Hotels for Sale in BC: Complete 2026 Buyer's Guide to British Columbia Hotel Investments

Hotels for Sale in BC
Your Complete 2026 Buyer's Guide to
British Columbia Hotel Investments
Updated March 2026 |
British Columbia, Canada
|
Quick Stats: BC Hotel Market 2025–2026 ✅
Vancouver RevPAR: CAD $223.05 — Highest in Canada ✅ BC
Hotel RevPAR Growth: +2.9% in Q1 2025 ✅ BC
Forecast: Fastest provincial hospitality CAGR at 5.85% through 2031 ✅ Tourism
Revenue: $22.1 billion generated in BC (2023) ✅
Vancouver Needs: 10,000 additional hotel rooms by 2030 |
Hotels for Sale in BC: Why 2026 Is the Best Time to Buy
If you are
searching for hotels for sale in BC, you have landed in the right place.
British Columbia's hospitality market is booming — and savvy investors from
across Canada and around the world are moving fast to secure their piece of
this high-growth sector. From boutique inns on Vancouver Island to highway
motels in the BC Interior, the opportunities have never been more diverse or
more lucrative.
This guide
covers everything you need to know about buying a hotel in British Columbia:
current market data, top investment regions, types of properties available,
what to look for in a hotel deal, and how to take action. Whether you're a
first-time buyer or an experienced hospitality investor, this is your
definitive resource.
BC Hotel Market Overview: Record-Breaking Performance
British
Columbia's hotel sector delivered its strongest-ever annual results in 2025.
According to data from CoStar, Canada's hotel occupancy reached 66.1%
nationally — and BC stood out as the clear frontrunner.
|
Key Metric |
2025
Performance |
|
Vancouver
Occupancy Rate |
78.4% — #1 in
Canada |
|
Vancouver ADR
(Avg. Daily Rate) |
CAD $284.44 |
|
Vancouver
RevPAR |
CAD $223.05 |
|
BC RevPAR
Growth (Q1 2025) |
+2.9%
Year-Over-Year |
|
Victoria
RevPAR Growth (Q1 2025) |
+8.6%
Year-Over-Year |
|
BC
Hospitality CAGR Forecast (2026–2031) |
5.85% —
Fastest in Canada |
|
Tourism
Revenue (BC, 2023) |
$22.1 Billion |
|
Tourism
Contribution to BC GDP |
$9.7 Billion |
What is driving
this performance? A surge in post-pandemic tourism, the return of international
visitors (especially from China and the US), landmark events in Vancouver, and
a structural shift of developers from struggling office markets into the hospitality
sector. Vancouver city council has even updated policy to encourage hotel
development, targeting 10,000 new rooms by 2030.
For buyers of
hotels for sale in BC, this translates into one clear message: the fundamentals
are strong, demand is durable, and the window for entry at today's valuations
is now.
Why Buy a Hotel in British Columbia?
There are
compelling reasons why BC continues to attract both domestic and international
hospitality investors:
•
Year-Round Tourism Demand:
Unlike markets dependent on a single season, BC draws visitors year-round —
skiers in Whistler, wine tourists in the Okanagan, beach travellers to Tofino,
and city visitors to Vancouver.
•
Record RevPAR Metrics: BC's
RevPAR reached a five-year high of $178 in 2025, up from $136 in 2019 —
representing a 31% increase in revenue yield per room.
•
Fastest-Growing Hospitality
Province: BC is forecast to record a 5.85% CAGR through 2031, the highest of
any Canadian province — making it the prime growth story in Canadian
hospitality.
•
Diverse Property Options:
From franchise-branded highway motels with stable cash flow to luxury
ski-in/ski-out resorts with premium ADRs, BC offers entry points for every
investor profile and budget.
•
Strong International
Interest: US investors, in particular, are actively acquiring BC hospitality
assets — drawn by long-term appeal, currency advantage, and coastal location
appeal.
•
Limited Prime Supply:
Coastal and resort markets like Tofino, Victoria, and Whistler have constrained
supply, supporting high occupancy and pricing power for existing owners.
•
Infrastructure & Event
Pipeline: Major events — the Invictus Games, Rugby Sevens, international
conferences — continue to drive room nights and anchor demand in gateway
markets.
Top Regions for Hotels for Sale in BC
1. Vancouver & Metro Vancouver
Vancouver is
Canada's top-performing hotel market. With an occupancy rate of 78.4% and an
ADR of CAD $284.44, it leads every major metric. The city's status as a global
business hub, major event destination, and international tourism gateway makes
it the premium target for hotel investment in BC. Properties in Metro Vancouver
are tightly held, but when they come to market, they command strong prices and
attract competitive bidding.
Key
opportunity: Boutique hotels and boutique conversions in Kitsilano, East
Vancouver, and suburban corridors near Skytrain development sites.
2. Vancouver Island — Victoria & Tofino
Victoria saw
RevPAR growth of 8.6% in Q1 2025 — the second-highest growth rate in Canada.
