NANAIMO – If the proposed hotel being envisioned for the Nanaimo waterfront by the Hilton chain is ever completed it would become a dominant fixture on the city’s skyline. Being developed by Insight Holdings Ltd. for Hilton, the project (tentatively scheduled to begin construction in 2016) would feature a 30-plus story tower that would be sited next door to the Pacifica condominium project on Front Street.
Insight, which just released renderings of its design concept, is currently attempting to secure financing for the project and is working on ownership and operational details with Hilton. As envisioned the hotel would be a main 35-story tower and would feature more than 300 rooms, two restaurants, an in-house health club and a number of spaces for related retail opportunities. The city is actively encouraging the development of the waterfront hotel as a potential replacement for the cancelled SSS Manhao hotel project which would have been sited on Gordon Street.