Archive for category: News

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

 

Day 5 of Hotel Workers’ Encampment: Community Teach-In Highlights Housing Crisis as City Hall Enters Critical Week of Development Decisions

VANCOUVER, BC — On Day 5 of the UNITE HERE Local 40 encampment outside Vancouver City Hall, community members will gather Monday evening for a teach-in and community karaoke hosted by BAYAN BC and Gabriela BC, highlighting the connections between Vancouver’s housing crisis, migrant justice, and workers’ rights.

The event marks the beginning of a pivotal week at City Hall as Council prepares to consider several major development proposals before its summer recess, including Holborn Group’s proposed downtown megaproject featuring three supertall towers, including a 920-room luxury hotel.

On Thursday, July 23, UNITE HERE Local 40 will hold a rally outside Vancouver City Hall ahead of the public hearing, calling on Council to pause approval of Holborn’s proposal and put affordable housing ahead of another luxury hotel development.

Monday’s teach-in will explore how migrant workers are disproportionately affected by Canada’s housing crisis while facing increasingly restrictive immigration policies. Speakers will also discuss how international pressures continue to push workers to migrate abroad in search of economic opportunities. The evening concludes with a community karaoke gathering in solidarity with hotel workers maintaining the encampment.

“This week is about more than one hotel project,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “It’s about whether City Hall will continue fast-tracking luxury developments while working people, renters, and families struggle to find homes they can afford.”

Hotel workers have set up an encampment at City Hall from July 14 – 28 to urge Council to prioritize affordable housing, protect existing communities, and ensure major development decisions serve the public interest rather than luxury projects.

WHAT: Community Teach-In & Karaoke in Solidarity with the UNITE HERE Local 40 Encampment

WHO: UNITE HERE Local 40, BAYAN BC, Gabriela BC, community supporters

WHEN: Monday, July 20, 2026; 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver

VISUALS: Encampment, community teach-in, speakers and supporters, signs

MEDIA NOTE: UNITE HERE Local 40 will hold a rally on Thursday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m. before Council’s public hearing on Holborn Group’s proposed downtown megaproject.

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

Day 4 of City Hall Encampment: FIFA Walked Away, Workers Paid the Price: Hotel Workers to Speak Out as Vancouver Rushes More Hotel Approvals

Vancouver, BC — Hotel workers held a press conference today to discuss the gap between the promises made before the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the reality they experienced after the tournament.

City Hall and hotel developers repeatedly cited the World Cup to justify fast-tracking hotel developments, arguing Vancouver urgently needed more hotel rooms. Instead, hotel occupancy dropped sharply following the tournament, leaving many hotel workers with fewer shifts and reduced income during what was expected to be one of the busiest summers in years.

While workers bore the financial impact, hotel companies were able to protect profits by raising room rates while reducing staffing and scheduled hours. Workers will call on Vancouver City Council to consider directing a small portion of $105 million raised through the Major Events Tax to those who experienced lost hours and earnings during the tournament.

UNITE HERE Local 40 will also comment on last night’s abruptly halted public hearing for 75 East 8th Avenue. After hearing from a single speaker, Council recessed public input until July 23, even though more than 200 people have registered to speak and dozens were waiting to oppose the proposed hotel at 75 E 8th Avenue, which would displace dozens of families and tenants.

WHAT: Media availability on the impact of the FIFA World Cup on hotel workers.

WHEN: Friday, July 17 at 12pm

WHERE: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue

VISUALS: Workers and community allies holding colourful signs, bullhorns.

Day 3 of City Hall Encampment: Tenant Holds One-Day Hunger Strike as Vancouver Council Considers Displacing Affordable Housing for 190-Room Hotel

Public hearing on 75 East 8th Avenue comes as City recommends replacing affordable rental homes with extended-stay hotel during Vancouver’s housing crisis.

Vancouver, BC – A tenant facing displacement from an affordable rental building will begin a one-day hunger strike outside Vancouver City Hall on Thursday as Council prepares to hold a public hearing on a proposal that would replace existing homes at 75 East 8th Avenue (Myron Manor) with a 190-room extended-stay hotel marketed to tech nomads and other long-stay visitors.

