Vancouver, the best city in the Americas.

Vancouver voted best city in world to live for the 3rd year

Feb-2011 Vancouver remain the most livable city in the world, according to the latest annual ranking complied by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The Canadian city scored 98 out if a maximum 100, as it has done for the past two years.

The ranking scores 140 cities from 0-100 on 30 factors spread across five areas: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. These numbers are then weighted and combined to produce an overall figure. The top ten cities occupy the same positions as last year, with the exception of Melbourne and Viena, which have swapped places.

• Vancouver remain the most livable city in the world
  The Economist, February 21, 2011

VANCOUVER VOTED TOP CITY IN AMERICAS BY CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER

In 2004, Condé Nast Traveler magazine voted Vancouver the "Best City in the Americas" at its annual Readers' Choice Awards ceremony held in New York. Vancouver won the top spot over Victoria and Quebec City.

"We're extremely honoured to accept this award," said Tourism Vancouver chair Paul Tilbury. "Condé Nast Traveler is a very respected publication, and winning an accolade such as this can only further elevate our profile in one of our key markets."

The poll divides cities into five specific geographical divisions including the Americas, which covers Canada, Central America and South America. Cities are scored on ambience, friendliness, culture and sites, restaurants, lodging, and shopping, to give a final ranking. Last year Vancouver was ranked second in the same category.

This award is at the top of a long list of accolades that Vancouver has received in recent years. The city has also been honoured with top rankings by groups such as the American Automobile Association and the International Air Transport Association, and consistently ranks as one of the most livable cities in the world.

Also recognized at the ceremony were Vancouver's Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, which was voted the best hotel in Canada, and Vancouver Island, which won the "Best North American Island" category over Nantucket and Prince Edward Island.

Featured in the November issue of the magazine, the 2004 Readers' Choice Awards list the world's top cities, airlines, car rental agencies, cruise lines, hotels and resorts, and islands. Each month, the magazine is seen by an audience of 3.2 million readers, predominantly from the USA. The magazine is one of the top US consumer travel publications and has been conducting their Readers' Choice Awards since 1988.