Average rates hit $262/night with occupancy rising steadily. The boutique hotel
segment is particularly strong, with buyer activity described by brokers as
'noticeably strong.' Tofino, on the island's west coast, commands premium ADRs
driven by eco-tourism and surf culture, with severely limited supply ensuring
consistently high occupancy.
Key
opportunity: Boutique inns, eco-lodges, and waterfront motel conversions across
Vancouver Island.
3. Whistler & Sea-to-Sky Corridor
Whistler is one
of the world's premier ski-and-summer resort destinations. The area commands
some of the highest nightly rates in BC, and properties with ski-in/ski-out
access are rare and highly coveted. The Josie Hotel in nearby Red Mountain — a
106-room full-service luxury property — is an example of the calibre of asset
that can trade in this corridor.
Key
opportunity: Boutique lodges, resort hotels, and condo-hotel properties along
the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
4. Okanagan — Kelowna, Penticton & Osoyoos
The Okanagan's
wine country, warm-water lakes, and growing culinary scene have fuelled a
tourism renaissance. Domestic visitor numbers surged during and after the
pandemic, and this level of demand has been sustained. Properties like the Best
Western Penticton — a 64-room property on 2.3 acres with pools and dining —
represent the type of established, income-generating asset available in this
region.
Key
opportunity: Motel-to-boutique conversions, lakefront lodges, and wine country
B&Bs scaling to full hotel operations.
5. BC Interior — Cariboo, Thompson & Northern BC
The BC Interior
offers some of the province's most accessible price points for hotel
acquisition. Highway corridor motels, lodge-and-pub combinations, and RV-resort
hybrids are all available with proven revenue histories. The Cariboo Lodge in
Clinton — a 21-room lodge with a pub and restaurant generating approximately
$1.3 million in annual revenue — is a prime example. Northern BC is emerging as
a major opportunity zone, particularly near LNG Canada and resource industry
hubs like Kitimat.
Key
opportunity: Highway motels, lodge-pub combos, and new-build opportunities near
LNG and resource projects.
6. Fort Nelson & the Alaska Highway Corridor
Located on the
Alaska Highway with approximately 300,000 annual travellers passing through en
route to and from Alaska, Fort Nelson offers a unique, infrastructure-driven
hospitality investment thesis. The city is growing rapidly thanks to oil,
natural gas, forestry, and shale gas development. Hotels here benefit from both
leisure travellers and resource-industry workers.
Key
opportunity: Existing hotel acquisitions and new-build development to serve
growing workforce accommodation demand.
Types of Hotels for Sale in BC
Understanding
the types of properties available helps buyers match investment strategy to
asset class:
|
Hotel Type |
Best For |
|
Boutique
Hotels (10–40 rooms) |
Lifestyle
buyers, premium ADR markets, Tofino/Victoria/Okanagan |
|
Highway
Motels & Lodges |
Cash flow
investors, Interior BC, Alaska Highway corridor |
|
Franchise
Hotels (Best Western, Econolodge etc.) |
Operational
simplicity, brand recognition, stable RevPAR |
|
Pub + Lodge
Combinations |
Revenue
diversification, BC Interior towns |
|
Luxury Resort
Hotels |
High
net-worth buyers, Whistler, Gulf Islands |
|
Motel + RV
Park Hybrids |
Multi-income
stream investors, rural/tourism BC |
|
Development
Sites |
Developers;
new-build hotel projects, Kitimat, Golden, LNG corridor |
How to Buy a Hotel in BC: Step-by-Step Guide
1.
Define Your Investment
Criteria: Determine your budget, target region, property type, and desired
return profile (cash flow vs. appreciation vs. lifestyle). Are you looking for
a fully operational business, a fixer-upper, or a development site?
2.
Engage a Specialized Hotel
Broker: Hotel transactions are more complex than standard commercial real
estate. Work with a broker experienced in BC hospitality assets. Specialists
such as Royal LePage Commercial, Avison Young, Colliers, and CBRE all have dedicated
hotel sale advisory teams in BC.
3.
Analyze the Financials:
Request trailing 3-year financials. Key metrics to review include: occupancy
rate, ADR, RevPAR, total revenue, NOI (net operating income), and capital
expenditure history.
4.
Conduct Due Diligence:
Review zoning and permits, liquor licensing (if applicable), building
condition, employee agreements, supplier contracts, existing bookings, and any
outstanding municipality obligations.
5.
Understand BC-Specific
Regulations: Compliance with BC's zoning bylaws, liquor control regulations,
health authority requirements, and short-term rental restrictions (which vary
by municipality) is essential.
6.
Secure Financing: Hotel
financing in Canada typically requires 30–40% down payment for conventional
financing. Alternative structures include vendor take-back mortgages, seller
financing, and CMHC-backed loans for qualifying properties.
7.
Negotiate and Close: Engage
a lawyer experienced in BC commercial real estate and business transactions to
manage the purchase agreement, asset or share sale structure, and closing
process.
