Metro Vancouver Hotel & Short Term Rental Market Discussion

[Glow Fun City]

Originally Posted by RedArbutus

Was there an upgrade inside here I wasn't aware of? Similar to the currently discussed Hyatt vs Park Hyatt branding/interior standards?

Looks like it… from the site officedweller linked above:


"We're renovating and excited to share with you that from September 22, 2025 to February 2026 we are upgrading our hotel as part of our continued dedication to enhance our property and service. You may experience some noise during a regular business day (Monday to Friday). We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause and look forward to welcoming you!"


https://www.sandmanhotels.com/signature-vancouver-downtown

[jollyburger]

The press release announcing the change back in January

Sandman Hotel Group is reintroducing its West Georgia Street hotel as Sandman Signature Vancouver Downtown Hotel, following a comprehensive upgrade.

Situated in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the newly branded Sandman Signature Vancouver Downtown Hotel features 303 refreshed guest rooms and suites, all thoughtfully redesigned to reflect the Signature brand’s premium positioning. Guest accommodations have been fully refreshed with contemporary finishes, improved layouts, and deluxe linens designed to enhance comfort and sleep quality. Upgraded kitchenette suites provide added flexibility and convenience, making the hotel an ideal choice for both short visits and extended stays.

“This transformation represents an exciting new chapter for our hotel and our team. We’re proud to welcome guests into a space that reflects the quality, comfort, and elevated experience the Signature brand is known for,” shared Rockey Yu, general manager Sandman Signature Vancouver Downtown Hotel. “The renovations allow us to offer a more modern, comfortable stay while continuing to provide the warm, attentive service our guests expect when visiting Downtown Vancouver.”

Beyond the guestrooms, the hotel offers 3,937 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, ideal for business gatherings and social events alike. Guests can also unwind in the recently revitalized indoor pool and hot tub. Convenient on-site dining further enhances the experience, catch the game at Shark Club or dine at Moxies which features a refreshed design and elevated menu, offering a contemporary dining experience for hotel guests and locals alike.

“Upgrading this iconic Downtown Vancouver hotel to the Signature brand reflects our confidence in the market and our commitment to delivering elevated stays in key urban centres.” explained Kevin Gilhooly, president and chief operating officer, Sandman Hotel Group. “Vancouver continues to be a vital destination for both business and leisure travellers, and this transformation allows us to meet growing demand while strengthening the Signature portfolio in one of Canada’s most dynamic cities.”

https://corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca/2026/01/23/vancouver-sandman-hotel-upgrades-to-signature-brand/

[RedArbutus]

Cool! Thanks team.

[csbvan]

Block House hotel opening at 211 Columbia Street in 2 weeks. I didn't realize that this conversion was so far advanced. Good timing for them with FIFA.

https://curiocity.com/block-house-vancouver/

[Changing City]

The Moxy / Element Westin hotel on Seymour has a crane base installed in the excavation.

[jollyburger]

Surrey hotel proposals gather steam as demand set to increase

The City of Surrey is currently conducting a study to assess room demand within Surrey, with results expected by the end of this year.

While attention has focused on the wave of new hotel proposals in Vancouver, Surrey is beginning to see a similar phenomenon.

Last year, Surrey-based RBI Group acquired the Westfield Business Centre at 14178 104 Ave. out of foreclosure for $56.5 million and stated intentions for a new hotel. It recently submitted a development application to construct a six-storey hotel in the large courtyard of the existing office/retail building.

RBI Group last year also submitted a rezoning application for 9699 and 9711 137 St., just north of Surrey Memorial Hospital, where it has proposed a 44-storey mixed-use tower with 266 hotel rooms and 180 rental units. Immediately next door, Lark Group is in the process of converting 10 floors within its 23-storey City Centre 4 office building into a hotel.

The top-tier existing hotels in Surrey are the Civic Hotel near Surrey City Hall and the aging Sheraton Guildford near Guildford Town Centre mall, but Chen believes most of the rooms planned for Surrey will be a different kind of product.

“Not the downtown, high-rise, five-star luxury convention-type of hotels,” he said. “Surrey is still more of a mid-tier market. It’s more of those woodframe four-storey hotels and brands like Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn, Best Western. Marriott has a new City Centre Express brand.” (Renderings for the Westfield Business Centre hotel indicate it will be a Holiday Inn.)

https://www.westerninvestor.com/british-...steam-as-demand-set-to-increase-12013844

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by madog222

New downtown hotel proposal. Across Howe from the Law Courts on a 25 foot wide lot.


https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=281770402

Rezoning Application RZ-2026-00017In Review
Application Date: Feb, 25, 2026
Completed Date:

Details
Related Information
Permit Location: 948 HOWE STREET, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1N9
Job Location:

Work Description: 948 Howe St - Application recently submitted. Staff preparing notification - To rezone from DD to CD-1 to allow for the development of a 21 storey hotel building. An FSR of 18.5 and a building height of 62.4 m (204 ft.) are proposed.

