Our Journey
Where Eastern Elegance Meets Western Wanderlust
The Dream Takes Shape
It started with a late-night conversation over jasmine tea in a tiny Vancouver apartment. Maya Chen, who'd spent years working luxury hotels across Asia, and her partner David Sullivan, a wellness consultant from the Canadian Rockies, couldn't stop talking about what was missing. They'd seen plenty of fancy places, sure - but none that really bridged the gap between Eastern tranquility and that rugged West Coast spirit we love here.
Building Through Challenges
Yeah, we picked an interesting time to renovate a heritage building on Alberni Street. While the world pressed pause, we were sourcing jade stones from BC mines, commissioning local artists, and arguing over whether the lobby fountain should flow east or west (spoiler: it flows both ways now). Every tile, every fixture tells a story - like the reclaimed cedar from Haida Gwaii or the silk panels hand-painted by a Vancouver artist who'd trained in Kyoto.
Opening Our Doors
We opened quietly in spring - just 42 rooms, each one different. Our first guest was actually Maya's aunt from Hong Kong, who gave us brutally honest feedback about the water pressure (it's been fixed, Auntie Lin!). What surprised us most wasn't the fancy travel magazine features that came later, but how guests started calling us their "Vancouver home." That's when we knew we'd gotten the vibe right.
Growing With Purpose
Added the rooftop infinity pool that year - heated year-round because we're not masochists. Our spa director, Jin Park, brought in these incredible Korean-inspired treatments mixed with Indigenous cedar rituals. The restaurant got a Michelin mention, which honestly shocked our chef Thomas more than anyone. He still makes staff meal every Tuesday though, keeping it real.
Living the Vision
We're not chasing perfection here - we're after something more interesting. It's that moment when jet-lagged guests from Tokyo feel instantly at ease, or when Vancouver locals book a staycation and discover something new about their own city. Our team of 87 people (and counting) comes from 23 different countries, and honestly, the staff room during lunch is better than any cultural festival. This place isn't just ours anymore - it belongs to everyone who walks through those jade-green doors.
"We wanted to create a place where you could meditate at sunrise and hit the best cocktail bar by sunset - where green tea and craft beer coexist without irony."
- Maya Chen & David Sullivan, Co-Founders
