The Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver has been named one of the Best Hotels in Canada in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, earning an impressive seventh place nationally and standing as the only Vancouver property to achieve the distinction this year.
As the hotel prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in January 2026, the recognition marks a milestone in a storied history that has made Pan Pacific Vancouver synonymous with luxury hospitality on Canada’s West Coast.
“This recognition is both an honour and a celebration of the lasting connections we’ve built with our guests over the years,” said the Pan Pacific Vancouver team in a statement. “It reflects not only the loyalty of those who continue to choose us, but also the dedication of our exceptional team who bring our hospitality experiences to life every day.”
A Vancouver Landmark with Global Prestige
For nearly four decades, Pan Pacific Vancouver has welcomed travellers from around the world to its waterfront location at Canada Place, where the harbour, mountains, and skyline converge in one of the most iconic views in the city.
The hotel’s distinctive white sail roofline has become a hallmark of Vancouver’s skyline since its opening for Expo 86, serving as a gateway for international visitors. Its blend of architectural design, world-class service, and harbourfront elegance continues to position it among Canada’s premier destinations for both leisure and business travellers.
The accolade from Condé Nast Traveller reaffirms the property’s longstanding reputation as one of Canada’s most celebrated hotels, complementing its history of AAA/CAA Four Diamond and TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards.
Inside Pan Pacific Vancouver
Located at 300–999 Canada Place, the five-star Pan Pacific Vancouver features 503 guest rooms and suites, many offering panoramic views of Coal Harbour and the North Shore Mountains. The hotel’s Pacific Club Rooms & Suites offer exclusive amenities, including private check-in, dedicated concierge service, and access to the Pacific Club Lounge.
Signature accommodations such as the Pacific Suite include a jacuzzi, rain shower, full kitchen, and baby grand piano, catering to guests seeking elevated luxury and privacy.
Amenities include a rooftop pool, Spa Utopia, fitness centre, and extensive business and event facilities. The hotel offers valet and self-parking, electric vehicle charging, and pet-friendly accommodations.
Dining and Events at the Waterfront
Pan Pacific Vancouver is also known for its culinary offerings, anchored by Five Sails, an acclaimed fine-dining restaurant with panoramic ocean views. Oceans 999 serves coastal cuisine and breakfast favourites, while the Coal Harbour Bar is a popular gathering spot for cocktails overlooking the waterfront.
With 42,000 square feet of meeting space across 20 rooms, including a 9,600-square-foot ballroom, the hotel is a destination for conventions, weddings, and corporate events. Its direct access to the Vancouver Convention Centre East and cruise ship terminal enhances its appeal to global travellers.
Retail at the Pan Pacific Vancouver
Beyond its role as a world-class hotel, Pan Pacific Vancouver has a rich connection to retail that stretches back to its opening in 1986. Located on the third level, the hotel’s retail galleria has long catered to international visitors arriving through the Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal, offering an elegant mix of boutiques, galleries, and specialty shops.
Today, five retail spaces remain, featuring a curated selection of art galleries and boutiques:
- Chali-Rosso Art Gallery – Showcasing fine art by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and other world-renowned masters.
- Premiere – A fashion boutique offering contemporary collections.
- Ramin & Sons – A well-known purveyor of unique antiques and fine collectibles.
- Sasaki Art Gallery – Blending fashion, art, and local creativity.
- Victory Antiques – Specializing in vintage furnishings and décor.
The Luxury Retail Era of the 1990s
During the 1990s, the retail galleria within Pan Pacific Vancouver was among the most sophisticated shopping destinations in the city. At that time, Japanese tourism was booming, and luxury brands sought proximity to this high-spending clientele.
A licensed Celine boutique operated on the third floor — one of only two Celine locations in Vancouver at the time — managed by Collections International, a local retail group that also operated a multi-brand luxury designer store (including Hermes, Prada) within the same galleria. Nearby, Farideh, a high-end women’s fashion retailer, offered European designer labels and featured an adjacent Valentino boutique, also operated under license.
The galleria also included Furs by Jacques, a luxury furrier owned by the Saitoh Group, catering to affluent Japanese visitors and cruise ship travellers. Together, these boutiques created a compact yet influential luxury enclave within the Pan Pacific complex, positioning it as an early hub for international designer retail in Vancouver.
However, as the city’s luxury retail landscape evolved through the early 2000s, brands gradually shifted toward Burrard Street and West Hastings Street.
A Storied History: From Expo 86 to Iconic Status
The Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel and Canada Place share a remarkable legacy that began with Expo 86, a pivotal event that transformed Vancouver into a global destination.
The hotel opened on January 8, 1986, shortly before the World’s Fair, as part of a redevelopment project led by the Canada Harbour Place Corporation, a federal Crown entity established to transform the former Canadian Pacific Railway Pier B–C into a world-class waterfront hub.
The complex was designed collaboratively by Zeidler Roberts Partnership, Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership, and DA Architects + Planners, incorporating the now-famous white sail roofline, rising approximately 90 feet high, as a tribute to Canada’s maritime heritage.
Below the hotel sit the Vancouver Convention Centre East, the World Trade Centre offices, and the Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal, which can berth up to three cruise ships simultaneously. Together, these facilities embody the spirit of Expo 86 — innovation, design, and global connectivity.
