Our Story Lives Here
A building that's watched Vancouver grow, and a hotel that's grown with it
Look, we're not gonna tell you some fairy tale about how everything was perfect from day one. Back in 1912, when old Cornelius Vorn decided to build this place on what was basically the edge of town, people thought he'd lost his mind. But he saw something the rest didn't - he knew Vancouver was gonna be something special.
The original building was smaller, sure, but it had bones. Real craftmanship that you just don't see anymore. Hand-carved moldings, imported marble, the kind of attention to detail that made guests feel like they'd stepped into somewhere extraordinary.
Over the decades, we've changed - expanded, renovated, brought in modern luxuries - but we've never forgotten what made this place special to begin with. That blend of old-world charm and knowing what today's guests actually want.
Cornelius Vorn opens the doors with just 32 rooms. The lobby's chandelier - which still hangs there today - was shipped all the way from Prague. Guests arrived by horse and carriage, and the building was considered way too fancy for the neighborhood.
They added the grand ballroom and another wing. Vancouver's elite would host galas here that'd go till dawn. During prohibition, well... let's just say the basement got pretty popular. That speakeasy's now our wine cellar, and yeah, the original bar's still down there.
The war years were tough. The hotel became temporary housing for returning soldiers and their families. Not glamorous, but it mattered. When things picked up again in the late 40s, we renovated room by room, keeping that heritage feel while adding modern plumbing that actually worked.
Nearly got torn down to make way for an office tower. Can you imagine? A group of preservationists fought like hell to save it, and they won. The restoration took three years and cost a fortune, but we brought back original details that'd been covered up for decades.
We added the spa and wellness center - something old Cornelius definitely didn't have in mind. But it works. The architects designed it to complement the original structure, using similar materials and respecting the building's character. Guests could now get a hot stone massage in a century-old building.
Completely redesigned our luxury suites with smart room tech, premium bedding, and bathrooms that'd make you weep with joy. But we kept the original hardwood floors, the crown moldings, the tall windows. Best of both worlds, really.
We're still here, still welcoming guests, still figuring out how to honor our past while being relevant today. The building's seen over a century of Vancouver's history, and we're pretty proud to be its caretakers. Not perfect, but genuine - that's what we're going for.
The ceiling medallions in the lobby were hand-crafted on-site by Italian artisans. Each one's slightly different if you look close enough.
The landing windows feature scenes from BC's natural landscape. They've survived everything including that earthquake in '46.
Carved from old-growth Douglas fir. The banister's worn smooth by thousands of hands over the years - there's something poetic about that.
Six fireplaces throughout the building, each with imported Italian marble surrounds. They're gas now, but the mantels are untouched originals.
It's not just about keeping old stuff around for the sake of it. These walls, these details - they tell stories about craftsmanship, about a time when building something meant building it to last. When you stay here, you're experiencing over a century of hospitality, of guests who came before you, of moments both grand and everyday.
But here's the thing - we're not a museum. We're a living, breathing hotel that happens to have incredible bones. The goal's always been to respect what came before while making sure you've got everything you need now. Fast WiFi in a room with 110-year-old crown molding? That's exactly what we're about.
Every renovation, every upgrade - we ask ourselves if Cornelius would approve. Would he want his guests comfortable? Absolutely. Would he sacrifice the soul of the place for convenience? Never. That's the balance we try to strike every single day.
Photos and stories only tell you so much. The real magic happens when you walk through the doors and feel it for yourself.