When Celine Dion Stayed at the Pan

Photo credit: Denise Truscello | Twitter

It’s Throwback Thursday, when we open our vaults to share with you our famous past guests. We’ve been featuring famous Canadians guests to celebrate Canada 150, and we’re capping it off with none other than Canadian chanteuse and national treasure, Celine Dion.

Known for her romantic ballads, Celine made her singing debut as a teen in the 1980s. With the help of her manager and future husband, Rene Angeli, she achieved worldwide fame, singing in both English and French. The main theme from Titanic movie, My Heart Will Go On became her biggest hit and signature song.  It sold more than 15 million copies and remains one of the best-selling singles in history.

She held a Vegas residency at Caesar’s Palace from 2002-2007, which became the most successful Las Vegas residency show of all time, grossing $385 million.

Turning heads off the stage, Celine Dion is also a fashion risk-taker, and although some of her outfits are out there, they are always memorable and she absolutely owns whatever she has on.

Whatever she does, she is fearless and in May 1996, we were pleased to welcome Celine Dion to the Pan!

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150 Years of Vancouver History

On July 1, Canada will be celebrating its sesquiscentennial or 150th anniversary of Confederation. To mark such an auspicious milestone, let’s travel back 150 years to look at all the milestones in Vancouver’s history that makes that city what it is today.

Source: A Portrait of Canada

1867 – 1892
Gassy Jack opened a saloon, in what is now Gastown (1867), Vancouver reaches 1,000 residents (1886), Great Vancouver Fire (1886), Vancouver Police Department formed (1886), CPR’s first train arrived (1887), Stanley Park opens (1888), original Capilano Suspension Bridge was built (1889), original Granville Street Bridge was built (1889), electric streetcars hit the street (1890)

Source: Miss 604

1893 – 1917
Sand added to English Bay Beach (1898), the 9 o’clock gun was placed at Brockton Point (1898), Woodward’s building was constructed (1903), the city’s first skyscraper, the Dominion Trust building opened (1909), first Pacific National Exhibition is held (1910), UBC opens (1915)

Source: City of Vancouver Archives

1918 – 1942
Orpheum Theatre opened (1926), Vancouver City Hall is completed (1936), Lions Gate Bridge was completed (1938), Lions Gate Bridge opens (1938)

Source: VIAwesome

1943 – 1967
Vancouver’s first TV station goes on the air (1953), Elvis Presley performed at Empire Stadium (1957), Queen Elizabeth Theatre opened (1959), Vancouver’s first shopping mall, Oakridge Centre, opened (1959)

Source: Vancity Buzz

1968 – 1992
Vancouver Canucks played their first game (1970), Stanley Park seawall opened (1971), Vancouver Marathon started (1972), first ever Vancouver Gay Pride Festival took place (1978), Vancouver International Film Festival began (1982), BC Place roof was inflated (1983), Vancouver International Jazz Festival established (1984), SkyTrain built (1985), Vancouver held its first Sun Run (1985), Alex Fraser Bridge opened (1986), Vancouver hosts Expo 86 (1986), Canada Place opened (1986)

Source: 604 Now

1993 – 2017

West Coast Express opened (1995), new Vancouver Public Library was constructed (1995), GM Place opened (1995), Canada Line opened (2009), Winter Olympics took place (2010),  Vancouver celebrates 125th birthday (2011), Vancouver began hosting TED Conference (2014)

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When Canada’s 20th Prime Minister Stayed at the Pan

Source: CBC

In anticipation of Canada’s 150th anniversary, we’re continuing our Canadian-themed Throw Back Thursday!

Did you know that Jean Chrétien who served as Canada’s Prime Minister from 1993-2003, shares the same birthday as Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald?

Jean Chrétien had demonstrated an interest in politics from a young age, and steadily rose through the ranks in government – as a member of Parliament and later as the Finance Minister.

On November 4, 1993, The Liberal party leader was sworn in as prime minister and stayed in office until 2003, winning a third consecutive majority government – an accomplishment not seen since 1945.  In 2009 Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the Order of Merit.

And in the spring of 1996, we were honoured to welcome then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to the Pan.

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When the King of One-Liners Stayed at the Pan

“I’m doing everything I can…and stop calling me Shirley!”

Although Canadian veteran comic actor, Leslie Nielsen, had an illustrious career, appearing in over 100 films, it was comedies such as Airplane!, The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, and The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear that really stand out as fan favourites.

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Nielsen started out as a dramatic actor during Televisions Golden Age, before moving onto feature films like Forbidden Planet, and The Poseidon Adventure. But it was in deadpan comedies, that Nielsen really left his mark. A parody on disaster films, Airplane was a watershed in his career – with memorable one liners still being quoted and recognized today.

Rumack (played by Nielsen): “You’d better tell the captain we’ve got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.”

Air stewardess: “A hospital? What is it?

Rumack: “It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now.”

From Airplane!, 1980

In June 1993, we were honoured to welcome the extraordinary comedian to the Pan!

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When the Great One Stayed at the Pan

Photo credit: Kris Krug

It’s Throwback Thursday, when we open our vaults to share with you our famous past guests. And since we’re celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary (or sesquicentennial) this year, we’re going to feature our famous Canadian guests in the run up to Canada Day.

You can’t get more Canadian than #99 himself, Mr. Wayne Gretzky! This hockey legend’s career spanned from 1978 to 1999, playing for Edmonton Oilers from 1979 to 1988. He is the leading scorer in NHL history, scoring 200 points in one season. He went on to do this three more times.

