I stayed at this grand hotel in the heart of Vancouver, B.C.
for one night when I was in town for a business meeting. My brief stay at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia simply
wasn’t long enough to experience all of the wonderful aspects this property has
to offer.
From the moment I walked into the grand lobby with its inviting fireplace and collection of Canadian art, I knew this was going to be a special hotel indeed.
As I approached the front desk, I realized the jeans and
running shoes I’d worn for the drive from Seattle hardly matched the luxury of
my surroundings. No matter. The desk clerk welcomed me warmly, and used my name
just enough that it felt genuine and not forced. She checked me in swiftly,
asked whether I preferred the local or the national newspaper at my door in the
morning, assured me that my other preferences had been noted and attended to,
then walked me over to the elevator that would whisk me to the 11th floor and my room.
The room. Ahhhh, the room!
The bedside clock was an analog alarm clock which, although
clearly 21st-century modern and battery-powered, reminded me of the
Big Ben wind-up alarm clock that occupied a place on my parents’ headboard
throughout my childhood. An advantage of the design that quickly became obvious
is that the clock can be moved to either side of the bed, while the wired alarm
clocks in most hotels cannot. It’s a
small thing for those of us who prefer one side of the bed over the other, but
it is also a nice touch.
The bed itself was extremely comfortable. The ample pillows
and high thread-count, 100% cotton sheets caused slumber to come quickly, and
made me reluctant to leave my cozy cocoon the next morning.
Room 1114, a Deluxe King room, rivaled many of the suites in
which I’ve stayed.
The area that serves as the sitting, TV viewing, and work
space is set off nicely by strategic furniture placement, giving it more the
feeling of a suite than the one large room it actually is.
Finishes in the living area were all high-end, but the
bathroom trumped it all. “Spa-like” is a very apt description.
In addition to high-end amenities, the bath featured separate
sinks, a huge soaking tub, a large walk-in shower with a drench shower head,
bathrobes, and a heated marble floor. While the weather wasn’t especially cold
at the time of my early May visit, my bare feet found the warmth quite
pleasant. Certainly, it would be even more welcome during a cold Canadian
winter, as would the provided slippers.
Most hotels today offer in-room coffee which, in my
experience, ranges from dishwater-dull to pretty decent. The coffee at the
Rosewood Hotel Georgia, however, is tied for first place on my personal “best
of” list. Each guest room is equipped with a Nespresso coffee machine and an
assortment of bold, mild, and decaf coffee capsules.
Because I wasted one capsule figuring out how the machine
worked, I called the front desk to request a couple more. A staff member was at my door within
minutes, bearing no fewer than eight additional coffee capsules to make sure I
had the caffeine I needed to start my day right.
The room also included a minibar (an increasingly rare amenity),
the standard iron and ironing board, and an in-room safe. The closet also
contained a bag where guests can place their shoes for a complimentary shoe
shine. Basic wireless Internet access is included at no charge but is limited
to a single device per room. Travelers with more than one Internet-capable
device may find it beneficial to pay the modest additional fee for multi-unit
connectivity and faster connection speeds.
When I reluctantly left the luxurious surroundings of my
room, I found the rest of the property was equally appealing.
The hotel currently boasts four venues for food and drink:
Hawksworth Restaurant, run by chef David Hawksworth; the Bel Cafe’ where one
can grab a coffee, pastry, or light snack; Reflections, the fourth-floor lounge
that encircles a tranquil outdoor fountain; and the 1927 lobby lounge, where
nibbles and sippables are available. A nightclub called Prohibition will be
opening later in 2012.
In addition to being directly across Georgia Street from the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia has its own impressive collection of local art on property. Maps available at the concierge desk guide visitors and provide brief descriptions of the more than 30 objets d’art, many of which were commissioned specifically for the hotel.
The hotel also offers a generous fitness center, a 52-foot
indoor saltwater swimming pool, and an on-site spa called Sense.
Impeccable service
The hotel’s P-R material boasts of a “fully restored
Georgian Revival property that has been returned to its former grandeur with
additional elegance afforded by extensive amenities and impeccable service.”
I completely agree.
While luxurious surroundings are always nice, it’s excellent
service that really makes an establishment memorable and worth visiting time
after time. The Rosewood Hotel Georgia succeeded admirably in this area as
well.
In addition to the desk clerk, I was greeted by every staff
member I encountered, without exception. From maintenance and housekeeping
staff to the concierge to the manager on duty, all smiled and bid me “good
morning,” “good evening,” or asked “Is there anything I can help you with?”
When I telephoned from my room, either to inquire about
Internet access or to request additional coffee, the guest services agents
always used my name. In addition, the hotel spelled my name correctly each and
every time, from my reservation to the manager’s note to the bill upon
checkout. If you have a name that’s frequently misspelled, you can appreciate
how impressive that is. If not...take my word for it.
First opened in 1927 and reopened in 2011 after a lengthy
renovation, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia has hosted guests including Elvis, Nat
“King” Cole, The Beatles, Katharine Hepburn, Louis Armstrong, Ginger Rogers,
Frank Sinatra, Laurence Olivier, and Prince Charles, among others.
More about the hotel’s history is available on its web site,
but I recommend an in-person visit – something I intend to repeat in the
not-too-distant future.
Next time, though, it could be difficult to get me to leave.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.Follow @TheTravelProUS
Photos by Carl Dombek
Click on photos to view larger images
So that I could experience and review the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, the hotel provided me with one night's lodging.
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