Paige Donner
When challenged recently with the question of where to stay in Vancouver for the Winter Olympics, only one choice qualified as “comfortably green” – The Pacific Palisades Hotel on Robson Street.
The property’s yellow high-rise perches just a couple blocks off the beaten path but still nestled in downtown and close enough to walk to the Convention Center and other downtown Vancouver landmarks, says Lydia Miller, the property’s Director of Sales and Marketing.
The hotel recently reverted back to independent ownership after doing a stint as a Kimpton property. That was when it earned its Green Keys Award – a rating of 4 out of 5 – and as an independent boutique hotel, it offers many of the same services and amenities as four and five Diamond 
properties.
The Pacific Palisades Hotel has earned a good reputation among the film and production crew and crowd – one whole floor is set up for production offices with long drafting tables and extra phone lines and their standard policy of guaranteeing the safekeeping of camera equipment housed overnight has made it a popular choice with TV crews such as NBC’s Today Show.
Each of the hotel’s 4 Penthouses are 850 Sq. Ft. and are full one-bedroom suites with complete kitchens – including working ovens and stoves. There are an additional 28 1BR suites of 550 Sq. Ft. which also have fully stocked kitchens with pots and pans and kettles for tea. There are 232 rooms total. Extended stays can be arranged.
The property is kid-friendly and pet-friendly and the residential buildings surrounding the hotel make it a natural choice for families.
The Pacific Palisades takes its hospitality seriously and offers wheat and gluten-free items on their menus and the complimentary on-site gym, MBody, is a warm and inviting oasis in what can be, in Winter, a cold and rainy city. “Urban sanity in the heart of the city,” MBody offers a pool, a steamroom, a jacuzzi, weight room and also spa services.
In keeping with the Pacific Palisades Hotel’s family-friendly motif, MBody offers mani- and pedi- services for teen and tiny princesses in the event Mom needs to get a bit of pampering while en famille. All products used are eco-friendly. Spa services are also offered for men.
The adjacent Zin Restaurant open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, has one of the “happeningest” happy hours in downtown Vancouver.
As a guest, you are entitled to the nightly complimentary wine hour – they serve only B.C. wines – and locals flock to the restaurant lounge to indulge in their $2 happy “appy” hour specials such as white truffle popcorn. They also feature a “salad bar” which is a tongue-in-cheek reference of their signature cocktails made with fresh vegetable juices such as beet and celery root.
“We offer a diverse culture at the Pacific Palisades Hotel. We’re not a big-box hotel; we’re not stuffy,” explains Miller. “Guests return for the feeling of ‘coming home’ we cultivate and for the sincerity of the staff.”
The hotel’s meeting rooms are all named after dances such as the Mambo, Samba, and Tango Rooms. They are spacious, many boast views and natural daylight for lighting. Meeting rooms and guest rooms can be booked by calling reservations or going to www.PacificPalisadesHotel.com.
Best to book early! Reservations for February’s Olympics festivities are filling up fast…
Read more on www.greenblognetwork.blogspot.com Also on www.greeninghollywood.blogspot.com
