• New Hotels
• Hotel Developments

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There are more than 24,000 hotel rooms in Greater Vancouver and some 13,000 in the downtown core. While the average rate is just over $130, rooms can go for as little as $70 or for more than $1,000 a night. The best hotel deals are offered October through April.

Vancouver hotels frequently offer special room rates and tempting packages tailored to all interests, with themes including Romance; Spa & Shopping; Arts, Entertainment & Events; Family, Attractions & Sightseeing; and Dining, Culinary & Breakfast. Packages can be booked online at www.tourismvancouver.com.

Story idea Vancouver is a dog-friendly city. Most hotels across the region allow guests to stay and play with their pets while on the road. But what about those travellers who leave home without their prized pooches? Consider a story on a Vancouver hotel trend for dog-sick visitors: both the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (www.fairmont.com/hotelvancouver) and the Fairmont Waterfront (www.fairmont.com/waterfront) have friendly on-site "K-9 Ambassadors" available for guests who want to go for "walkies". Story idea Not every hotel in Vancouver is a pricey boutique property or high-end business hotel. Consider a story highlighting the city's best budget hotels for visitors. The story could include visits to the Victorian Hotel (www.victorianhotel.ca), where heritage rooms combine with an excellent welcome; the European style ambiance of the West End's Buchan Hotel (www.buchanhotel.com); and the centrally located Kingston Hotel (www.kingstonhotelvancouver.com). Among Vancouver's popular hostels are the downtown HI Hostel (www.hihostels.ca/vancouverdowntown) and the SameSun Backpackers Lodge (www.samesun.com).

New Hotels

The Shangri-La Vancouver makes a statement as it stands the tallest building in the city at 61 stories. Asia Pacific luxury hotel group, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, entered the North American market by opening this five-star deluxe “condotel” in Vancouver in January 2009. The 119-room hotel occupies the first 15 floors, leaving the rest as condominium apartment units. Amenities include the hotel’s signature restaurant, MARKET by Jean-Georges (by world-famous chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten), and luxury spa, CHI. (www.shangri-la.com/vancouver).

The Loden Vancouver officially opened its doors in October 2008. Located in the fashionable Coal Harbour area near Melville and Bute, this 14-storey, boutique property makes a great setting for an urban hotel retreat. The Loden has 77 rooms, including a palatial penthouse suite, and Voya, the on-site restaurant and bar. (www.lodenvancouver.com

L'Hermitage Hotel opened its doors in June 2008. Nestled in the downtown core right on Robson Street, L'Hermitage offers a highly personalized experience through its services and thoughtful amenities, ensuring modern luxury in style. (www.lhermitagevancouver.com)

Hotel Developments

In 2005, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts (www.fairmont.com) sold a parcel of undeveloped land to Westbank, which promptly announced plans to construct condos and a hotel on the site. Located across from the new Vancouver Convention Centre (VCC) the 415-room luxury hotel will be managed by Fairmont and called the Fairmont Pacific Rim Vancouver (www.fairmontpacificrim.com). The hotel is expected to open in early 2010.

Set to open in fall 2009, the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel will be the latest addition to the Coast Hotels & Resorts group in Vancouver. Located in the Coal Harbour neighbourhood, just steps away from the waterfront, this fully-equipped, 20-storey hotel offers West Coast style and comfort in each of the 220 rooms. (www.coasthotels.com)

For more than 80 years, Hotel Georgia has been a heritage landmark in Vancouver, hosting many stars, royals and heads of state since 1927. Currently in the middle of renovations, the work will preserve most heritage aspects of the building. New additions to the hotel will be 48 levels of modern residential suites starting on the 14th floor. The residences are expected to be completed in 2011 and the hotel expects to reopen in late 2010. (www.residencesatgeorgia.com)