An Overview of the Element Vancouver Metrotown Hotel by Westin

Conveniently located at Willingdon Avenue and Kingsway Avenue in Burnaby, British Columbia, the Element Vancouver Metrotown by Westin offers guests an eco-friendly affordable stay whether they are travelling with family and friends or visiting Vancouver on business. With the famous Metropolis at Metrotown Cineplex movie theatre and shopping centre just two blocks away and the Metrotown SkyTrain Station that takes you to downtown Vancouver within 20 minutes, this 169-room green hotel is ideal for those wanting to be close to all major Vancouver attractions, entertainment, shopping areas and high-tech business districts.

This reasonably priced hotel features an inviting lobby and reception area, as well as spacious nature-inspired common areas. Colourful eco-friendly urban designs and soft touches compliment the guest rooms and suite layouts. Inspired by Westin® Hotels & Resorts, Starwood’s Element Hotels offer bright, naturally lit spaces for relaxation or business purposes, as well as various outside seating and sunbathing options during the warmer months.

Ideal for short weekend getaways, business trips, or extended stays, this all-studio and one-bedroom-suite hotel offers unique fitness options, a complimentary warm breakfast including vegetarian options, an all-natural saltwater indoor pool with hot tub and sauna, free Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art technology. The fifth level is where most of the hotel services are offered, from a self-serve BBQ grill and outdoor patio areas, to the Motion Fitness Centre and multi-functional communal areas for business discussions and work.

As a popular green hotel in Burnaby, the hotel works to protect the earth by providing eco-friendly plant-based natural products and environmentally safe initiatives. The Element Vancouver Metrotown is a zero-waste hotel and it goes the extra ‘green’ mile by offering green meeting services, electronic hook-ups for Smart Cars and a “Bikes to Borrow” program where you can borrow a bike and ride the trails at Burnaby’s Central Park or Deer Lake Park.

It is also a pet-friendly hotel so you can bring your furry best friend along for the journey. The hotel provides Heavenly® pet beds in their pet-friendly suites. (subject to availability) All rooms have kitchens so you can stay on a healthy track and make your own meals just as you would at home.

Grocery stores are at every turn so you can find healthy food options whenever you feel like it. The ‘Element Rise Breakfast’ is complimentary and offers all types of breakfast options, both warm and cold. From cereals, muffins, gourmet coffee and fresh fruit to warm egg and sausage sandwiches, pancakes and vegetarian options – it has something for every morning craving.

Feel like dining out? Glowbal Group’s Trattoria Restaurant is conveniently located downstairs, just waiting for you to sample its phenomenal Italian dishes and decadent desserts. There is also the NOSH coffee bar on the lobby level, which provides healthy snacks and food to grab on the go or take back to your room. For those who want to mingle with other Element hotel guests or have a few cocktails with friends, there is the Mini Bar that serves up colourful cocktails and local wines for everyone to enjoy.

If you love to be close to everything such as grocery stores, movie theatres, entertainment and major attractions, this hotel is your best bet in Burnaby, and as a bonus, you will feel like you are doing your part in protecting the environment during your stay.

Other In-Room Features Include:

• Bathroom
• Heavenly® Shower/Bath
• Bathrobes
• Slippers (upon request)
• Heavenly® Bed
• Sofa Bed (available in some rooms)
• Heavenly® Crib
• Stovetop (except in Junior Studio Suites)
• Microwave
• Refrigerator
• Dishwasher (except in Junior Studio Suites)
• Wet Bar
• Dishware and Cookware
• Coffee and Tea Maker
• Recycling Bins
• 32″ and 42″ LCD High-Definition TVs
• Cable Channels
• iPod Docking Station
• Desk and Ergonomic Chair
• Free Wi-Fi and Wired Internet
• Free Local Calls
• Data Port Line
• In-Room Safe That Fits Laptops
• Heavenly® Dog Bed Available
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free Wired High-Speed Internet

A Safe Stay for Kids of All Ages

Travelling with kids always creates a completely new level of concern for parents. The Element Vancouver Metrotown makes sure babies, toddlers and older kids are safe and cared for on the highest level by providing parents with the necessities that they need when travelling. Amenities and services include cribs with blankets, secure locks on balcony doors and kid-friendly breakfast options like fruit juices, cereal, pancakes, mini smoothies, yogurts and muffins.

Three Highlights of the Element Vancouver Metrotown Hotel that Make it Unique:

• Eco-friendly and environmentally aware. From using eco-friendly cleaners and 100% non-smoking rooms to outfitting rooms with carpets and furniture made from recycled materials, this hotel does it all!

• Complimentary wireless Internet. Stay connected with friends and family during your stay at the Element Vancouver Metrotown Hotel. All rooms and suites offer complimentary wireless Internet.

• Convenient location. This hotel is close to everything you need. From major department stores at Metrotown Mall and grocery stores to fancy restaurants and downtown Vancouver – there is plenty to do and see.

Our Family Stay at the Element Vancouver Metrotown Hotel

My family and I had a wonderful weekend stay at the hotel and we found it extremely convenient when it came to being close to everything you may need while on a mini-break. With three kids ages 2, 12 and 14, and my husband who likes to have everything readily available, we found this hotel was the perfect choice for us.

