Vancouver Good

Yesterday, I went on a fun “hard hat” tour of the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel and their Willow Stream Spa. The hotel opens January 2010  (and is already fully booked for the Olympics), and the spa opens in February 2010.

Amidst the blustery, rainy, horrible day, myself and 10 additonal ladies from the Downtown Networking Association donned pink construction hats as we were guided around the in-progress Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel. To be honest, it all went by in a blur, but here are some highlights I remembered:

• We were greeted by several amazing employees from the Fairmont Pacific Rim, including spa director Paul Hawco, sales coordinator Miki Lawson, the hotel’s executive chefs, and spa expert Anne McCall Wilson, who writes the Willow Stream Spa magazine.
• The hotel will be one of the largest buildings in Vancouver, but it’s being designed to feel more intimate and less like a convention hotel.
• The entrance ways will be incredibly grand, including lots of beautiful marble floors & walls and wood panelling.
• The restaurants and services will include: Giovane’s, an Italian-inspired cafe. A lovely lady (who’s name I can’t remember!) explained how they’re baking everything in-house and will have their coffee roasted by Vince Piccolo from 49th Parallel. The cafe will also include a beauitful showcase wall of art, textiles, and books – all hand picked with a focus on local talent. Upstairs will be restaurant the Oru, which will offer authentic pan-asian cuisine. The kitchen in the hotel is huge – over 3000 sqaure feet -  with several walk-ins,  a temperature controlled room for chocolate, and a pastry kitchen. The executive chef said the menu is being designed at a reasonable price point (think Earl’s or Market at Shangri-La pricing). The hotel will be making as much as possible in house, including their own charcuterie.
• The sample hotel room is quite nice, at around 400 square feet for a standard room. Each room comes equipped with a media area that lets you plug in your computer and feed it directly to your 42″ television. There’s also an espresso machine in every room, and local photographs and art featured. The “standard” bathroom is beautiful, and includes a huge soaker tub and oversized shower. Luxury city.
• And of course, the Willow Stream Spa. Over 11,000 square feet, including a steam room, exercise room, and a huge 2500 square foot patio with a beautiful view. There are treatment rooms for men and women, and a lounge area with a fireplace for gatherings.
• Our tour ended with a glass of bubbly, a canape sampler, and a little gift from the spa.

Overall, I was quite impressed with seeing the hotel in-progress and their committment to quality and their use of local resources. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished product next year and trying the spa and restaurants. Thanks to everyone at the hotel for a great tour.

Stay tuned!

Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel and Willow Stream Spa
1038 Canada Place Way, Vancouver