VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver is running out of hotel rooms – just as the city prepares to welcome the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For more than two decades, Vancouver has added little meaningful hotel inventory. According to Destination Vancouver and the BC Hotel Association, the city has roughly the same number of hotel rooms today as it did in 2002, despite significant growth in tourism and global events.

The reasons are layered: hotel closures, pandemic-era housing conversions, tighter short-term rental regulations, and a slow development pipeline. During the pandemic alone, more than 550 hotel rooms were removed from the city's inventory after being converted into supportive housing.

Meanwhile, demand continues to rise. Vancouver hotels operate at approximately 80% occupancy year-round, with peak summer periods reaching as high as 95% – among the highest rates in North America. Industry forecasts suggest the city may face a shortage of roughly 70,000 accommodation nights during the busiest stretch of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with more than 45,000 visitors seeking lodging on peak match days. Into that gap steps The Como.

A Boutique Hotel Arrives at the Right Time

Located at 1825 Comox Street in Vancouver's West End, The Como is a 32-room independent boutique property designed to offer a personalised, neighbourhood-rooted hospitality experience. Just two blocks from English Bay, steps from Stanley Park, and surrounded by the restaurants, cafés, and cultural life of Denman Street and Davie Village, the hotel sits at the centre of one of Vancouver's most iconic visitor districts. The Como opened quietly in early 2026 – not as a reaction to the city's hotel shortage, but as a reflection of something more personal.

Why Now. Why Here.

Husband and wife Karim Salamatian and Thuy Duong Salamatian didn't set out to solve Vancouver's accommodation shortage. They set out to build the kind of hotel they enjoy discovering while travelling – small, personal, and deeply connected to its surroundings.

Karim, raised in Victoria, BC, and Thuy, originally from Vietnam with a background in hospitality, spent nearly two decades living and travelling overseas together – across Europe and Asia, drawn to places where hospitality felt intuitive, thoughtful, and rooted in the local community. Eventually, they knew they wanted to bring that feeling home.

After purchasing the former Shato Inn, the couple reimagined the property as a boutique hotel shaped by the experiences, cultures, and values they'd discovered abroad. "We honeymooned at Lake Como and stayed in a small hotel where our names were remembered by the second morning," says Thuy Duong Salamatian. "That feeling stayed with us. When we found this building on Comox Street, the name felt like it was waiting for us. We wanted to build a hotel that invested serious thought in what would make a guest's stay wonderful."

"For us, hospitality has always been about bringing people together," adds Karim Salamatian. "Whether it's in our home or across different places we've lived, it's an extension of who we are."

The location is no accident. The Como sits where everything Vancouver is known for converges – English Bay and its famous sunsets two blocks away, Stanley Park at the end of the street, Denman Street's diverse restaurant strip as the front yard, and the Seawall, Davie Village, and downtown all within easy reach. The West End is the part of Vancouver that lives in people's memories. The Como puts guests squarely inside it.

A Different Kind of Hotel Model

By keeping the model intentionally lean, The Como creates space for something often missing in high-demand markets: genuine attention to guests and meaningful value at a premium location. Rather than pushing occupancy to cover the fixed costs of amenities few guests need, the hotel directs that bandwidth toward what matters – knowing what a guest needs before they ask.

Guest services are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, and Mandarin – reflecting both the owners' backgrounds and Vancouver's international audience.

Designed for Modern Travellers

The Como offers:
• 32 rooms, including standard rooms, kitchen suites, and private patio retreats
• 15 rooms with full kitchens designed for longer stays
• 11 rooms with large, furnished private decks – a rarity in Vancouver hotels at any price point
• Seamless digital self-check-in alongside 24-hour in-person guest services
• An oversized Wellness Suite with a private Peloton bike, yoga and meditation space, and full-body red-light therapy panel
• Complimentary e-bikes for exploring the city
• Secure underground parking
• Dedicated in-room workspaces and high-speed Wi-Fi
• Locally sourced amenities, mini-bar offerings, and artwork integrated throughout the property.

The Bigger Picture

Vancouver's hotel supply problem is well documented. A Hotel Community Impact Assessment by Destination Vancouver and the BC Hotel Association finds the city may need 10,000 additional hotel rooms by 2050 to support tourism growth and major international events. The same number of hotel rooms exist today as in 2002. The city lost more than 550 rooms to COVID-era social housing conversions alone. Average downtown occupancy runs at 80% year-round and spikes to 95% in summer – among the highest rates on the continent. Without new supply, Vancouver risks losing an estimated $30.6 billion in economic output by 2050.Boutique, neighbourhood-based hotels have been identified as among the city's most urgently needed accommodation types. The Como isn't waiting for a policy fix. It's already open.

Vancouver, B.C. – March 25th, 2026 – Coast Hotels Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, Inc. and one of North America’s fastest-growing and one of Canada’s largest hotel brands, is excited to announce the upcoming 24th Annual Coast Hotels Shuhachi Naito Golf Classic, which is set to take place on Thursday, July 09th, 2026, at Tsawwassen Springs Golf Club, located in Delta, BC.

