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New Report: Vancouver City Hall Fast-Tracking Hotels While Affordable Housing Falls Behind

Analysis finds hotel approvals are outpacing affordable housing, even as World Cup demand falls short and voters overwhelmingly prioritize homes over hotels

A new report released today by UNITE HERE Local 40 raises serious questions about Vancouver City Hall’s push to fast-track hotel development while the city’s housing affordability crisis continues to worsen.

The report, Vancouver’s Hotel Room ‘Crisis’: A Developers’ Bonanza, Not an Affordability Solution, finds that Vancouver City Council has approved more hotel rooms than affordable housing units over the past year and a half, while advancing policies that give hotel developers new incentives, reduced contributions, and faster approvals.

The report argues that Vancouver has an affordability crisis, not a hotel crisis, and that City Hall is prioritizing hotel development while deeply affordable housing falls behind.

“Vancouver residents and workers are being told there is an urgent hotel room crisis, but the data tells a different story,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “At a time when people are struggling to afford rent, City Hall should be moving with urgency to build affordable housing, not giving hotel developers a fast track.”

According to the report, hotel approvals have outpaced affordable housing approvals over the combined 2025 and 2026 year-to-date period. In 2025, Council approved 1,011 hotel rooms compared to 719 social housing and co-op homes. In 2026 year-to-date, Council approved nearly 2,000 hotel rooms compared to 1,848 social, non-market, and co-op homes. Combined, that amounts to 16.2 per cent more hotel rooms than affordable housing units approved during the period analyzed.

The report also challenges one of the central arguments used to justify urgent hotel approvals: World Cup demand. Despite repeated warnings that Vancouver lacked enough hotel rooms for FIFA, recent reporting on booking data shows that Vancouver-area June hotel bookings were down 20 percent.

The report points to several public policy advantages being extended to hotel developers, including density incentives, Community Amenity Contribution exclusions, fast-track zoning, reduced development charges, and the removal of future public hearings for some hotel projects.

The report also warns that some hotel proposals could displace existing renters. It flags proposed hotel developments at 75 East 8th Avenue and 148 East 6th Avenue as projects that could replace existing rental housing with hotel rooms.

The release of the report comes as recent polling shows Vancouver voters support prioritizing affordable housing over hotel development by a three-to-one margin.

“Voters are clear: affordable housing should come first,” said Chan. “Vancouver workers keep this city running. They serve the visitors, staff the hotels, clean the rooms, cook the food, and care for the city. They deserve to live here too. That is why we are calling for Affordable Housing Now.”

The report is being released as workers, residents, and community allies prepare to launch Affordable Housing Now! – a campaign calling on Vancouver City Hall to put affordable housing before hotel developer giveaways.

Key Findings from the Report

  • Hotel approvals are outpacing affordable housing. The report finds Council approved 1,011 hotel rooms compared to 719 social/co-op/supportive homes in 2025, and 1,972 hotel rooms compared to 1,848 social/co-op/supportive homes in 2026 year-to-date.
  • Over the combined period, hotel rooms beat affordable housing units by 16.2%.
  • The World Cup “hotel shortage” argument is weakening. Recent reporting of booking data shows Vancouver-area June hotel bookings were down 20 percent, with average occupancy across Vancouver’s seven match days at 57.4%.
  • Vancouver may hit its year 2050 hotel room target decades early. Nearly 7,000 hotel rooms are already in the development pipeline toward a 10,000-room target by 2050.
  • Hotel developers are receiving major public policy advantages. The report cites density incentives, CAC exclusions, fast-track zoning, reduced development charges, and removal of future public hearings for some hotel projects.
  • Existing renters could be displaced. The report flags 75 East 8th Avenue and 148 East 6th Avenue as hotel proposals that could displace tenants from existing rental housing.

About Affordable Housing Now!

Affordable Housing Now! is a campaign of workers, residents, and community allies calling on Vancouver City Hall to address the city’s housing affordability crisis with the urgency it deserves. The campaign is calling for affordable housing to be prioritized over hotel developer giveaways, fast-tracked hotel approvals, and policies that put tourism development ahead of residents’ needs.

