Hotel Intel: Versante scales the heights of hospitality in Richmond, B.C.

Pandemic protocol: Certain establishments in British Columbia, including restaurants, require proof of vaccination and photo ID (gov.bc.ca).

The Versante Hotel is a vibrant getaway that takes hospitality to a lofty new level in Richmond, B.C.

Bold, dynamic and cosmopolitan, Versante is a striking 14-storey glass tower that opened this summer, adjacent to the International Trade Centre, 20 minutes by car from downtown Vancouver and a handy three kilometres from Vancouver International Airport.

Aside from looks and location, Versante radiates sex appeal. It has inviting Asian-accented interiors, an alluring year-round outdoor pool and seductive cuisine at Bruno restaurant. Plus, Club Versante is offering an upscale social scene with indulgent new venues.

“Versante already is a destination hotel and Bruno is a recognized gastronomic go-to, plus we’re a new hot spot for drinks,“ said general manager David Curell. “We’re much more than an airport stopover, and Vancouver’s tourist attractions are a short hop away.”

Vancouver’s CHIL Interior Design has crafted an audaciously colourful look. The boutique lobby is a vision in coral and glass. Guest rooms are contemporary, with walls of plum, tangerine or aqua, and ornamented with floral wallpaper and painted dressers, as well as vivid still-life prints by Andy Dixon.

“It’s definitely not cookie-cutter,” said Curell, who also opened the Fogo Island Inn, a highly acclaimed hotel in Newfoundland and Labrador. “Versante’s look is youthful, upbeat and distinctive.”