Chris · November 10, 2007
Over the last year I have often bragged that Vancouver has two AAA five diamond hotel properties--the Sutton Place, and the Pan Pacific.
Last week we received an email tip from one of our readers inside the Pan Pacific hotel that AAA has announced that the property no longer qualifies for their prestigious five diamond rating.
Bruce Constantineau of the Vancouver Sun featured a story today that reveals the story behind the announcement. Not surprisingly, the Pan Pacific lost a diamond for two reasons: lack of a dramatic sense of arrival at the hotel’s outer entrance, and a problem with the size and configuration of the hotel’s bathrooms. Service levels at the Pan were not the issue it appears, as the property scored well over the required 251 points with a solid 274.
The Pan joins the Four Seasons Vancouver hotel in losing a diamond rating due to limitations of the physical plant. The Four Seasons lost its top ranking four years ago after earning it for 27 consecutive years. The Sutton Place is currently Vancouver’s only current five diamond hotel, a designation it has maintained for 19 years.
The Four Seasons Whistler was a new addition to the Canadian five diamond club this year making the Sutton place and the Four Seasons the only two five diamond properties in Canada. The new Hazelton Hotel in Toronto’s posh Yorkville neighbourhood is self-styled as Canada’s premier “five star” hotel, but they have not received their AAA designation. When I clicked over to the Hazelton’s website today to investigate the origin of their “star” rating, their website was nowhere to be found. Ouch!
I’m not convinced that AAA’s five-diamond rating resonates with guests as much as it might have in the past, and no doubt the Pan will continue to be one of the strongest performers in the Vancouver market. Still, losing the bragging rights and uber-luxury positioning that come with five diamond status has to sting.
A quick peek on Tripadvisor reviews for the Pan Pacific confirms AAA’s position. With 105 reviews as of today, the overall rating for the property is four out of five with very recent comments like this one from last month:
“This is a very grand and prestigious hotel on the waterfront in Vancouver. I have stayed here twice and I have the same opinion from both visits. This property is very clean and very well serviced but it needs to be redone inside. The guestrooms are in need of a changeover to the current era. The furniture and fixtures just make it feel boring and old. The view from the breakfast buffet is spectacular and that makes up for a great deal. Overall, I would like to see a better interior before I stay here again.”
Linkage
Pan Pacific Hotel on [Tripadvisor]
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