 

Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785

 

 

Press Release: Hospitality Workers File Petition in Court Over Flawed Public Hearings on Major Rezoning Decisions

Vancouver, BC – Four hospitality workers have filed a judicial review seeking to overturn two major City of Vancouver rezoning decisions after being denied a meaningful opportunity to participate in the public hearing process. The workers are members of UNITE HERE Local 40.

The petition challenges City Council’s approval of the citywide “Fast Track” rezoning plan affecting nearly 2,400 commercial properties and the proposed 888 Cambie Street development, a project that would include a 246-room hotel and market rentals.

The petition alleges that procedural failures during public hearings prevented registered speakers from being heard before Council made its decisions.

According to the petition, speakers encountered multiple barriers during the May public hearings, including last-minute agenda changes, missed notifications, confusion regarding speaker order, and failures in the City’s remote participation system. Some registered speakers remained connected throughout the hearing but were not given the opportunity to address Council.

The court challenge raises broader concerns about public participation in municipal decision-making, particularly as City Hall advances significant zoning changes and major development proposals.

“Hospitality workers are the backbone of Vancouver’s tourism industry,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Many of them came to Canada believing that if you work hard, follow the rules, and participate in your community, your voice matters. But when workers register to speak, wait for hours, and are not given the opportunity to be heard, the message they receive is that City Hall is listening to developers while ordinary people are left on mute.”

The petition asks the Court to quash the rezoning approvals and send them back to Council for reconsideration with a lawful public hearing process.

The petition was filed on June 4, 2026, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

CONTACT: Michelle Travis, [email protected]., 778-960-9785

Press Release: YVR Airport Workers Rally for World Cup Bonus, $30 Wage, Job Security Ahead of FIFA World Cup

VANCOUVER, BC —Dozens of YVR Airport concession workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, held a rally at the airport yesterday calling for a $30 wage and stronger job security protections as they prepare to welcome visitors attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The rally comes after workers delivered a petition signed by more than 1,500 airport workers to the Vancouver Airport Authority last month.  The petition demanded a $1,000 FIFA World Cup bonus to all airport workers.

“We aren’t asking for millions of dollars. Our hard work makes YVR the number one airport in North America.  We’re asking for $30 an hour and a World Cup bonus because we’re barely making enough to cover rent and our bills,” said Aswin Murali, a cook employed by SSP’s Whistler Brewing.

Despite record passenger volumes, strong airport revenues of $717 million, and preparations for the World Cup which will generate millions for YVR and FIFA, many airport workers struggle with low wages, precarity, and the rising cost of living.  Workers say that those gains should be shared with the very concession workers who contribute to the airport’s success.

“Too many airport concession workers are juggling two or three jobs to make ends meet. They are dedicated but low-paid and still vulnerable to contract flipping.  FIFA World Cup will generate wealth for game organizers, the city, and the Airport Authority, but what about those who serve them?  Workers deserve their fair share,” said Gulzar Grewal, UNITE HERE Local 40 Vice-President.”

UNITE HERE Local 40 represents over 1,000 airport concession workers at YVR and growing.  Most recently, Compass workers at Air Canada Lounges across the airport voted to join the union.

Media Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785

Union Condemns Council Vote Granting New Hotel Developer Incentive Amid Housing Crisis

Vancouver, BC — UNITE HERE Local 40 is condemning Vancouver City Council’s decision at the public hearing on June 2 to approve a new development incentive for downtown hotels as part of a package of zoning changes tied to provincial housing legislation.

While the amendments were presented as necessary to comply with Bill 16 mandates related to inclusionary zoning and housing-related density bonuses, Council also approved a separate measure allowing downtown hotel projects to exclude up to 20 percent of their floor area for private, commercial hotel amenities and event spaces from density bonus calculations.

Density bonusing is intended to secure public benefits such as affordable housing, childcare, parks, and other community amenities when developers receive permission to build larger projects. Excluding floor area from those requirements increases development value while reducing what developers would otherwise contribute toward public benefits.

According to city staff, the hotel measure stems from a separate Council direction to explore incentives for hotel development and was requested by the hospitality industry to support larger event, conference, and guest amenity spaces.

Councillor Sean Orr moved to sever the hotel incentive from the Bill 16 compliance package. The motion failed, and the exemption was approved as part of the broader by-law changes.  Councillors Pete Fry, Rebecca Bligh, and Mayor Ken Sim were absent.

