Vancouver Approves 250-Room Floating Hotel on Waterfront

Vancouver City Council approved a 250-room floating hotel on the city's waterfront Tuesday evening, aiming to expand accommodation options and stimulate economic activity near the Vancouver Convention Centre.

The project, proposed by Finnish hospitality company Sunborn International in partnership with Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre Ltd., involves mooring a six-storey vessel in the water lot adjacent to the convention centre in Coal Harbour. The council voted 8-1 to greenlight the development, which includes a connecting public dock featuring walkways, seating areas, gardens, a café, a spa and other commercial amenities. The dock will operate like a city park, open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the hotel's entry level accessible to the public to draw locals and tourists.

Sunborn, a family-owned firm with similar yacht hotels in London and Gibraltar, described the initiative as a low-carbon, energy-efficient addition. CEO Hans Niemi told council the vessel will have no onboard generators or engines, with wastewater systems linked to the convention centre and no storage of oil or fossil fuels. Construction will occur offsite, with certification by Det Norske Veritas, an...