By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | November 5, 2025
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Downtown Vancouver's Burrard Heights neighborhood is set to welcome a stylish new addition to its hospitality scene. The Arden Hotel, slated to open in early 2026, represents an innovative transformation of the former Burrard Medical Building at 1144 Burrard Street, located directly across from St. Paul's Hospital.

The six-story building, originally constructed in 1972, is undergoing a complete conversion from medical office space into a modern boutique hotel. Developer Amacon, through its hospitality division Wentworth Hospitality Group (WHG), is spearheading this adaptive reuse project that will create 62 guest rooms along with a signature restaurant featuring an outdoor patio on the street level.

Wentworth Hospitality Group brings impressive credentials to the project. The team operates the award-winning Loden Hotel, which has earned the prestigious Michelin Key award for two consecutive years and ranks among Western Canada's top hotels according to Condé Nast Traveler. WHG also manages several acclaimed Vancouver dining establishments, including Tableau Bar Bistro, Homer St. Cafe & Bar, Maxine's Cafe & Bar, and the recently opened Folietta Ristorante & Bar.

The Arden Hotel's design, created by Ciccozzi Architecture Inc. with interiors by Portico Design Group, will preserve the building's original architectural character while modernizing it for contemporary travellers. Amenities will include a fitness studio, adaptable meeting rooms, and a ground-floor community gallery space for events and exhibitions.

This conversion represents a strategic response to Vancouver's acute hotel room shortage while simultaneously repurposing vacant office space. The project reduces construction timelines and environmental impact compared to new builds, aligning with Vancouver's sustainability goals. The approximately 70-room hotel addresses growing demand as the city works toward adding 10,000 new hotel rooms to meet projected tourism needs over the coming decades.

The timing of the Arden Hotel's opening couldn't be more critical for Vancouver's hospitality sector. The city faces an unprecedented accommodation crunch with the FIFA World Cup matches scheduled for six weeks in June and July 2026, during which most hotel rooms are already booked.

Adding to the pressure, Vancouver will host the FIFA Congress 2026 at the Vancouver Convention Centre the week of April 27, bringing together all 211 FIFA member associations to make decisions that will shape the future of football. May 2026 will see the Web Summit arrive in the city, creating a spring and summer season where Vancouver will be operating at maximum capacity. These back-to-back international events underscore the urgent need for additional hotel inventory like the Arden to help accommodate the influx of visitors during this extraordinary period.

With its prime location in the revitalizing Burrard Heights area and the proven hospitality expertise of Wentworth Hospitality Group, the Arden Hotel is positioned to become an important addition to Vancouver's boutique hotel landscape when it welcomes its first guests in 2026.

Elke Porter at:
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WhatsApp:  +1 604 828 8788.
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TAGS: #Arden Hotel Vancouver #Vancouver Hotels #Boutique Hotel #Downtown Vancouver #Vancouver Hospitality #Burrard Street #WBN News Vancouver #Elke Porter

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