Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide has negotiated the management of the new hotel/residential tower being built at the Wall Centre in Vancouver for its Sheraton brand. The 45-story tower is scheduled to open in the spring of 2000. The Wall Centre complex occupies a 2.5-acre area in downtown Vancouver. According to Starwood, the tower is designed in an elliptical shape "to present a narrow profile to Vancouver's zealously guarded mountain views."
Celebrated Canadian architect Arthur Erickson has termed the tower "the most sophisticated high-rise the city has seen." In addition to 350 guest rooms, the tower will have 60 luxury condo suites and will add 30,000 square feet of meeting space to the Wall Centre's inventory of 15,000 square feet. The Wall's existing 35-story, 428-room hotel already operates as a Sheraton property. The two towers will be connected by skybridge and together will operate as the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel. The present hotel and its 30-story condo tower were built in 1994. General manager of the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel is Victor Burt, former GM at the Sheraton Centre Toronto.
Also new in this city by the sea: The 313-room Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia debuted earlier this year. The hotel opened following six months of renovation to the existing property, which opened in 1927. It is one of the city's oldest hotels, and now features such amenities as the Crowne Plaza Executive Club Level, a fitness club, a full-service "Euro/Asian fusion restaurant," and 5,800 square feet of meeting space.
The hotel is located downtown, across the street from two malls that offer more than 200 shops and restaurants. It is also a few blocks from the Vancouver Trade & Convention Center, Stanley Park, Chinatown, and the city's cruise ship terminal.
And just outside of downtown Vancouver, in Richmond, the Vancouver Airport Marriott opened in June. The 237-room property has 172 suites, all of which offer workstations equipped with two power outlets, PC modem jack, and adjustable ergonomic chair. There is also a restaurant, lounge, heated outdoor pool, and 4,600-square-foot ballroom. Located nearby are golf, tennis and boating.