Immaculate common areas, eco-friendly practices everywhere you turn and a high level of hospitality professionalism are only a few of the bonuses when you stay at the Element Vancouver Metrotown. We loved the fact that our one-bedroom suite had a kitchen area for cooking up our own healthy meals and saving us some money at the same time. We were excited about being only a 5-minute walk from Metropolis at Metrotown and all of its shops and entertainment facilities, as well as being close to grocery stores like the Real Canadian Superstore, PriceSmart Foods, and IGA Marketplace.

After a delicious warm breakfast at the hotel, we spent some of our day at the mall and the next part of the day swimming in the all-natural saltwater indoor pool and relaxing in the hot tub and sauna. We then got ourselves ready for a dining experience at the convenient Trattoria Restaurant located downstairs and spent our evenings watching cable on the comfortable pull-out sofa bed in our room.

The service was fantastic and the staff was very friendly and warm. Our housekeeper was so cheerful when we walked past her each morning. (This was refreshing as it is something I don’t always experience during my hotel stays.) We loved the fact that there were numerous eco-friendly initiatives taking place and that in-room products were developed from plant-based ingredients instead of harsh damaging chemicals. Also, having recycling bins are always helpful for a family who is dedicated to recycling practices at home.

The common areas were so clean and there were a variety of business services for those travelling on business to Vancouver and Burnaby. Even though we were visiting for pleasure, I could see how convenient and affordable this hotel is for business executives.

Our Dining Experience at Trattoria Restaurant by Glowbal Group

We were also lucky to experience the Trattoria Restaurant by Glowbal Group while we were staying at the Element Vancouver Metrotown. It is a great choice for families and they have high chairs, crayons, and colouring paper for kids to keep them occupied. When we were there on a Saturday night there were quite a few babies and kids, and it was nice to see how well the restaurant staff treated them.

I don’t think I can describe just how amazing the food was, but I’ll try! We were able to sample a wide selection of dishes from the dinner menu, from the fresh Caprese Salad, Sicilian Calamari with spicy tomato sauce and the scrumptious Bruschetta Sampler to Trattoria’s Pizzaiolo, Giuseppe Cortinovis’ famous pizza and the Brussels Sprouts with lemon, chillies, capers and parmigiano-reggiano. Everything was so tasty and filled with diverse ingredients and fresh flavours!

Trattoria’s famous Pizzaiolo, Giuseppe Cortinovis

 Bruschetta Sampler (tomato and basil, artichoke and asiago, chickpeas and lemon)

Linguine Gamberi (tiger prawns, olives, capers, chillies, and roasted tomato aglio e olio)

I ordered the Linguine Gamberi for my main dish. It was spiced perfectly, full of flavour and it had just the right amount of zest! I thoroughly enjoyed it and even my toddler had a try and liked it. He is used to some spice, so it was nice that he could share it with me. We all adored the Brussels Sprouts – even the kids! There was nothing left from the plate and I am sure I ate most of them.

Trattoria’s famous Brussels Sprouts

My husband Shaun had the Crab and Shrimp Conchiglioni with rock crab, tiger prawns, mascarpone stuffed pasta shells, seafood bisque and arugula salad, which he kindly shared with us so we could try a little of everything. The kids chose a spicy Sicilian pizza and a medium rare 8oz New York Steak, which was gobbled up within minutes. Our youngest had the breaded Chicken Breast with seasonal vegetables made for kids 8 and under, but I believe he was much more interested in the spice-infused dishes that we had.

The Restaurant Manager, Adam Jeal, was an excellent help when it came to explaining more about the dishes and ingredients, and Vahid, our server was very informative and friendly. He also kept our son occupied with high fives and crayons, which helped us focus on our dishes and dining experience a little bit more than usual.

(Italian-style doughnuts with chocolate gianduja and vanilla creme anglaise)

To top off our meal, Executive Chef Craig Scherer brought us a massive dessert sampler plate that had a little of everything off Trattoria’s sinful dessert menu. From Tiramisu and Italian-style doughnuts packed with sweet creamy flavours to a flourless chocolate torte overflowing with caramel sauce – yes, we were in dessert heaven.

(Executive Chef Craig Scherer)

In a Nutshell

We will definitely return to both the Element Vancouver Metrotown Hotel and the Trattoria Restaurant in the near future. We experienced exceptional hospitality, service, and food at both establishments and cannot wait to return for another visit. I will definitely recommend both experiences to family and friends so they can experience that ‘home away from home’ feel at the Element Vancouver Metrotown Hotel and sample outstanding authentic Italian dishes at Trattoria Restaurant.

Author: Natasha Lees, Freelance Travel Copywriter

Where?

Element Vancouver Metrotown Hotel, by Westin, a Starwood Hotel Brand

5988 Willingdon Avenue

British Columbia V5H 2A7

Telephone: (604) 568-3696

Email:[email protected]

Hotel Website: http://www.ElementVancouverMetrotown.com

Visit Trattoria: Trattoria Restaurant by Glowbal Group

*Many thanks to Ken Boyd, Sales and Marketing Director of the Element Vancouver Metrotown Hotel for arranging our family stay and media review. Also, thank you to Tara Armstrong and Adam Jeal of Glowbal Group for our dining experience. Thank you to Chef Craig Scherer for a beautiful display of decadent desserts!