HotelChatter - Tag: British Columbia Hotels

That Swarovski Hotel in British Columbia is Gonna Have Ice Ice, Baby

Jenna — 2009-06-10T16:00:39-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/sparklinhill2.jpg" class="top"> We were cruising around <a href="http://www.vegaschatter.com">VegasChatter</a> this morning when we pictured the glittering lights of the Vegas Strip and our train of thought, naturally, wandered back to hotels, which made for an entire morning filled with visions of sparkling hotels dancing in our heads. And then we remembered: a sparkling hotel is going to <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/3/31/145535/264/hotels/The_Swarovski_Crystal_Hotel_Looks_Better_Than_a_Crystal_Swan_">exist soon</a>. Here's what the latest renderings of the interiors of that <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/3/18/124250/447/hotels/Meanwhile_In_Canada_They_re_Building_Hotels_Out_of_Crystal">Swarovski crystal hotel</a> up in British Columbia, Canada officially called Sparkling Hill are looking like. These should be ready for us to look at in real life when the hotel opens in March 2010, but for now we'll have to make do with these <a href="http://www.sparklinghill.com/gallery">semi-blurry

Vernon: Meanwhile, In Canada, They're Building Hotels Out of Crystal

Jenna — 2009-03-18T13:29:01-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/SHR_Website_GalleryCrane2Fullsize.jpg" class="top"> Well, it's official: we're just gonna give up and move to Canada, the land of good hockey, positive attitudes, yummy chocolate, delish beer and now, apparently, sparkly Swarovski crystal fantasy hotels. As we watch the financial rug being pulled out from under developments all over the U.S., we can't help but want to high-five our Northern neighbo(u)rs for going ahead with plans for the Sparkling Hill Resort and Wellness Hotel, the first hotel project in North America to incorporate Swarovski Crystal elements into every aspect of its design. This does not appear to be a joke. According to a press release announcing the official unveiling of the hotel's design, Andy Altmayer, head of Circle of Innovation

Victoria: Pacific Northwest Hotel Guide :: Bubblegum Tea at the Empress in Victoria

Tim L. — 2008-07-11T09:05:14-05:00

HotelChatter contributing editor Tim Leffel is moving around British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, seeing the hotel scene from a family travel perspective. All prices are in Canadian dollars--which currently trade slightly higher than U.S. dollars. Enjoy.

Where would the original grand hotel in the most British town in British Columbia be without high tea in the afternoon?

The Empress Hotel opened in 1909 in the style of an Edwardian chateau and hosted a steady stream of British royalty and celebrities. It went through several rounds of additions and renovations and became part of the newly formed Fairmont chain in 1999, when the Canadian Pacific railway company spun off its hotels and rebranded them.

Victoria: Pacific Northwest Hotel Guide:: The Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, BC

Tim L. — 2008-07-10T09:00:14-05:00

<![CDATA[HotelChatter contributing editor <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/user/Tim%20L.">Tim Leffel</a> is moving around British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, seeing the hotel scene from a family travel perspective. All prices are in Canadian dollars--which currently trade slightly higher than U.S. dollars. Enjoy. <object width="399" height="299"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iWSdolS_ITs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iWSdolS_ITs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="399" height="299"></embed></object> The Inner Harbour of Victoria, on Vancouver Island in Canada is a hub of activity. Seaplanes land and take off, whale watching tours go in and out, and Little "pickle boats" circle it all on tours. It's easy to catch the action from <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Grand+Pacific/ian/116565">Hotel Grand Pacific</a>, where nearly every room has a killer view (more than half facing the harbour) and each one has a balcony. The video tour

Vancouver: Pacific Northwest Hotel Guide :: Standard Gold-Standard Fairmont Experience in Vancouver

Tim L. — 2008-07-09T09:00:14-05:00

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is known as simply "Hotel Vancouver" by many taxi drivers and it is indeed the iconic hotel in town, competing with the Wedgewood Hotel as the top prestige address. The stone and peaked metal roof building was constructed jointly by Canada's two national railways and completed in 1939, just in time for a Royal visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.