This event is being held to support the ALS Society of British Columbia and the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre and will help fund both non-profit organizations’ valuable and important work.

The annual golf tournament is one of the biggest events for Coast Hotels and has well surpassed $1.4m in funds donated to charities since its inception. This year’s Golf Classic will once again feature exciting activities, raffles, auctions, and prizes for all participants.

“We’re thrilled to be hosting the 24th Annual Coast Hotels Shuhachi Naito Golf Classic again this summer,” said Mark Hope, Executive Advisor and Golf Classic Organizer for Coast Hotels. “This event is a great opportunity for golfers of all skill levels to come together and support two worthy causes. We’re looking forward to a day of fun and fundraising, and we hope to see a great turnout.”

Registration for the tournament will open in late April, and golfers can sign up individually or as a team. Participants will enjoy a round of golf, lunch, and dinner, and plenty of opportunities to win prizes. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and organizations looking to support both non-profit organizations.

“We’re grateful for the support of our hospitality partners, sponsors, and volunteers who make this annual event possible,” added Mark Hope. “We couldn’t do it without them, and we’re excited to see the impact that this year’s tournament will have on the two charities and the people and communities they serve.”

For more information about the 24th Annual Coast Hotels Shuhachi Naito Golf Classic or to pre-register as a sponsor or participant, please contact Mark Hope at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We hope to see you on the greens!

VICTORIA, B.C. (Songhees, Xwsepsum and W̱SÁNEĆ territories), March 24, 2026 – Known for its award-winning workplace culture, Accent Inns Inc., which include and , are bolstering their Leading with Love philosophy with new executive firepower with the hiring of two new Vice Presidents.

Accent Inns and Hotel Zed has appointed Rachel Johns as Vice-President, Marketing, Sales and Revenue and Jeff Hope as Vice-President, Finance. Together, the appointments deepen executive capacity in two critical areas as Accent Inns and Hotel Zed continue to scale while staying true to the values that define their brands.

Building capacity for its next chapter, these new leaders will help Accent Inns and Hotel Zed grow while staying distinct, rebellious and guest focused. The appointments come at a pivotal moment for the business, with CEO Mandy Farmer also stepping into the role of Chair of Hotels Canada this year.

The Vice-President, Marketing, Sales and Revenue role is new to the organization and brings together three critical functions under one leader. The integrated structure is designed to strengthen alignment between brand, demand generation and revenue performance as the company scales. Rachel has held senior leadership roles at high-growth organizations including Booking.com, ThoughtExchange and Hootsuite.

As Vice-President, Finance, Jeff will oversee the financial integrity and long-term performance of Accent Inns Inc., supporting strategic decision-making across the organization. His experience across hotel finance, audit and enterprise risk with most major hotel brands will help strengthen the company’s financial discipline and equip teams with the insight needed to support sustainable growth.

“I believe that the most important factor to our organization’s success is having the right people on the team,” said Mandy Farmer, CEO of Accent Inns, Hotel Zed and ROAR. “Both Jeff and Rachel have deep hospitality roots, strong leadership chops and they’re experts in their fields. But I’m especially excited about welcoming them to our work Fam-Jam because their values align with ours, and they fit seamlessly into our culture.”

NEW YORK, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Flag Capital, the renowned Boston-based hospitality investment company, announces a transformative year of growth with a significant expansion of the portfolio, doubling its footprint with the addition of four new highly-anticipated properties with confirmed opening dates all set to debut in summer 2026. The new openings include Faraway Jackson Hole, Faraway Sag Harbor, Hotel Corduroy in Montauk, and Oyster Estate in Greenport. Known for its celebrated collection of hotels on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, the expansion reinforces Blue Flag's position as a design-forward hospitality group focused on long-term stewardship of beloved historic properties, thoughtful restoration, a strong sense of place, and culture-led, community-driven experiences in iconic leisure destinations.

The milestone year also marks Faraway's expansion to the American West and a deepened commitment to Jackson Hole. Following Blue Flag's 2023 acquisition of Snake River Lodge & Spa and the neighboring Alpenhof Lodge, two beloved properties at the base of Teton Mountain, Blue Flag has been actively operating and repositioning the hotels as part of its long-term vision for the destination. This summer, the former Snake River Lodge & Spa will be transformed into the new Faraway Jackson Hole, while Alpenhof Lodge will temporarily close in April 2026, re-opening in 2028 to introduce a new chapter that harkens back to its early upscale roots. Together, the properties anchor Blue Flag's growing presence in Teton Village, reinforcing its commitment to stewarding historic hotels while introducing its signature design-driven hospitality to a new generation of travelers.

Alongside Jackson Hole, Faraway is deepening its presence along the East Coast with the transformation of the historic Baron's Cove into Faraway Sag Harbor. A natural next chapter in Blue Flag's coastal story, the 67-room property is being reimagined as an elegant compound designed to feel collected over time. Blue Flag's growing collection also includes the new high-design beachside retreat, Hotel Corduroy in Montauk, and Oyster Estate, a boutique hotel drawing inspiration from the nautical history of its setting in downtown Greenport, NY. The expansion underscores the firm's commitment to acquiring and developing highly differentiated lifestyle hotels with bold design identity, compelling food and beverage concepts, and the operational infrastructure to be a key player in competitive and sought-after travel markets.

