Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver

100   Recommended
Bedroom Suite
December 2, 2014 by EXPERT

 Map | 1 Review | 100% Recommended
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Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver
 Map | 1 Review | 100% Recommended

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Bedroom Suite

Liked:
Location
Service
Food
Amenities
Room
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Room
Bedroom Suite

The Vitals

I had requested my TA to book the Opening Special rate for our one night stay at the Shangri-La Vancouver. The details of the Opening Rate are:

Superior $345.00
Deluxe $385.00
Executive Rooms with Balcony $425.00
Executive Suite $465.00
One Bedroom Suite $595
Deluxe One Bedroom Suite $875.00

which includes a $100 hotel credit for rooms and $200 for suites. In addition, until March 31, 2009 if you stay 3 nights, the 4th is free. Those who collect miles with Shangri-La partner Airline FFPs also get an upgrade to the next category of room (if available), a $75 CHI Spa credit, triple airline miles, and guaranteed 4pm check-out. All rooms enjoy complimentary WIF and free local calls.

We booked the Executive Suite and my TA was able to confirm upgrade to the 1 Bedroom Suite at booking and also negotiated for us continental breakfast to be included as well.

The hotel only has 119 rooms and suites on the first 15 floors of Vancouver's tallest building. There is a hotel entrance on Georgia Street but the main entrance is actually underground on the Lower Lobby where the "porte cochere", so to speak, is. This entrance is accessed from Alberni Street.

Market by Jean-Georges is on the 3rd floor and has its own bar. The Ginger Bar is on the 5th floor by the pool and jacuzzi, both, not operational yet due to the season. There is a Lobby Lounge on the ground floor as well.

Valet parking is $32.00.

Room

We were allocated Room 700, a 1 bedroom suite on the 7th floor with a south facing view of the neighbouring buildings, and views overlooking the pool deck and courtyard. The layout of this suite is a bit odd. Upon entry you turn right where a luggage rack is (no closet however) and the mini-bar/refreshment centre. Turning 90 degrees a bit of a hallway takes you to the very small living room with one two seater sofa and a desk with workchair. There is a small coffee table and one side table to complete the living room. On one wall is a 42in Sony Bravia LCD TV with PVR which dominated the living room. It was, in fact, a little too big for the room size.

The refreshment centre featured a kettle but interestingly no complimentary tea to enjoy. There was a standard issue boring minibar with some vitamin water, beer, some uninspiring red and white wine and some soft drinks. The highlight of the refreshment centre was the Nespresso machine with 6 capsules of complimentary coffee. Unfortunately, it was not set up for use; fortunately having had this at other hotels I was quickly able to set it up and enjoy some coffee. All stemware is Riedel and silverware is Christofle.

Through a sliding pocket door is the bedroom and to the left the humongous marble bathroom. The bedroom is a tad small, enough for one small club chair and a king size bed and two side tables. Closet and storage space is at a premium. The bed is very comfortable and the linens are Porthault, amongst the nicest I have ever experienced. Off the bedroom is a large balcony which would be fantastic in the spring and summer months. There is a second 42in LCD in the bedroom with a Sony CD/DVD player and a subwoofer for improved sound performance.

The large marble bathroom was perhaps too large given how small the living room is. As you enter, to the right is a separate WC which is way too narrow and cramped for a North American clientele. To the left is a huge walk in shower with no door featuring a rain shower in the ceiling, a wall mounted shower head and a separate hand held unit. Water pressure is decent but because there is no door to close in the shower, the water gets cold quickly. Temperature controls were a little finicky as well. Along the wall by the WC is the double vanity featuring a small TV in the mirror. To complete the washroom is a large tub and L'Occitane toiletries. Other bathroom amenities include scale, razor set, dental kit, comb and cotton buds.

The window sheers and curtains are controlled by wall mounted controls as is the lighting. The in-room technology is not as advanced as Peninsula Hotels and still have many kinks to work out.

Some Impressions

I thought that the stay was fairly good overall especially given that it was opening night.

Two things which struck me:

1. I expected the hotel to be 97% functioning by opening day and was a little surprised to see that this was not the case. I think the hotel could have done a better job in managing expectations -- all indications from the hotel, from the time I booked all the way to check-in was that all systems were a go and everything was set. I did expect glitches and I was prepared for that. I guess I wasn't expecting a 80-85% ready hotel on opening night. I readily acknowledge that this could simply be that I expected too much but I still think better, and perhaps more honest, communication from the hotel would have gone a long way.

2. Due to tremendous local interest, crowds of people flocked to the hotel on Opening Day and the hotel had started to give tours of the hotel. I do not have an issue with the tours per se but I do have an issue with them when they become intrusive and start to negatively impact a paying guest's experience. The staff members conducting these tours never really paid attention to any possible guests in the vicinity -- after check-in we could not access the elevators due to the tours; the wait times for the elevators was significant; I was barely able to visit Market in the afternoon; we could not even access the Fitness Centre and Chi Spa; etc etc etc

I think because the footprint of the hotel is so compact the hotel has an interesting layout. There are no grand spaces and everything is a little cramped.

I do think, however, the fundamental training of the staff is excellent. Small details, such as handing over credit cards, luggage or valet parking tags, with both hands is a small, and important, touch. The staff all appear to be very proud to work at the Shangri-La and as they gain more experience I think they will do well. I just hope that the Asian robotic service style will not manifest itself.

I also love the staff uniforms very much -- long robe like jackets for the men and various chinese influenced tops with using beautiful silks for the ladies. It is, especially, fitting for Vancouver.

I think this will be a great hotel in the long term. It will be interesting to see if the hotel can sustain the high rates they are charging in Vancouver's hotel market currently during the low season -- the summer should not be a problem.

I am supposed to have a chat with the GM of the property in the near future and will post back if there are any relevant details to add.

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