Numerous awards included being named MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1985 and 1988, earning the Lester B. Pearson Award for NHL’s “most outstanding player” five times and a record nine Hart Trophies s the most valuable player in the NHL.

Is it any wonder he’s been crowned “the greatest hockey player ever.”

At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 61 NHL records. Not only was he immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, but his #99 jersey number was retired league-wide – the only player to receive this honour!

We are honoured to have welcomed The Great One to the Pan!

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Captain Sully Lands At The Pan

It’s Throwback Thursday, when we open our vaults to share with you our famous past guests.

Who can forget all those iconic images of US Airways flight 1549 making an emergency water landing on New York’s Hudson River?

On January 15, 2009, three minutes after taking off from Laguardia Airport, the plane struck a flock of geese, knocked out both engines, causing the plane to lose power. As the aircraft lost altitude, Captain Chesley Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles safely glided the plane to ditch on the river. All 155 passengers and its crew were able to be evacuated safely. The incident became known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

Captain Sully and his crew were hailed as national heroes. Director Clint Eastwood even made a movie about the event, with actor Tom Hanks stepping into the role of the courageous pilot.

This summer, we were honoured to welcome Captain Sully to the Pan.

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Photo credit: Sully Sullenberger

Twitter photo: Janis Krum

When The Prime Ministers Stayed At The Pan

Photo credit: CBC

It’s Throwback Thursday or #TBT if you prefer! Today, we open our vaults to share with you our famous past guests.

In May of 1996, the Honourable Pierre Trudeau, Former Prime Minister of Canada, stayed at the Pan Pacific Vancouver. Flashforward (almost) twenty years when his son and current Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honorable Justin Trudeau and his family stayed at the Pan during the GLOBE 2016 Conference.

Like father, like son! And we are honoured to have had both gentlemen stay at the Hotel!

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Pan Pacific Vancouver’s First Guest

It’s our 30th anniversary this week! And we thought we would share a very special Throwback Thursday with a very special guest.  In fact, she’s the first guest ever to stay at the Pan when we opened our doors in 1986!

We chat with Jennifer Dickson, great, great granddaughter of Malcolm A. Maclean, Vancouver’s first mayor.

Hi Jennifer! Thanks for being profiled for our milestone anniversary! Can you share with us some memories of being the very first guest on opening day?

I remember the excitement of the opening day: wearing an old-fashioned costume, the band playing, the media in attendance and receiving some very special gifts from the Pan Pacific since the opening day just happened by chance to be on my birthday.

One of the really memorable parts of the day was having my best friends sleep over in the hotel with me for the night.  These are still my best friends today, after 30 years, and I feel so lucky to have been able to share that night and many incredible memories with them since that time.

Looking back on all your annual stays with us, was there a time that stood out for you?

The most impressive night for me was my 2nd year at the hotel as I was given a suite rather than a room to stay in.  The luxury suites are absolutely incredible: the size, views, décor and the most incredible bathrooms!  I couldn’t believe how generous the Pan Pacific was.

Which was your favourite visit and why?

Since I’ve had the pleasure of staying with the hotel for 30 years, I’ve experienced the hotel as a teen, young adult and now as a married mom (who really looks forward to a little break with my husband after the busy time over the holidays)!

A few visits that stood out in particular were being able to relax at the hotel on our wedding night as well as another time when we were able to bring our kids to the hotel to visit it.  They couldn’t believe how beautiful and fancy the hotel is.  It is always such a treat to be able to show a new visitor the lobby and suites of the Pan Pacific.

What do you love about the Pan Pacific?

I love the amazing views and how incredibly quiet the rooms are which makes a stay at the hotel so peaceful.  The bed linens and carpet are so soft, which just adds to the feeling of luxuriously being pampered.

Is there anything you would recommend to guests? (this could be anything. For example: a favourite menu or drink item, a spa service they have to try etc)

I would recommend that guests plan time to just curl up in a cozy spot and look out the windows at the stunning views of Vancouver.  Watching the seaplanes, boats and clouds drift in and out is unique and relaxing.  I also recommend spending time at the pool in the summer with its mix of ocean and urban location as well as making time for brunch in the morning at the Café Pacifica.

Congratulations and thank you Pan Pacific Vancouver for 30 years of wonderful memories!  First Guest, Jenny Dickson

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When the Three Tenors Visited Vancouver

It’s Throwback Thursday! We open our vaults to share with you our famous past guests.

Before there was Il Divo, there was the Three Tenors. The popular operatic singing group consisted of Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras and were quite the phenomenon during the 1990s and early 2000s. The trio performed the world over, sung at FIFA World Cup Final and recorded numerous live concert albums, which went gold or platinum.

And in 1996 and 1997, these larger-than-life men visited Vancouver and stayed the Pan Pacific.

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When Hollywood Royalty Came To Town

It’s Throwback Thursday! Or #TBT if you prefer. Last month we opened up our archival signature book and shared some of the world’s royalty who had graced us with their presence at the hotel.

Although she’s was not king and queen royalty, she was revered as Hollywood royalty. In 1996, we had the honour of welcoming screen legend, Oscar winner and AIDS activist, Dame Elizabeth Taylor to Pan Pacific Vancouver. A Hollywood star visiting Hollywood North!

When the Royals Visited Pan Pacific

In the spirit of Throwback Thursdays (#TBT), we’re going open up our archival signature book for a peek at some of the royal guests we were honoured to receive at the Pan.

Stay tuned for more Throwback Thursdays where we’ll dig into the archives and share with you more of our luminary guests!