History
Plans to develop a railway hotel at the present site of Hotel Vancouver first emerged in the 1920s, from Canadian Northern Railway. In December 1928 work on the present Hotel Vancouver commenced for Canadian National Railway.[13] Canadian National Railway built the hotel as a result of a land deal between the city, and Canadian Northern Railway, a company later acquired by Canadian National Railway. The land deal required the city to prepare tidal flats on False Creek for the construction of railway yards and Pacific Central Station. In return, the company guaranteed the construction of a large downtown hotel, and make the city the western terminus for its rail network.
Shortly after the erection of the building's steel frame however, work on the hotel was halted, as a result of the Great Depression. Work resumed on the building in 1937, and in 1938 Canadian National Railway partnered with Canadian Pacific Railway to complete the new hotel.[6][14] Work on the hotel was rushed to completion in time for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's 1939 royal tour of Canada.[5] The hotel was the third hotel in the city to use the name "Hotel Vancouver". The first and second Hotel Vancouver were both located southeast of the present hotel on West Georgia Street.[15] In an effort to prevent competition with the new Hotel Vancouver, Canadian Pacific Railway, closed its hotel operations at the second Hotel Vancouver once the new hotel opened.[6] The second Hotel Vancouver building was torn down in 1949, after Canadian Pacific sold the property to Eaton's in December 1948.[6]
During the mid-20th century, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio stations were located within Hotel Vancouver.[16] On 1 May 1940, Dal Richards began his career playing in an 11-piece band and a then-unknown 13-year-old Juliette at the hotel's Panorama Roof Ballroom, an event space at Hotel Vancouver.[17] Richards became a regular performer for The Roof, a CBC Radio show broadcast from the hotel.
In 1962, Canadian National Hotels, a division of Canadian National Railway, acquired Canadian Pacific Hotels' share of the property, gaining full ownership of the hotel. On January 1, 1964,[18] Hilton Hotels International assumed management of the hotel for CN, though it was never branded as a Hilton. CN Hotels resumed management of the hotel on January 1, 1984,[19] after the management contract with Hilton ended.[20] In 1988 Canadian National Hotels sold its remaining nine properties, including Hotel Vancouver, to Canadian Pacific Hotels.[21] In 2001, Canadian Pacific Hotels was reorganized as Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, adopting the name from an American company it had purchased in 1999. The hotel's name was changed to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver as a part of this re-branding effort.[22] In 2007 Fairmont Hotels and Resorts sold 25 hotel properties, including Hotel Vancouver, to
In preparation for the building's 80th anniversary, the hotel underwent a C$12 million renovation of the hotel lobby, restaurant, and guest rooms. The renovations took place from 2014 to 2018.[10]
From 2005-2008, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody featured shots of the hotel's exterior to portray the fictional Tipton Hotel.[25]
