Day 6 of City Hall Encampment: Hotel Workers Call on Council to Pause Mega Hotel Approvals Until After the Election
Vancouver, BC — As Vancouver City Council prepares to consider Holborn Group’s proposed downtown megaproject this Thursday, UNITE HERE Local 40 is calling on Council to halt all major hotel and land-use approvals until after October’s municipal election, giving Vancouver residents – not just developers – the opportunity to decide what kind of city they want to build.
The proposal, which includes three supertall towers, including a 920-room luxury hotel, comes before Council at a time when Vancouver continues to face an unprecedented housing affordability crisis. Yet City Hall is continuing to fast-track luxury developments before breaking for its summer recess.
The question facing Council this week is simple: Why is Vancouver City Hall rushing a proposal by one of the city’s most controversial developers now?
For years, Holborn has faced public criticism over delays in delivering replacement social housing at Little Mountain and scrutiny over the neglect of 500 Dunsmuir. That record should be part of Council’s deliberations before approving one of the largest luxury development proposals in the city’s history.
Moreover, Holborn’s proposed “supertall” towers have prompted City Hall to undertake a review of its Higher Buildings Policy which will not be completed until after the election. This again raises the question, why bring this proposal forward now?
“Before City Hall approves another luxury megaproject, Vancouver deserves answers about whether developers who have failed to deliver on past promises should be rewarded with even bigger projects,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “This isn’t simply about one project. It’s about accountability, public trust, and whose interests City Hall is putting first.”
The hearing also comes as workers, renters, students, seniors, and families continue to struggle with rising housing costs and displacement. Council should not be making long-term decisions that reshape Vancouver’s future just weeks before voters head to the polls.
“We need to let the voters decide which city they want to live in – one that continues prioritizing luxury hotel development, or one that responds first to the housing needs of workers, renters, families, and the broader community,” said Chan.
Yesterday, Local 40’s encampment hosted a community teach-in exploring how Vancouver’s housing crisis disproportionately affects workers and migrants. Now, the campaign turns its attention to developer accountability.
UNITE HERE Local 40 is calling on Vancouver City Council to:
- Pause all major hotel and land-use approvals until after the October municipal election.
- Put affordable housing ahead of additional luxury hotel development.
- Ensure developers are held accountable for delivering on past commitments before receiving approvals for new megaprojects.
- Allow Vancouver voters to have a meaningful voice in determining the city’s housing and development priorities.
THURSDAY RALLY
Hotel workers, tenants, housing advocates, and community organizations will gather outside Vancouver City Hall ahead of the public hearing to call on Council to put affordable housing first and defer major hotel and land-use approvals until after the election.
WHAT: Rally Before Holborn Public Hearing
WHEN: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue.
VISUALS: Hotel workers and community members with “Affordable Housing Now” and “Hotels Can Wait” signs. Worker and community chanting and marching at City Hall.
Media Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785