Hotel Georgia (Vancouver) Explained

Hotel Georgia
Operator:Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Owner:Pacific Reach Properties[1]
Address:801 West Georgia Street

V6C 1P7
Coordinates:49.2834°N -123.1189°W
Opened Date:May 7, 1927
Renovation Date:2024
Rooms:156[2]
Floor Count:12

The Rosewood Hotel Georgia is a 12-story historic hotel located at 801 West Georgia Street in the city's downtown core of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

History

The Hotel Georgia was built at a cost of $1.5 million[3] and opened on May 7, 1927; the architects were Robert T. Garrow and John Graham Sr.[4] It became the first international property of Seattle-based Western Hotels on January 31, 1931, and remained with the chain, later Western International Hotels, until August 1, 1972.[5]

In 1998, the Hotel Georgia was sold to Vancouver-based Allied Hotel Properties Inc. for $45 million.[6] They spent a further $10 million renovating the hotel, reopening it as the Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia in June 1998.[7] Allied announced plans to develop the adjacent parking lot with a 50-story residential tower, before selling the hotel to Seattle-based Goodman Real Estate Inc. and the Delta Group for $65 million in 2005. The new owners reworked the plans for the tower.

In early 2007, the Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia closed for restoration work and construction of the tower.[8] In 2010, Delta Group announced that the luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts chain had been selected to manage the hotel.[9] The hotel reopened on July 10, 2011[10] as the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.[11] The hotels rooms were gutted and combined, reducing their number from 320 to 155.[12] The restoration of the hotel cost $120 million, while the adjacent Private Residences at the Hotel Georgia 48-story glass condominium tower cost a further $400 million to build. The hotel was sold to Vancouver-based Pacific Reach in 2017 for $145 million.[13]

The hotel closed for renovations on January 1, 2024, and reopened on July 3, 2024.[14] Renovations included the refurbishment of the lobby and 1927 Lobby Lounge, as well as the Reflections Terrace, front desk, and rooms and suites.[15] The basement of the hotel, that has long housed beer halls, cocktail bars, and nightclubs,[16] was also redeveloped, opening in 2024 as Prophecy, a cocktail lounge.[17]

The Private Residences at Hotel Georgia

A 48-story, 158.5 metre, high-rise residential building has been constructed on the adjoining site of the hotel's parking structure. It is the 3rd tallest tower in the city, after the Living Shangri-La Tower and the Paradox Hotel and Tower. All three of these developments are new mixed use hotel/residences towers on Georgia Street.[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pacific Reach new owner of iconic Rosewood Hotel Georgia. 2024-01-05.
  2. https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41010536/rosewood-hotel-georgia.html
  3. Web site: Rosewood Hotel Georgia is about to reopen after $120-million restoration . 2024-01-05.
  4. Book: Luxton, Donald . Building the West: The Early Architecture of British Columbia . Talonbooks . 2003 . Vancouver, British Columbia . 0-88922-474-9 . 501 .
  5. Web site: Westin Management and Property Database . Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections: Westin Hotels & Resorts, J. William Keithan Archives . May 15, 2008 . Research Exchange . September 27, 2023.
  6. News: 2005-09-13 . Planned 50-storey tower will be reworked . 2024-01-05 . The Globe and Mail . en-CA.
  7. Web site: After $10 Million Renvoation Crowne Plaza Opens Vancouver's Historic Hotel Georgia / June 1998 . 2024-01-05 . www.hotel-online.com.
  8. Web site: In Canada Year-To-Date April Is Not Bad . 2024-01-05 . www.hotel-online.com.
  9. Web site: Rosewood to manage Hotel Georgia in Vancouver . 2024-01-05.
  10. Web site: Ltd . Kostuch Media . 2013-05-31 . Rosewood Hotel Georgia Is Reborn After Massive Restoration . 2024-01-05 . Hotelier Magazine . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2011-02-03 . Vancouver's Rosewood Hotel Georgia Announces Legendary Opening Date, May 7th 2011 . 2024-01-05 . NBC News . en.
  12. News: 2011-08-01 . Iconic property gets a brand new start . 2024-01-05 . The Globe and Mail . en-CA.
  13. Web site: Pacific Reach 'very excited' being new owner of iconic Hotel Georgia . 2024-01-05.
  14. https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41011247.html
  15. Web site: 2024-01-04 . Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver Closes for Renovations . 2024-01-05 . www.travelmarketreport.com . en.
  16. News: Mackie . John . December 16, 2006 . The Entertainers' Hotel . July 26, 2024 . . 74.
  17. Web site: Inside Prophecy at Vancouver's Rosewood Hotel Georgia Dished . 2024-07-26 . dailyhive.com . en.
  18. Web site: The Private Residences at Hotel Georgia . 2024-01-05.