The Westin Bayshore

The Westin Bayshore is a large waterfront hotel in Vancouver's Coal Harbour district, overlooking Burrard Inlet and the North Shore mountains. It operates as part of Westin Hotels & Resorts, a Marriott International brand, and combines accommodation, dining, wellness, meetings, and event services for leisure travelers, business guests, groups, and conventions. The property developed from the Bayshore Inn, which opened on March 27, 1961. Vancouver businessmen Hugh Martin and Douglas Welch developed the project through their company, Marwell Construction, in partnership with Seattle-based Western Hotels. The site had previously been tidal flats. Approximately four and a half acres were reclaimed through the placement of fill and the construction of concrete piles extending to bedrock. Martin and Welch initially considered a motel, but Western Hotels chief executive Edward Carlson encouraged the partners to develop a full-service resort-style hotel instead. The original hotel contained 308 rooms and was designed by Vancouver architect Douglas C. Simpson. Its T-shaped plan combined a four-story low-rise wing facing the street with an eight-story wing extending toward the water. A second tower was added in 1970, giving the complex two principal buildings and a total of 499 rooms. The property is therefore associated with both Vancouver's postwar hotel development and the expansion of Coal Harbour as a prominent waterfront district. The hotel's history also includes a highly publicized six-month stay by Howard Hughes. On March 14, 1972, Hughes moved into a three-room penthouse on the top floor. He reportedly remained inside and avoided public appearances during his residence, attracting sustained media attention despite attempts to photograph him outside the room. The property changed names as its hotel affiliations evolved. Western Hotels became Western International Hotels in 1963, and the chain was renamed Westin Hotels in 1981. The hotel subsequently became The Westin Bayshore. In November 2015, the complex was sold for C$290 million. The transaction was reported as Canada's largest single-asset sale of 2015 and set Vancouver hotel records on both a per-room and gross-value basis at the time. The hotel's current offering includes guest rooms and suites, dining venues, fitness and wellness facilities, waterfront-oriented public areas, and substantial meeting and event capacity. It is also scheduled to serve as the base hotel for the Canada men's national soccer team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Westin Bayshore began as the Bayshore Inn, a major waterfront hotel project in Vancouver's Coal Harbour. The development was led by local businessmen Hugh Martin and Douglas Welch through Marwell Construction, with Seattle-based Western Hotels as a partner. The site consisted of tidal flats, so the developers first reclaimed roughly four and a half acres by placing fill and driving concrete piles approximately 40 feet down to bedrock. Martin and Welch originally contemplated a motel, but Western Hotels executive Edward Carlson persuaded them to build a full-service resort hotel. The original construction cost was shared by Marwell Construction and Western Hotels and was reported at $6 million. The 308-room hotel opened on March 27, 1961. Designed by Vancouver architect Douglas C. Simpson, it used a T-shaped plan: a four-story low-rise wing addressed the street, while an eight-story wing projected toward the water. The project was notable for Western Hotels because it was the chain's first hotel constructed from the ground up; the company had previously expanded largely by taking over management of existing hotels along the West Coast. Western Hotels became Western International Hotels in 1963. The property expanded in 1970 when a tower wing was added. Together, the original building and the newer tower form the basis of the current complex, which contains 499 rooms across two buildings. A notable episode occurred in 1972 when Howard Hughes moved into the hotel's three-room, top-floor penthouse. He arrived on March 14 and stayed for approximately six months. Hughes did not appear publicly during the stay, and his seclusion generated considerable press interest. The hotel was renamed The Westin Bayshore in 1981, following the rebranding of the hotel chain as Westin Hotels. It later became part of the Westin Hotels & Resorts portfolio under Marriott International. In November 2015, the complex was sold for C$290 million. The transaction was described as Canada's largest single-asset sale of that year and set Vancouver records based on both total price and price per available room. Today, the property operates as an upscale full-service hotel serving visitors to Vancouver, corporate travelers, meetings, conferences, weddings, and other events. Its waterfront location, two-building room inventory, dining facilities, wellness amenities, and event capacity remain central to its market identity. The property is also scheduled to accommodate the Canada men's national soccer team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

• 2026

  Canada soccer team base for FIFA World Cup

  [1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  The Canada men's national soccer team is scheduled to use the hotel as its base during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

• 2015

  Hotel complex sold

  [1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  The property is sold for C$290 million in a transaction reported as a Canadian single-asset and Vancouver hotel record at the time.

• 1981

  Property adopts the Westin Bayshore name

  [1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel is renamed The Westin Bayshore after the chain adopts the Westin Hotels name.