Founded with a mission to rediscover the soul in hospitality, Blue Flag combines strategic real estate stewardship with immersive brand creation, supported by distinct design, sensory guest experiences, and operational expertise through its in-house management company, Collared Martin Hospitality. The brand's current established operating properties include Faraway Martha's Vineyard, Faraway Nantucket, along with Beachside Hotel, Blue Iris, Brass Lantern, and Life House Nantucket.

"Hospitality is at its best when it connects deeply with guests and the communities around it," said Blue Flag Capital Co-Founder and CEO, Jason Brown. "For us, honoring historic properties goes far beyond preserving beautiful buildings, it's about honoring the people, traditions, and hospitality that make these places so meaningful. As our portfolio continues to grow, our mission remains the same: to steward these properties thoughtfully and help restore the soul of these remarkable destinations for both travelers and the communities that surround them."

Summer 2026 Openings

Hotel Corduroy | Montauk, NY – Set in a prime location on the edge of Montauk, Hotel Corduroy is a boutique hotel that has been reimagined for today's modern traveler. Offering a refined interpretation of Montauk's surf heritage, the East End escape offers 29 contemporary styled guest rooms with custom design accents across three buildings, a private beach, and an expansive central lawn space for leisure. Opening early May 2026 with guest room bookings available online HERE.

Faraway Sag Harbor | Sag Harbor, NY – Arriving on the Hamptons waterfront, Faraway Sag Harbor is an intimate 67-room boutique hotel rooted in maritime history and whaling heritage, featuring layered coastal interiors. The hotel's waterfront restaurant, Zagara, brings Amalfi Coast–inspired seafood and coastal flavors to the harbor's edge, complementing the hotel's overall vibrant food and beverage program also including a ground-floor bar and lounge. The property offers residential-style guestrooms, a pool and terrace, and intimate communal spaces that embody Sag Harbor's harborfront lifestyle. Opening early June 2026 with guest room bookings available online HERE.

Faraway Jackson Hole | Jackson Hole, WY – Expanding Blue Flag's geographic reach westward, Faraway Jackson Hole debuts as the first noncoastal property, bringing a contemporary mountain aesthetic to one of the country's premier year-round destinations. Located in Teton Village and opening with 90 rooms & suites and 48 residences, the hotel features warm, natural interiors and expansive alpine views. Sure Hand, the onsite restaurant, sits adjacent to a lobby lounge with a wood-burning masonry fireplace, offering seasonal dishes and craft cocktails inspired by the local spirit and ingredients of Wyoming. Key amenities include a year-round indoor/outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and direct ski access, offering a refined basecamp experience. Faraway Jackson Hole is in close proximity to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, bringing summer's hiking, wildlife, and outdoor adventures within easy reach of guests. A second phase, planned for 2028, will bring expanded guestrooms, a signature restaurant, and dedicated meeting and event space. Opening early June 2026 with guest room bookings available online HERE.

Oyster Estate | Greenport, NY – A reimagined 34-room boutique hotel in the heart of Greenport Village, Oyster Estate brings a bold, design-forward identity to the North Fork, inspired by both the historic harbor and the surrounding farms and vineyards. At its center is a newly built courtyard pool and patio that serves as the focal point and social hub of the property, complemented by Fortune Favors, a vibrant onsite cocktail bar and dining destination. Additional amenities include a gym and dedicated meeting space, making the hotel one of the most thoughtfully appointed boutique offerings in the village. Opening September 2026 with more information to come HERE.

"We're incredibly excited to bring Faraway west to Jackson Hole, it's one of the most iconic, year-round leisure destinations in the country," said Blue Flag Capital Co-Founder and CDO, Brad Guidi. "Similarly, expanding across Long Island felt like a natural progression from Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. These are legacy markets with enduring demand, and we believe there's room for design-forward hotels that feel deeply connected to their surroundings. We've partnered with celebrated collaborators in the design space, including interior design firms Ward + Gray, Jenny Bukovec Studio, ISLYN Studio, and architects Workshop/APD, across these four openings to deliver a product that's elevated, welcoming, and intentionally crafted to introduce fresh, unique experiences to each market while honoring the local character and culture."

The addition of Jackson Hole and substantial presence in Long Island represent a meaningful next chapter for Blue Flag, Collared Martin, and the Faraway brand, which has plans for international expansion in the near future. With four openings in one season and continued strategic acquisitions underway, Blue Flag is quickly emerging as a distinctive new brand in lifestyle hospitality, blending meaningful property investment, clear brand vision, commitment to exceptional hospitality, and enriched guest experiences in the communities and destinations where they operate. As the company grows, its mission remains clear: to steward meaningful experiences and restore the soul of these remarkable properties for travelers and the communities that surround them.