Hotel Le Soleil – A Place to Stay During Vancouver International Wine Festival

As an upscale, independent boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Vancouver, BC, Executive Hotel Le Soleil loves the opportunity to showcase to its guests the art of “slow shopping”, where people can explore local designers, artisans and food producers matched with international designers in one of the hottest neighbourhoods in North America, Gastown.

“While we are surrounded by excellent shopping options from Holt Renfrew and Pacific Centre to Robson Street, all of which are located at our doorstep, we know many people choose to stay at Executive Hotel Le Soleil because we are locally owned, intimate and stylish and they look to us to recommend experiences that match our independent approach to personalized hospitality,” said Barbara Hicks, general manager of Hotel Le Soleil. “So, we are taking advantage of the fact that we are easy walking distance to Gastown, which is gaining an international reputation as one of the most innovative neighbourhoods when it comes to design, fashion, food and culture.”

The Discover Gastown package includes two nights accommodation in an executive suite, free valet parking, complimentary Wi-Fi, a listing of the hotel team’s favourite Gastown shopping sites and a walking map, along with a bottle of wine in your room for when you put up your feet and savour your purchases. The Discover Gastown package pricing starts at $169 Cdn for two adults plus taxes.

Officially incorporated as the City of Vancouver in 1886, Gastown is Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood and in 2009 was designated a National Historic Site. Described as an expression of both the city’s cultural heritage and of the social fabric that today makes up downtown Vancouver, media influencers like  Complex Magazine, (a young men’s style/lifestyle magazine), have named Gastown one of the most stylish neighbourhoods in the world.

Gastown is home to more than 180 shops, restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs and almost every building in the neighbourhood has heritage designation. Narrower streets and distinct architecture combine to slow down the pace, in turn encouraging window shopping and grazing among the many celebrated restaurants and food experiences like the Salty Tongue Urban Deli. This is also the home to the Long Table Series, where visitors can enjoy communal dining and meet new friends.

Other Executive Hotel Le Soleil Gastown recommendations include: John Fluevog for fashionable footwear; Tait Boutique, Queens Boutique, Neighbor, Stussy, and Roden Gray for fashions for both men and women; Livestock for excellent skate and street wear; and the specialty stores of Deluxe Junk, Vintage, Gassy Jack Cigar, and the Oriental Rug Bazaar.

“Slow Shopping” is a play off of the Slow Food Movement. With a focus on discovering local and regional designers, artisans, food and culture, it is meant to encourage shopping at a more leisurely pace, enjoying the local scene and leaving with a truly ‘local’s know’ experience.

Executive Hotel Le Soleil is a 119-suite property in the centre of Vancouver’s business and shopping districts known for its luxury boutique experience and exceptional service. A four-diamond property (AAA) since it opened its doors in 1999, it is part of an expanding collection of luxury hotels and residences owned and operated by Executive Hotels & Resorts, a Vancouver based corporation with 17 hotels world-wide. The Hotel Le Soleil brand is classical and cutting edge in its approach, yet each property retains individualized touches making them instantly recognizable and refreshingly different. Hotel Le Soleil is only three blocks from the Vancouver Convention Centre, Canada Place Cruise Terminal, Harbour Air Seaplanes terminal, and the Canada Line – a 25 minute Sky Train ride to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). For more information about Hotel Le Soleil, visit www.lesoleilhotels.com