Low Carbon Floating Hotel Planned for Vancouver by Finnish Developer

Finnish hotel developer Sunborn International Holding (SBIH) has proposed a 250-room floating hotel for Vancouver’s waterfront. The project, in collaboration with the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (VHFC), aims to create new jobs, stimulate economic growth, and introduce a new destination on the water.

Graham Clarke, Chairman of VHFC, states that the floating hotel will address the pressing need for hotel rooms in Vancouver. The project is planned in a way that will not affect the environment, will not leave a permanent footprint, and will add new public spaces, viewpoints, cafes, and restaurants to Vancouver’s waterfront.

The proposal aims to create 250 new hotel rooms without using valuable city real estate. If approved, the off-site construction of Sunborn Vancouver will minimize disruption and use renewable energy, reducing its power consumption by 60-70%.

The hotel will connect directly to the Vancouver Convention Centre’s existing infrastructure and function like a regular on-land building without discharging waste into the water. It will not use fossil fuels and will not create emissions from engines or generators.

Hans Niemi, CEO of Sunborn International, expressed enthusiasm about the project and asserted that the hotel will be a beautiful addition to the Vancouver waterfront.

The floating hotel and its amenities and services are expected to create over 200 direct new jobs. This privately funded development project is currently undergoing a rezoning process with the City of Vancouver. If approved, the hotel is scheduled to open in 2027.