“Council bundled a new hotel development incentive into a housing-related amendment package and pushed it through at the same time Vancouver is facing one of the worst housing affordability crises in the country,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “If development incentives are offered, they should be tied to affordable housing or other community benefits.”

The union also rejected suggestions made by certain Councilors during debate that hospitality workers need to be educated about the relationship between hotels and affordable housing.

“Our members understand the housing crisis better than most. They live it every day,” said Chan. “Workers don’t need a lecture. What Vancouver needs is more affordable housing. The question Council never answered is why a housing bill became the vehicle for another giveaway to hotel developers.”

UNITE HERE Local 40 urged Council to revisit the hotel exemption through a separate public process and provide clear evidence that the incentive is necessary, justified, and delivers a meaningful public benefit.

Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785

Press Release: City Hall set to Consider New Developer Giveaways Amid Affordability Crisis

Vancouver, BC – While hospitality workers and working families are feeling squeezed by the lack of affordability in Vancouver, City Council will consider proposals at its upcoming regular Council meeting and Public Hearing on June 2 that may continue a troubling trend: developers receive additional benefits, flexibility, and exemptions, while affordable housing and community benefits are negotiated downward.

Hidden Hotel Incentive Buried in Bill 16 Update

One of the Public Hearing items is presented as a technical update to comply with provincial Bill 16 requirements on density bonuses and inclusionary zoning. However, tucked inside the report is a significant new incentive for downtown hotel developers.

The proposal would allow hotel projects to receive up to 20% additional floor area for private commercial amenities such as hotel pools, fitness centres, business centres, conference facilities, meeting rooms, and other private spaces.

Last year, Council exempted many hotel amenity spaces from Community Amenity Benefit calculations. This latest proposal would allow hotels to build larger while providing less public benefit in return for local residents.

City Hall has provided no evidence that the incentive is necessary. Council has already approved projects with over 3,200 hotel rooms, with thousands more in the development pipeline. If approved, the measure could allow larger hotel developments without delivering affordable housing, childcare, community facilities, or other public benefits.

“This proposal is being slipped into what is supposed to be a technical Bill 16 compliance update related to zoning for affordable housing,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Instead, City Hall is considering yet another unnecessary incentive to hotel developers that shortchanges us on community benefits.”

UNITE HERE Local 40 is urging Council to reject the bonus incentive for hotel developers.

West Side Tower Proposal Falls Below Social Housing Requirements

Council will also consider a revised rezoning application for 1745 West 8th Avenue. The proposal increases the number of market strata units from 421 to 441 while reducing the number of social housing units from 107 to 98.

Despite seeking significant increases in height and density, the developer is proposing less social housing than City policy requires. The result is a social housing component that falls below the 20% minimum contemplated under the Broadway Plan’s inclusionary housing framework. If Vancouver is serious about affordability, Council should not waive its own affordable housing requirements.

UNITE HERE Local 40 is urging Council to send the application back to staff and require compliance with the full 20% social housing target.

 Regular Council Meeting Raises Additional Concerns

Council’s Regular Council meeting earlier that day contains several additional items that continue the pattern of prioritizing developer interests over affordability and public accountability.

Among them:

  • 1500–1580 West 3rd Avenue: the applicant proposes a 17-storey hotel on scarce industrial land despite city staff acknowledging conflicts with existing planning policies and surrounding development.
  • Expanded exemptions to the Empty Homes Tax: This would expand exemptions and provide another retroactive tax break for developers, even as the number of completed-but-unsold housing inventory climbed to 745 units.

Council will also consider 13 residential rezoning proposals, seven of which may result in tenant displacement from 158 existing rentals. Ten of the projects would not provide Community Amenity Contributions, despite the City’s ability to negotiate them.

Vancouver residents have heard promises that rapid approvals, increased density, and developer incentives will improve affordability. Yet working people are struggling with expensive housing and living costs while public benefits are increasingly negotiated away.

City Hall should be fighting for stronger affordability requirements, meaningful community benefits, protection for existing renters, and greater transparency, not creating new loopholes and incentives for developers to build unaffordable housing and luxury hotels.

CONTACT: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785