Vancouver city officials have given the green light to a 250-room floating hotel adjacent to the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Vancouver City Council has approved a rezoning text amendment for the project, known as “Sunborn Evolution Vancouver,” paving the way for the six-storey vessel-style hotel to be moored just north of the convention centre’s West Building. The site sits between the Hullo Ferries terminal and the landmark The Drop sculpture, placing it squarely in one of the city’s most high-profile tourism precincts.
Developed by Sunborn International Holding, the property will feature 250 guest rooms tailored to both leisure travellers and the lucrative meetings and events market. The company will work closely with PavCo, operator of the convention centre, to cater to conference delegates — a segment driving strong demand in the city.
Designed to resemble a cruise ship but operating as a stationary structure without propulsion, the hotel will span 136 metres in length and offer around 16,000 square metres of floor space. Its integration into the waterfront will be enhanced by multiple pedestrian bridges linking it to the seawall, ensuring seamless access for both guests and the public.
A key feature is a 1,200-square-metre public floating dock, set to open daily, complete with seating areas, gardens, a café and spa access. In total, the development will deliver 100 metres of new public waterfront walkways, adding to Vancouver’s already popular harbourfront experience.
Sunborn International CEO Hans Niemi told council the project is designed to strike a balance between accessibility and experience.
“This is not a super expensive, very exclusive, unattainable product,” he said during the public hearing, noting the hotel will be priced below the company’s London property.
“It’s about experiential hospitality,” Niemi added, highlighting the concept’s ability to appeal across multiple segments, from corporate and convention guests to leisure travellers.
The project also forms part of a broader strategy to address Vancouver’s ongoing hotel room shortage, particularly in the downtown core where demand continues to outstrip supply.
Sunborn currently operates floating hotels in London and Gibraltar, with Vancouver marking its North American debut. A fourth property is already planned for Seville, underscoring the brand’s ambitions to expand its niche hospitality offering globally.
