VANCOUVER, BC, April 9, 2025 /CNW/ - To build the 10,000 hotel rooms Vancouver urgently needs by 2050 to keep pace with growing demand, a new report released today by Destination Vancouver and the BC Hotel Association, Hotel Community Impact Assessment, outlines a clear strategy to meet this target while boosting jobs, animating neighbourhoods, and unlocking billions in economic activity.

Shifts in the real estate market—such as declining demand for office and strata developments—have created a rare window of opportunity for hotel development.

"Hotel development needs to be seen as a city-building tool, said Royce Chwin, President & CEO of Destination Vancouver. "We're seeing unprecedented interest for investment in new hotel properties in Vancouver. There is an opening to take swift action, otherwise capital will move wherever conditions are more favourable."

Destination Vancouver's 2023 study on the lack of new hotel capacity demonstrated that without new investment, that lack of hotel supply would translate into significant losses to the provincial economy.

Following the publication of that report, Destination Vancouver and the BC Hotel Association formed the Vancouver Hotel Development Task Force to take concrete action on the issue. Made up of representatives from industry and the City of Vancouver, the goal of the Task Force is to identify and recommend strategies to enable a sustainable and appropriate supply of new hotel development.

"This is about more than hotel rooms—it's about building a vibrant, resilient city. Hotels are economic engines and social anchors," said Ingrid Jarrett, co-chair of the Task Force with Chwin and the former CEO of the BC Hotel Association. "They support jobs, events, tourism, local businesses, and can enliven neighbourhoods."

This new report was commissioned by the Task Force and was undertaken in parallel with a report City staff has been preparing for presentation to Council on April 15.

Hotel Crunch Threatens Growth

Vancouver hotels are operating at near full capacity, with 80% average annual occupancy and up to 95% during peak seasons—well above rates in peer cities. The lack of new capacity makes it increasingly difficult to attract major conferences and marquee events and meet visitor demand.

Compounding the issue has been a marked decline in hotel supply. Between 2002 and 2022, Vancouver saw a net loss of hotel rooms, largely due to hotel closures and conversions (the pandemic removed 550 rooms from the city's inventory, with purchases by BC Housing and the City of Vancouver to convert those rooms into supportive housing).

Meanwhile, development stalled: just 12 new hotels were built in the last 20 years.

"Vancouver has the same number of hotel rooms as we did 2002," said Chwin. "There are 22 projects currently in the development pipeline, representing approximately 4,200 rooms, which is encouraging. We're looking forward to the industry moving ahead with these new projects."

Five Hotel Models to Drive Growth and Inclusion

Five hotel development scenarios tailored to Vancouver's neighbourhoods and market needs are detailed in the report. Each scenario offers a scalable model to deliver a mix of price points, hotel types, and community benefits across the city.

• The Event Space: Large, luxury hotels with state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces.
• The Big Brand: Large full-service hotels at an upper mid-market price point located near transit and attractions.
• The Familiar: These are limited-service, extended-stay hotels in local commercial districts.
• The Basics: Modern, budget-friendly options that cater to young people.
• The Urban Resort: High-end, boutique hotels offering unique local experiences.

Massive Economic Impact Within Reach

If the needed 10,000 new hotel rooms are built, the report forecasts:

• 5,450 direct local hospitality jobs.
• Up to 8,000 indirect jobs in retail, events, and services.
• $125 million in annual municipal tax revenue.
• $78 million in provincial tax revenue.

To overcome development barriers, the report outlines recommendations, including:

1. Deferring development charges.
2. Pre-zoning for hotel use in transit-oriented areas.
3. Creative solutions for parking and loading.
4. Pairing hotels with residential developments.
5. Building strategic partnerships to reduce risk and boost demand.

"We're grateful to Destination Vancouver for their leadership in bringing the industry together and providing clear recommendations through this report," said Mayor Ken Sim. They've been an invaluable partner in the Hotel Development Task Force, collaborating with City staff to shape proposed updates aimed at encouraging new hotel developments and supporting a thriving visitor economy. These updates will be presented to City Council later this month."

Although this report is focused on hotel development in Vancouver, both the methodology and many of the opportunities identified are likely to apply across other municipalities experiencing a hotel shortage.

Report: Hotel Community Impact Assessment.

San Francisco, April 9, 2025 — Duetto, a leading provider of revenue management software for the hospitality industry, today announced the acquisition of HotStats, a global leader in financial benchmarking for hotels. The acquisition accelerates Duetto’s ambition to become the definitive revenue and profit operating system for the hotel industry, equipping hoteliers worldwide with a differentiated view of both their top-line revenue and operating performance across rooms, food & beverage, and ancillary services.

We’re thrilled to welcome HotStats into the Duetto family,” said David Woolenberg, CEO of Duetto. “By augmenting our existing suite of solutions with HotStats’ industry-leading financial benchmarking data asset, we’re able to deliver the industry’s most comprehensive solution for driving revenue and profit optimization. Together, we will reimagine what’s possible for hotel revenue and profitability.”

