Vancouver City Council is set to consider a proposal Monday for a 250-room floating hotel on the downtown waterfront, with staff recommending the project advance to a public hearing.

The ship-like hotel is proposed for a water lot immediately north of the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West Building in Coal Harbour. The structure would be moored to a new public dock and span approximately six storeys, measuring about 431 feet in length and 60 feet in width, with a displacement of roughly 5,400 tonnes.

Plans call for the lower levels to be publicly accessible, featuring retail space, a restaurant, café and spa. The hotel would connect to the seawall via multiple pedestrian bridges.

According to a city staff report, the project could help boost tourism and address Vancouver’s ongoing shortage of hotel rooms, aligning with broader efforts to expand the city’s hospitality capacity.

Finnish developer Sunborn International Holding unveiled its plans for the hotel in January 2025.

Partnering with the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (VHFC), Sunborn aims to introduce a world-class hospitality venue that will generate jobs, boost economic growth, and create a new waterfront destination. The partners have filed a development application with the city.

“The new floating hotel will be a jewel for the crown of Vancouver’s waterfront,” says Graham Clarke, chairman of VHFC, said previously. “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.”

Sunborn’s proposal seeks to address Vancouver’s accommodation shortage without consuming valuable real estate. If approved, construction will take place off-site, minimizing disruption. The hotel will rely on renewable-energy sources, reducing power consumption by an estimated 60%-70%.

Designed to integrate seamlessly with the Vancouver Convention Centre’s infrastructure, the floating hotel will operate like a traditional building while remaining environmentally responsible, according to Sunborn and VHFC. The project will not discharge into the water, use fossil fuels, or produce emissions from engines or generators.

“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,” said Hans Niemi, Sunborn’s CEO, said previously.

Sunborn estimates that the hotel, along with its amenities and associated services, will create more than 200 direct jobs. If approved, the project will be 100% privately funded.

The hotel is slated to open in 2027.

Photo: Sunborn