• 1972

  Howard Hughes stays at the hotel

  [1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  Howard Hughes begins a secluded six-month residence in the top-floor penthouse.

• 1970

  Tower wing added

  [1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  A tower wing is added, expanding the original low-rise hotel.

• 1963

  Western Hotels becomes Western International Hotels

  [1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel's operating chain changes its name to Western International Hotels.

• 1961

  Bayshore Inn opens

  [1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  The 308-room Bayshore Inn opens on March 27 on a reclaimed Coal Harbour site developed by Marwell Construction and Western Hotels.

Upscale waterfront hotel serving leisure, business, group, conference, and event travelers in central Vancouver.

• Hotel accommodation · 1961

  Guest rooms and suites

  The property provides accommodation across two buildings containing 499 rooms. Its waterfront setting gives many rooms and public spaces access to views of Coal Harbour, Burrard Inlet, and the North Shore mountains. Accommodation is positioned for leisure guests, business travelers, groups, and visitors attending Vancouver events.

• Hospitality services

  Meetings and events

  The Westin Bayshore offers extensive meeting and event facilities within a large full-service hotel complex. The offering serves conferences, corporate gatherings, weddings, receptions, and other group functions, supported by guest accommodation, dining, and the property's downtown waterfront location.

• Hotel amenities

  Dining and wellness services

  The hotel combines multiple food-and-beverage venues with fitness and wellness amenities. These services extend the property beyond room accommodation and support both overnight guests and organized events.

• 2026

  Designation as Canada men's soccer team baseStrategy

  Background

  Canada is scheduled to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with matches hosted in North America.

  Action taken

  The hotel is scheduled to serve as the base for the Canada men's national soccer team during the tournament.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement is expected to increase the property's visibility as a major Vancouver waterfront hotel, although the tournament has not yet taken place.

  Source

• 2015

  Sale of the hotel complexM&A

  Background

  The Vancouver hotel property changed ownership in November 2015.

  Action taken

  The complex was sold for C$290 million.

  Aftermath

  The transaction was reported as Canada's largest single-asset sale of 2015 and a record Vancouver hotel transaction on a per-room and gross-value basis.

  Sale price. C$290 million (November 2015)

  Source

• 1981

  Adoption of the Westin Bayshore identityStrategy

  Background

  The hotel's chain affiliation changed from Western International Hotels as the group developed the Westin identity.

  Action taken

  The property was renamed The Westin Bayshore.

  Aftermath

  The hotel continued operating under the Westin brand and is now part of Marriott International's brand portfolio.

  Source

• 1970

  Addition of the tower wingGeneration change

  Background

  The original 1961 hotel consisted of a low-rise and an eight-story waterfront wing.

  Action taken

  A newer tower wing was added to the complex.

  Aftermath

  The expanded two-building property ultimately provided 499 rooms.

  Source

• 1961

  Shift from motel concept to full-service resort hotelStrategy

  Background

  Developers Hugh Martin and Douglas Welch initially considered building a motel on the reclaimed Coal Harbour site.

  Action taken

  Following advice from Western Hotels executive Edward Carlson, the partners developed a full-service resort-style hotel instead.

  Aftermath

  The resulting Bayshore Inn opened with 308 rooms and became Western Hotels' first ground-up hotel development.

  Construction cost. $6 million (1961)

  Source

• 2026

  The hotel is selected as the Canada men's national soccer team base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup[1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Canada men's national soccer team is scheduled to use The Westin Bayshore as its base for the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

• 2015

  The hotel complex is sold for C$290 million[1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The property changed ownership in a November transaction valued at C$290 million. The sale was described as Canada's largest single-asset sale of the year and a Vancouver hotel record by both gross value and value per room.

• 1981

  The Bayshore Inn is renamed The Westin Bayshore[1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The property adopted the Westin Bayshore name after its hotel chain changed its name to Westin Hotels.

• 1972

  Howard Hughes takes up residence at the hotel[1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Howard Hughes moved into the hotel's top-floor, three-room penthouse on March 14 and stayed for approximately six months while avoiding public appearances.

• 1970

  The hotel adds its tower wing[1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  A newer tower was added to the original low-rise hotel, contributing to the property's current two-building configuration and 499-room capacity.

• 1961

  The Bayshore Inn opens in Vancouver[1]The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The 308-room Bayshore Inn opened on March 27 after the Coal Harbour site was reclaimed and developed by Marwell Construction in partnership with Western Hotels.

1. 1The Westin Bayshoreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Westin Bayshore Vancouver official hotel pagemarriott.com