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=291631714

The rezoning application is now in.

[csbvan]

A new budget hitel (Samesun Hostel group) opened at 1212 Granville:

https://www.theguesthousevancouver.com/

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by csbvan

A new budget hitel (Samesun Hostel group) opened at 1212 Granville:

https://www.theguesthousevancouver.com/

It's just a rebranding. Ten years ago it was The Ambassador, more recently the Granville Grand. It started life as the Ivy House in 1909, became the Corona in 1949, and the Senator in 1951. It was an SRO for a while, called the Chancellor Hotel, but switched back to being a real hotel in 2003. It's one of the few hotels that still has shared bathrooms.

[csbvan]

Ah - I didn't realize it was operating as a hotel in the recent past.

[hollywoodnorth]

Delta newest hotel already to expand
Opened in 2022, the current hotel is owned and operated by South Fraser Hotel LP, which is jointly owned by P.R. Hotels Ltd. and Meridian Development Corporation

https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/delta-newest-hotel-already-to-expand-11813820

Good addition here to a solid hotel.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=291631714

The rezoning application is now in.

Worthy to note the significant FSR reduction while maintaining the same number of floors and height from the building grades submission.

[jollyburger]

Article about the new Gastown hotel

And even some projects that are close to completion could miss the the World Cup. The Arts and Crafts Hotel on Seymour Street, for instance, is slated to add 73 rooms and had been scheduled to open in 2026, but probably will not, Russell said.

But there still aren’t a large number of properties under construction. One reason is because hotels require more equity to develop than other classes of real estate, she said. Developers are kind of “shying away” because they have to put 30 to 40 per cent equity into a project, even though developers initially turned to hotels because there was less demand for office and condo projects.

The Sunset Hotel on Burnaby Street in the West End is another hotel that is offering apartment-style rooms with larger spaces and kitchens within a short walking distance from the Cup.

It was one of the two former Sonder properties in Vancouver. In November 2025, the short-term rentals company, with a 20-year licensing agreement with Marriott Bonvoy, abruptly shut down and guests had to leave their rooms immediately. It’s now relaunching under independent, local management with 50 refurbished, apartment-style suites ahead of the Cup.

https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-hotel-market-growing-interest-projects-slow-starting

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by madog222

I believe this hasn't been posted. In place of a previous 7 storey office building proposal.


https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=283960370

The City of Vancouver has received an application to rezone the subject site from DD (Downtown) District to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District. The proposal is to allow for the development of a 15-storey hotel building with a four-storey podium and includes:

151 hotel rooms;
Commercial space on the ground floor;
A floor space ratio (FSR) of 10.21; and
A building height of 49.5 m (162 ft.).

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/852-872-seymour-st-2

[GenWhy?]

LOL these guys

[officedweller]

They are proposing to support the heritage facade with struts as a largely freestanding wall away from the new structure to create an atrium. Seems a bit sketchy in an earthquake zone.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by officedweller

They are proposing to support the heritage facade with struts as a largely freestanding wall away from the new structure to create an atrium. Seems a bit sketchy in an earthquake zone.

I wouldn't read into it much. It's just a rezoning application

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

They are proposing to support the heritage facade with struts as a largely freestanding wall away from the new structure to create an atrium. Seems a bit sketchy in an earthquake zone.

But isn't that same as any other heritage facade retention? They install some kind of steel/concrete skeleton and tie in the old facade into that?

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

But isn't that same as any other heritage facade retention? They install some kind of steel/concrete skeleton and tie in the old facade into that?

Not really. Most facade retention involves a new poured concrete skin inside the heritage exterior, which in turn is an integral part of the new building behind. In this case they appear to be adding the concrete skin, but free-standing, with a series of horizontal braces to the front face of the hotel tower. No doubt it has been designed by an engineer, and doesn't pose any additional risk, but at first glance it seems a bit more flimsy. It's possible the bracing will be more substantial than the render suggests.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Not really. Most facade retention involves a new poured concrete skin inside the heritage exterior, which in turn is an integral part of the new building behind. In this case they appear to be adding the concrete skin, but free-standing, with a series of horizontal braces to the front face of the hotel tower. No doubt it has been designed by an engineer, and doesn't pose any additional risk, but at first glance it seems a bit more flimsy. It's possible the bracing will be more substantial than the render suggests.

Some heritage building facade restorations in Vancouver for anyone interested.

Hotel Georgia

https://web.ornl.gov/sci/buildings/conf-archive/2010%20B11%20papers/124_Lawton.pdf

Vancouver Block

https://shotcrete.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1999Fal_MorganMcAskillKnowlton.pdf