The Burrard - modern edge meets retro style in Vancouver

The Burrard is all about contrasts: it’s a former 1956 motor inn but offers modern amenities, it’s downtown but on the edge of two residential neighbourhoods, and it offers a rare combination of great value but lots of character as well.

The hotel was fully renovated in 2010, but the design team took pains to retain the retro spirit of the property, which our guests really appreciate. The custom mid-century modern furniture in the rooms, the original neon sign, and the tropical inner courtyard are all very different to what you’ll find in the average mid-price property. And we also encourage our guests to get out and connect with our community, whether that’s by heading to our favourite little cocktail bar, shopping Davie Street, or borrowing one of our free bikes to see the city on two wheels.

Being a smaller property means that our management team literally greets most of our guests at some point during their stay, which gives them the opportunity to get first-hand feedback on what they love, what they don’t, and ways we can improve. That’s everything from being able to cast Netflix movies from their phone to the television in their room to adding more bikes to our fleet, and upgrading the teas we offer in the rooms.

Thanks to technology, guests are more independent than they used to be. They’ll use maps on their phone to find their way around the city, check Yelp for restaurant recommendations, and watch shows on their iPad instead of relying on in-room movies. But that makes good customer service even more important. Guests really appreciate it when you take the time to help them, offer personal suggestions, and make their visit easier in some way.

There are very few cities in the world that combine access to the outdoors with dining and culture the way that Vancouver does. It’s a cliché to say that you can ski in the morning and have an amazing seafood lunch on the water the same day, but it’s absolutely true. But more than that, Vancouver’s relaxed vibe fosters a sense of creativity and diversity, and that’s very appealing.

The West End neighbourhood is a secret hiding in plain sight. Visitors tend to walk around the outside of it: Burrard, Davie, Denman and Robson streets form the perimeter of a large chunk of the neighbourhood. But head into the middle, and you’ll find green spaces, farmers markets, heritage buildings, and little coffee spots like the Greenhorn Café.

The most obvious reason is our location, right off Davie Street, which is really the heart of Vancouver’s gay community. But they also love the retro design touches and cheeky spirit that The Burrard evokes.

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