Due Diligence Checklist: Hotels for Sale in BC
|
Essential
Due Diligence Items ✔ 3 years of audited or reviewed financial
statements ✔ Current occupancy rate, ADR, and RevPAR
data ✔ Building inspection and capital expenditure
schedule ✔ Zoning certificate and land use
confirmation ✔ Liquor licence status and transferability ✔ Property tax assessment and payment status ✔ All operating licences and health authority
permits ✔ Review of existing employee contracts
(Employment Standards Act BC) ✔ Environmental assessment (if applicable for
older properties) ✔ Existing reservations and group booking
pipeline ✔ Franchise agreement terms and
transferability (if branded) ✔ Outstanding insurance claims or litigation |
BC Hotel Market Outlook: 2026 and Beyond
The 2026
outlook for British Columbia's hotel sector remains fundamentally positive. A
CBRE report projects continued Canadian RevPAR growth, reaching CAD $142
nationally in 2026. BC, as the strongest provincial market, is expected to lead
this trajectory. The Canadian hospitality market overall — valued at USD $20.29
billion in 2025 — is forecast to grow to USD $27.46 billion by 2031.
Victoria's
rates climbed to $262/night with RevPAR growth of 13.4% in recent months — a
clear indicator of luxury travel strength in BC. Boutique hotel buyers and
lifestyle investors are increasingly targeting coastal and resort markets.
Headwinds to
monitor include elevated borrowing costs, potential softening of US
cross-border travel driven by geopolitical factors, rising operational costs,
and labour market pressures. However, BC's track record of tourism resilience —
it recovered quickly from the pandemic — and its structural undersupply of
premium rooms in key markets provide a meaningful buffer.
The long-term
thesis is clear: BC's combination of natural beauty, world-class cities,
diverse regional tourism, and growing international profile makes it Canada's
most compelling province for hotel investment.
Frequently Asked Questions: Hotels for Sale in BC
How much does a hotel cost in British Columbia?
Hotel prices in
BC range widely by region, size, and property type. Small highway motels in the
Interior can be purchased for $500,000–$2 million. Mid-sized branded hotels in
secondary markets range from $2 million to $10 million. Boutique coastal properties
typically sell for $2–$8 million depending on location and condition. Metro
Vancouver and Whistler luxury hotel assets can range from $10 million to $50
million+.
Can a foreigner buy a hotel in British Columbia?
Yes. Unlike
residential property (which is subject to BC's foreign buyer restrictions),
commercial hospitality properties can generally be purchased by foreign
nationals and foreign-controlled corporations. It is advisable to work with a
Canadian lawyer and accountant familiar with non-resident property acquisition
and Canadian tax obligations.
What is a good RevPAR for a BC hotel?
This varies by
market. In 2025, Vancouver's RevPAR reached CAD $223.05 — the highest in
Canada. For a highway motel in the Interior, a RevPAR of $50–$80 may represent
strong performance. For a boutique coastal property, $100–$150+ RevPAR is
achievable. Always benchmark any acquisition target against comparable
properties in the same market.
How do I find hotels for sale in BC?
Listings appear
on commercial platforms such as LoopNet, Businesses For Sale, Find Businesses 4
Sale, and through specialized hotel brokers including Royal LePage Commercial,
Avison Young, Colliers International, CBRE, and regional firms. Engaging a broker
proactively is the most effective approach, as the best deals are often
transacted off-market.
What due diligence is required for a hotel purchase in BC?
At minimum,
buyers should review three years of financial statements, conduct a full
building inspection, verify all licences and zoning compliance, assess liquor
licence status and transferability, review employee agreements, and have a
lawyer conduct a title and encumbrances search. For properties with
restaurants, additional health authority and Food Safe compliance reviews are
required.
Ready to Find Your Hotel for Sale in BC?
|
Start
Your Search Today Whether
you are a first-time buyer looking for a small motel in the BC Interior or an
experienced investor targeting a coastal boutique hotel or Okanagan resort
property — the opportunity is here. Browse
our current listings of hotels for sale in BC and connect with our
hospitality specialists to discuss your investment goals. We provide
exclusive access to on-market and off-market BC hotel opportunities, detailed
financial analysis support, and end-to-end transaction advisory. Contact us today to begin your BC hotel investment journey. Gurjit Ghai Personal Real Estate Corporation Rexara Realty Inc. (C) 7788552019 |
• Destination BC tourism statistics page

Gurjit Ghai, REALTOR®
Gurjit Ghai Personal Real Estate Corporation
Brokerage: Rexara Realty Inc.
Licensed Managing Broker specializing in commercial transactions, residential acquisitions, ALR farmland, and business brokerage across British Columbia.
Verify licence on BCFSA public registry →⚖️Important Real Estate & Legal Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial, or professional real estate advice. Real estate laws, BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) guidelines, municipal bylaws, and tax regulations (including Property Transfer Tax, GST, and cooling-off rules) are subject to change and apply differently based on individual circumstances.
Readers should not act or rely upon any information contained herein without obtaining competent professional legal, tax, or financial counsel and consulting directly with a licensed British Columbia real estate professional. Rexara Realty Inc., its managing broker, and its associated licensees expressly disclaim all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any content in this article.






