The first business on the east side of the waterfront, at the Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 1, is thriving

Location. Location. Location.

The administrative team at the new AC Hotel Vancouver Waterfront is thrilled to be the first business open on the east side of the Vancouver Waterfront.

There are views of the Columbia River and the nearby Interstate Bridge, plus a look west toward the rest of the Vancouver Waterfront. And soon enough, more businesses will open around the AC, including a marketplace at the Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 1.

“I love coming to work here every day,” said David Lenke, general manager of AC Hotel Vancouver Waterfront. “It fills a market. It’s a nice, brand new, lifestyle driven branded hotel on the waterfront. This is a great addition.”

The hotel’s restaurant is open to all, not just guests of the hotel.

“Anybody who wants to come in, please come in,” he said with a smile. 

The hotel serves breakfast, and starting at noon every day, lunch. The restaurant transitions to dinner service at 3 p.m.

Lenke and his team will always be proud to say they were the first business open at the Terminal 1 area of the waterfront. That distinction comes with some obstacles. Some people walking the waterfront on the east side might just stop when they see some buildings still under construction.

“Getting people to know that we’re open is a little bit of a challenge, but it’s getting better,” Lenke said.

As far as hotel guests, they noticed right away that luxury awaited them.

This is the latest of the AC Hotels by Marriott, operating throughout the world. The Vancouver operation opened June 15, and four days later was at 80-percent capacity on the weekend, Lenke said.

This past weekend, with the nearby 4 Days of Aloha going on at Esther Short Park, the hotel was close to capacity, he said.

“It takes a while for hotels to really ramp up and really get up to speed,” he said. “We’re perfectly content with where we are right now.”

According to a press release last month detailing the grand opening, AC Hotel Vancouver Waterfront offers a combination of quality, timeless European design and comfort. It is a Marriott property, operated by Vesta Hospitality, a fully integrated hotel development and hospitality management company based in Vancouver.

The hotel is the first completed project for Terminal 1. A public marketplace featuring office and retail space, public art, and more outdoor gathering areas is expected to open in 2023.

“We are beyond excited to be part of this vibrant new waterfront community, which is rapidly becoming the region’s next must-visit lodging and dining destination,” Lenke said. “We aim to provide a sustainable and stylish way for both business and leisure travelers to immerse themselves in the energy of Vancouver.”

Located at the corner of Daniels Street and Columbia Way, the seven-story hotel offers 150 rooms, including three suites. The property offers seven meeting rooms with 11,500 square feet of meeting space.

The AC Kitchen serves European-style breakfast. The AC Lounge offers locally brewed beers and handcrafted cocktails to go with chef-created large and small plates for lunch and dinner.

The hotel has two eco decks — environmentally friendly decks. The fourth-floor deck also has patio space and furniture for guests to relax.

“The view is phenomenal,” Lenke said.