A new Trump International Hotel and Tower is opening in Vancouver, and many in this proudly diverse and progressive British Columbia city aren't exactly what you'd call thrilled.
The 69-story building—the second-tallest in Vancouver—boasts a gleaming, twisty design by renowned Canadian architect Arthur Erickson. Owing to the structure's height and prime downtown location, its luxury condos and hotel rooms (which start at US$228/CA$300 per night) are said to have incredible views of the ocean and nearby mountains.
But the name out front, on the silver and gold blocks of chocolate in the minibars, and stamped elsewhere throughout the building rankles a number of Vancouverites who object to U.S. President Donald Trump's politics, particularly his stances on Muslim and Mexican immigration. As in many other parts of Canada, Vancouver prides itself on its multiculturalism; in fact, 48% of residents are foreign born.
Mayor Gregor Robertson, who won't be attending the tower's official opening, wants the Trump name removed from the project. The building's Malaysian developers say that's not possible for legal reasons.
Other city officials, meanwhile, argue that the tower's glitz and glamor have no place in laid-back Vancouver. And still other critics worry that Trump's overseas business interests, though now officially overseen by his sons Donald, Jr. and Eric, violate ethics standards. The Vancouver property is the second Trump-branded site to open since the president took office; the first was a golf course in Dubai.
The Vancouver opening is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28. Pres. Trump isn't expected to attend, but Donald, Jr. and Eric will be there. A protest is planned, too.
