Floating hotel proposed for Vancouver waterfront

i By January 20, 2025 No Comments

A new 250-room floating hotel is being proposed for Vancouver by Finnish hotel developer, Sunborn International Holding (SBIH), working in partnership with the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (VHFC).

“The new floating hotel will be a jewel for the crown of Vancouver’s waterfront,” says Graham Clarke, chairman, VHFC. “The new property will contribute to the urgent need for hotel rooms in Vancouver in an innovative and effective way, with no permanent footprint or environmental ramifications, adding new public spaces, viewpoints, cafés and restaurants to Vancouver’s vibrant waterfront.”

The proposal would create 250 new hotel rooms. If approved, Sunborn Vancouver will be built off-suite eliminating any disruptive impact and will be an environmentally-friendly development, sourcing its power needs from renewable energy. The hotel’s renewable energy systems are expected to reduce its power consumption by 60 to 70 percent.

With plans to directly connect to the Vancouver Convention Centre’s existing infrastructure, the new low carbon floating hotel will operate like a normal building on land, with no discharge to the water. Sunborn Vancouver will also not use fossil fuels or create emissions from engines or generators.

“We are excited about the opportunity to bring our new generation of low carbon floating hotels to the Vancouver waterfront,” says Hans Niemi, CEO, Sunborn International. “The vessel will be newly built for Vancouver and our intention is to develop a beautiful on-the-water hotel, blending seamlessly and adding new spaces for the public to enjoy.”

The floating hotel, its amenities and associated services, are anticipated to create more than 200 direct new jobs and is a fully privately-funded development project.

Sunborn International and its partners are undergoing a rezoning process with the City of Vancouver, and pending approval, the new hotel is scheduled to open in 2027.

‘The proposed hotel is a new and unique attraction that would complement the existing offerings from our destination, as well as bringing 250 new hotel rooms,” says Royce Chwin, president and CEO, Destination Vancouver. “In our view, a bespoke floating hotel development would enhance our waterfront and we look forward to working with Sunborn and their partners in promoting this new attraction and hotel to our global visitors.”

Sunborn’s portfolio currently includes yacht hotels at Royal Victoria Dock in London (UK) and Ocean Village in Gibraltar.