Vancouver/Whistler preen for Olympics

VANCOUVER, WHISTLER—For the first time in at least 10 years, the Vancouver waterfront looks polished and complete, from the living rooftop of the new convention centre to the Tsimshian war canoe in the lobby of the Pan Pacific. The new Canada Line transit whisks travellers from downtown to the airport in no time flat, emerging from its tunnel for a view of the Fraser River and the Riverview Casino, which has Canada’s first circular escalator.

Hotels like the new Fairmont Pacific Rim and Coast Coal Harbour have been racing against the clock to complete their showpiece hostelries on time.

Gift wrapped hotel: Patriotic flag on Rosewood Hotel Georgia

In Whistler, hotels are capitalizing on the Games with innovative offers and promotions.  As of early-to mid-January, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler and Four Seasons Whistler were still offering accommodation during the Olympics.  

The Four Seasons sweetened the pie with a special Ski with an Olympian promotion and a bobsled in the lobby for photo ops. Olympic rates there start at $1,225 per night with a minimum three-night stay.

But then, there’s the embarrassment of having the Intrawest Whistler Blackcomb Resort venue up for sale during the celebrations.

And the Games are not without inconvenience to operators. In both Whistler and Vancouver, hoteliers have been told to schedule deliveries between midnight and 6 am for the month of February.

Cars are being kept out of the downtown core and away from venues as residents and Games visitors are being encouraged, or in some cases, forced, to take public transit — a move that affects many hotel staff.

Add to that the need to hire additional staff for the Olympic rush. Nevertheless, operators seem confident that increased business will make it all worthwhile.


Fairmont Pacific Rim

Nancie Hall, public relations director at the new Fairmont Pacific Rim, says the 45-floor condo-hotel designed by James Cheng, will be open in time for the Olympics.

Five years in the making, Cheng’s vision for the property was a building he describes as “an urban oasis, locally authentic, and sensuous modern”.  Designed to five-star standards, the property reflects both Asian and the west coast in its plan and décor. The hotel exterior was “sculpted” to form a frame around the vintage Marine Building, a feature best seen from the vantage point of Brockton Point in Stanley Park. 

Gift wrapped hotel: Liam Gillick's art wraps around the Fairmont Pacific Rim

And the hotel is wrapped in a $1 million piece of artwork by Liam Gillick that consists of a running line of repeated text, “lyingontopofabuildingthecloudslookednonearerthanwhenIwaslyingonthestreet.”

“We are still busy fine tuning everything but will be open for the Olympics,” Hall told CLN. Hiring and training have been completed for over 275 colleagues and is continuing for some positions. At press time the hotel was still looking for a baker.

“Our kitchen team set up in the Vancouver Community College to taste and test their menus and are now stocking the kitchen here.  The Lobby Lounge staff also set up off site to practice their pours and train. The restaurant staff have all completed mock training, and Willow Stream spa has just had the trainers from partners, Kirsten Florian, and this week, B. Kamins. They have been busy recruiting staff to practice massages on (I was not able to volunteer, unfortunately!).  Our bellmen are driving around town in the new BMWs as one of the services we will offer is a complimentary downtown shuttle.  Housekeeping has sewn in over 35,000 RFID chips into all the linens – it’s a new way of tracking inventory and will substantially reduce our losses,” Hall added.

“Our transition team from corporate, who specialize in making our new hotels brand perfect, have been here for a couple of weeks to assist, and we also have a group of colleagues who are coming in from our sister hotels from the Rockies to lend a hand during the Games.  There is actually a bus arriving with some staff staying here and some heading to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Many of our staff are billeting these associates.

“As I’m sure you can imagine, it’s exciting to open a new property but for us the challenge is that our soft opening is very short and we will be running full occupancy within days.”

River Rock Casino's spiral escalators

Just in time to wow international visitors, River Rock Casino Resort, on the Canada Line not far from Vancouver Airport, has installed Canada’s first spiral escalators. The escalators, which move at a nominal 82 feet per minute were supplied and installed by Mitsubishi Electric. They were delivered in seven separate truss sections and took seven months to assemble, install and test.

The casino has also installed a pedestrian walkway linking River Rock with the Canada Line. Guests can ride the autowalk, one of those flat, moving escalators seen in airports, and can listen to voice recordings from famous stars including Bill Cosby, Don Rickles and Joan Rivers.  Also included in the renovations are a new parking area, four intimate theatre suites featuring memorabilia, an expanded Whistler Ballroom, and renovations to the Curve Lounge.