability efforts were recently recognized through its new membership with Beyond Green, “a global portfolio of what would be considered the most sustainable hotels in the world,” Tauna Eden, director of sales and business development for the hotel, explains.
Beyond Green supports hotels that place sustainability at their core, and The Parkside is the first Canadian and urban property to join. Along with this membership, The Parkside is the first business in Victoria to be Biosphere Certified—this certification, Eden notes, is meant to embody the 17 sustainable goals international recognized by the United Nations.
“We’re working on a daily basis with our guests and team members to really embrace what’s most important to the environment right now. There are so many things that we participate in, whether it’s a beach clean-up by the staff, having an urban garden that our team can use, [or] getting out and exploring the city on bikes—[just] making as little [a carbon] footprint as possible,” she says. These bikes are complimentary to guests to get out and explore the city easily and sustainably.
The Parkside is also home to several meeting rooms available for private events, including the Urban Ballroom, offering 2,500 square feet of space for up to 120 guests seated; the City Club Lounge, a 1,640-square-foot venue with panoramic views of Victoria for up to 56 seated; the James Bay Room, offering intimate space for up to 25 seated and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking ponds and gardens; The Parkside Theatre, featuring a 132-inch screen and surround sound for up to 29 seated; and the Rooftop Gardens, wowing up to 120 guests with chic ambiance and views of Beacon Park.