HotStats’ core offering in hotel profitability benchmarking enriches Duetto’s mission to unify every revenue stream under one platform. This new partnership will give hoteliers a clear, actionable view of their overall profits, driving data-backed decisions that increase efficiency and elevate the guest experience.

“Duetto’s commitment to reshaping revenue and profit optimization resonates strongly with our complementary focus on actionable financial insights,” said Michael Grove, CEO of HotStats. “We see enormous potential in joining forces, extending our impact to help hotels identify opportunities to improve efficiency, better meet customer demand, optimize profitability across every facet of their operations.”

“HotStats has long been a pioneer in profitability benchmarking, and it is only fitting that the next stage of its evolution will be with an equally visionary hospitality technology provider,” said Jonathan Langston, founder and retiring Chairman of HotStats.

This acquisition spotlights Duetto’s dedication to strategic expansion under the ownership of GrowthCurve Capital, which acquired Duetto last year. By developing and employing advanced analytics, robust reporting, and an ever-evolving product suite, Duetto affirms its status as a go-to partner for hotels seeking a unified source of truth for their revenue intelligence and profitability metrics. The entire HotStats team will be joining Duetto as part of the transaction.

Toronto, ON, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- was named as a recipient of the for the fifth consecutive year during the Awards Gala at the 2025 (CFA) National Convention in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This milestone places Days Inns - Canada among an elite group of franchisors with a proven track record of exceptional franchise relations and support.

"Achieving this designation for five straight years represents more than just an award - it's validation of our franchisee-first philosophy," said Irwin Prince, President and COO of Days Inns - Canada. "This remarkable consistency in franchisee satisfaction stems from our ongoing commitment to collaborative growth and mutual success."

The Franchisees' Choice program, now in its 15th year, is based on comprehensive surveys where franchisees evaluate their franchisors across multiple critical aspects of the business relationship, including initial and ongoing support, leadership effectiveness, communication quality, and overall satisfaction and relationship between the franchisor and franchisee.

"We celebrate Franchisees' Choice Designees for exemplifying franchising's core principle of working in partnership, sharing success, and Growing Together™," says Sherry McNeil, CFA President & Chief Executive Officer. "Our congratulations go out to this year's Franchisees' Choice Designees on receiving this outstanding vote of confidence from their franchisees."

For prospective franchisees, the Franchisees’ Choice Designation serves as an important endorsement from within the franchise community. It signals a high level of satisfaction among existing franchisees and highlights the brand’s commitment to mutual success.

With a portfolio of over 105 independently owned and operated hotels across Canada, the Days Inn by Wyndham brand remains committed to delivering exceptional experiences and first-rate accommodations. To learn more about Days Inns - Canada, visit .

For more information about Franchisees' Choice designation and a full list of winners, visit the .

Kelowna, BC — The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) and GreenStep are proud to announce the renewal of their impactful partnership, reinforcing British Columbia’s position as a national leader in sustainable tourism through the EcoFund Verified program.

Since becoming the first industry association to champion the EcoFund program, the BCHA has played a pivotal role in advancing environmental responsibility within the hotel sector. With 70 EcoFund Verified properties and 457 tonnes of carbon (tCO2e) reduced across 32 projects to date, equivalent to removing 107 gas-powered vehicles from the road, BCHA members represent the highest impact of participating properties across Canada.

“We’re incredibly proud of the ongoing impact of the partnership between GreenStep and BCHA,” said Angela Nagy, CEO of GreenStep. “This renewal reflects the shared commitment to continuous improvement and measurable results in sustainability.”

Through this renewed collaboration, BCHA continues to support its members in reducing their carbon footprint, improving energy efficiency, and contributing to global climate solutions. The EcoFund Verified program enables properties to track emissions, reduce energy use, and invest in high-quality, verified climate projects.

“Elevating our strategic partnership with GreenStep allows us to bring sustainability practices and programs directly to our members in a meaningful, measurable way,” said Paul Hawes, President and CEO of BCHA. “We’re proud to see BC leading the country and to be part of this pioneering effort once again.”

The EcoFund program not only advances environmental stewardship but also provides tangible value to participating properties. Members receive verified carbon assessments, guidance on reducing emissions, access to green funding opportunities, and marketing tools to communicate their sustainability achievements to guests.

Across Canada, GreenStep’s EcoFund Verified program has successfully supported 43 carbon reduction projects, investing over $1.7 million to date, with several more projects planned for 2025. These initiatives have achieved impressive climate outcomes, cumulatively eliminating 803 tCO₂e - helping participating properties to demonstrate meaningful and measurable progress toward environmental sustainability. BCHA’s collective membership has had the greatest impact of any group in the country, demonstrating that industry collaboration can achieve powerful, measurable progress in sustainability and climate action.