The Best Luxury Hotels in Victoria for Business Travellers

Victoria is an unusual business destination — small enough that the corporate infrastructure feels modest by mainland standards, but significant enough as a government, technology, and professional services hub that serious business travel in and out of the city is a regular occurrence. What distinguishes it is the setting. Victoria is genuinely one of the most beautiful small cities in North America, and the hotel market has a character that reflects that — heritage properties, water views, and a pace that makes a working trip here feel meaningfully different from a week in Toronto or Calgary.

Fairmont Empress

The Empress is one of the most iconic hotel addresses in Canada and needs little introduction to anyone who has spent time on the West Coast. It sits on the Inner Harbour directly across from the Legislature, opened in 1908, and has been the default answer to "where do you stay in Victoria" for over a century for good reason. The restoration work completed in 2017 brought it fully into the contemporary luxury tier without disturbing what makes it irreplaceable — the proportions, the gardens, the sense that the building itself is part of the destination. Q at the Empress handles business dining reliably, and the Bengal Lounge remains one of the more atmospheric rooms in which to debrief after a long day. For a trip where the hotel is part of the experience, there is no competition.

Hotel Grand Pacific

The Grand Pacific sits on the Inner Harbour adjacent to the conference centre, which makes it the practical choice for anyone in Victoria for a formal event or multi-day conference. It's a well-run full-service property without the historic character of the Empress, but the harbour views from the upper floors are excellent, the Atlantic restaurant is a solid business dining option, and the proximity to the legislative precinct means most downtown meetings are walkable. For a working trip where convenience matters more than atmosphere, this is the sensible call.

Magnolia Hotel & Spa

The Magnolia is Victoria's best boutique hotel and has been quietly earning that reputation for years. It's a short walk from the Inner Harbour in the heart of downtown, with 64 rooms that are warm, well-appointed, and genuinely comfortable in a way that reflects the scale of the property. The spa is a legitimate amenity rather than an afterthought, and the service has the attentiveness that only smaller properties can sustain. For the solo business traveler who has stayed at the Empress and wants something more intimate on the next visit, the Magnolia is the obvious next move.

Hotel Zed Victoria

Hotel Zed occupies a different register entirely — it's retro, deliberately playful, and aimed at a traveler who finds conventional luxury hotels stifling. It's not for every business trip, but for the right kind — a creative offsite, a team retreat, a working visit with enough downtime to enjoy the city — it brings an energy and value proposition that nothing else in Victoria matches. The bikes available to guests are genuinely useful in a city this walkable and compact.

Villa Eyrie Resort

Villa Eyrie sits outside the city proper in the Malahat, about 25 minutes north of downtown, and operates in a category distinct from the urban properties on this list. It's a mountain-top retreat with dramatic views over Finlayson Arm, a serious spa, and an intimacy — just 20 suites — that makes it exceptional for a small executive group that needs genuine remove from the city. It's not a practical base for a meeting-heavy trip, but for a leadership retreat or a two-day offsite where the environment is meant to do some of the work, it's one of the most compelling options in the region.

A note on getting there

Victoria's geography is part of what makes it distinctive as a business destination, and it's worth thinking through before you book. The most common approach from Vancouver is the BC Ferries Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route — scenic, reliable, and about 90 minutes on the water, but with drive time on both ends it's a half-day commitment. For a short trip where time is the constraint, the Harbour Air floatplane from Vancouver's Coal Harbour to Victoria's Inner Harbour is the obvious answer: 35 minutes door to door, genuinely beautiful, and it lands you practically at the front door of the Empress. Helijet offers a similar point-to-point option for those who prefer a helicopter. For travellers arriving from further afield, Victoria International Airport is a short drive from downtown and handles connections through Vancouver well. The practical upshot is that Victoria rewards a two-night stay — the journey in each direction is enjoyable enough that building in time to actually experience the city makes the trip worthwhile.