The hunger strike marks Day 3 of the “Affordable Housing Now” encampment, where hospitality workers, tenants, and community members are calling on Council to stop hotel developments that displace existing renters, and to pause major hotel approvals until after the October municipal election to focus instead on preserving and creating more affordable homes.

The City is recommending approval despite ongoing concerns about housing affordability and tenant displacement. The tenant’s hunger strike underscores the human cost of the City’s hotel development strategy.

The City and real estate developers have argued that Vancouver urgently needs more hotel rooms. But those claims have not matched reality. FIFA World Cup exposed the fiction of the hotel room “crisis” narrative that has been used as a pretext to fast-track hotel developments. Hotel demand dropped precipitously this summer, and many hospitality workers are experiencing one of the slowest summers in years.

UNITE HERE Local 40 is joining tenants in urging Council to reject the proposal and protect affordable housing. Later this evening, the Vancouver Tenants Union and Myron Manor tenants will be holding a press conference at City Hall.

Media Availability

WHAT: Tenant hunger strike throughout the day, press conference, and public hearing on the proposed redevelopment of 75 East 8th Avenue. Vancouver Tenants Union will hold a press conference at 6pm.

WHEN: Thursday, July 16, 2026

WHERE: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue

WHO: Tenants facing displacement and participating in a one-day hunger strike. Representatives from UNITE HERE Local 40 and other community supporters.

 

Media Advisory: Day 2 of City Hall Encampment

12pm: Workers and Residents to Deliver Petition with over 8,000 signatures to City Hall Urging Vancouver Council to Pause Approvals of Holborn’s “Supertall” Tower Project and Put Affordability First

5pm: Rally to be held at City Hall calling on Mayor Ken Sim and Council to Review and Rescind Parq Casino Slot Expansion  

VANCOUVER, BC – Today, hospitality workers, tenants, and Vancouver residents will gather at Vancouver City Hall at 12pm as part of a two-week encampment to deliver a petition signed by thousands of local residents urging Council to postpone approval of the massive Holborn condo and hotel towers until after the October election and prioritize affordable housing instead.

For years, City Hall has justified fast-tracking hotel development by claiming Vancouver urgently needs more hotel rooms for major events like the World Cup. But the hotel room shortage has not materialized. FIFA World Cup hotel demand fell far short of hype, and many hotel workers are facing one of the slowest summers in years. Yet, City Hall is rushing Holborn Group’s proposed ‘supertall’ luxury condo and hotel project through Council despite the project running afoul of the city’s own planning frameworks.

Today’s noon action will be followed by a 5pm rally. Rallygoers will be calling on Mayor Sim and Council to review and rescind their previous 5-4 decision approving the expansion of slot machines at Parq Casino arguing that it reflects the same pattern of putting developers’ needs ahead of community priorities.

“My co-workers and I can’t afford to support our families and live in this city,” said Kirsten Lebrun, a hotel worker at Pan Pacific Hotel. “We need Mayor Sim to prioritize affordability for regular working people over the needs of billionaire hotel owners.”

WHAT: As part of the two-week encampment, workers and other community members will deliver a petition to City Hall (12pm) and hold a rally (5pm).

WHEN: Wednesday, July 15

WHERE: Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver

WHO: UNITE HERE Local 40 members, hospitality workers, tenants, housing advocates, and Vancouver residents.

VISUALS: Signs and stacks of petitions, people marching and chanting with bullhorns.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Speakers will be available for interviews before and after the action.

Background: The City of Vancouver is moving forward with major hotel approvals and other significant land-use decisions while residents face a deep affordability crisis, tenants face displacement, and workers struggle with unstable hours. UNITE HERE Local 40 is calling on Council to pause major hotel approvals until after the October election so voters can hold candidates accountable for their positions on hotel development, housing affordability, and public benefits.  According to a recent poll conducted by Stratcom, Vancouver voters favour prioritizing affordable housing over more hotel development by a 3-to-1 margin.

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