15 things you probably never knew about Oak Bay Beach Hotel (CONTEST)

If you’ve lived in Victoria for some time, or even visit frequently, you have most likely heard of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

Nestled on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the luxury boutique resort is a popular destination for many – locals and travellers alike.

On top of being deemed the #1 hotel in Canada by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice, the hotel not only features stunning accommodations and the city’s only oceanfront spa, there are also three separate eateries to fill your heart’s (and belly’s!) content.

But what about the things that aren’t as well-known about the resort?

We’ll take a look at a list of things you might not have known about the Oak Bay Beach Hotel below, and even better? We’ve partnered with the resort to give away a luxurious prize package including a one-night stay – you’ll find those details at the end of this article!

Here are 15 things you probably never knew about the Oak Bay Beach Hotel:

1. The original Oak Bay Beach Hotel was built on the same property back in 1927.
2. A number of physical elements and furnishings (such as windows, bricks, beams, furniture, and artworks) were also preserved from the original building and re-housed in the new hotel. In fact, 95 percent of the previous Oak Bay Beach Hotel was recycled or reused, with only five percent going to the local landfill. The doors to the past hotel were ceremoniously closed and removed in 2006 to be reinstalled in the new Oak Bay Beach Hotel (now the entrance to FARO Pizza).
3. With menus that change with the seasons to take advantage of BC’s best produce, The Snug only features local, Canadian brews on tap to be enjoyed from the cozy confines of the bar or on the oceanfront patio.
4. One of the Boathouse Spa’s most popular experiences is the Salish Seaside Massage. Offered in the Seaside Gazebo with 180° views of the Pacific Ocean, this massage provides 60 minutes of pure relaxation and bliss and can be booked for individuals or couples!
5. In the Grand Lobby you will find a breathtaking Grand Fireplace, which is the actual fireplace from the previous hotel. Each brick was removed, photographed, and labelled and stored in an air-tight locker until ready to be rebuilt into the new hotel –  it actually took three tries to get it right!
6. FARO Handcrafted Pizza and Tasting Room features a variety of elements from the past hotel. Notice the old Snug stained glass incorporated behind the bar, or the exposed brick wall in the back corner. These bricks are from the original hotel built in 1930.
7. The most popular pizza found at FARO is by far the Funghi pizza. Since FARO has opened, they have sold 8,955 Funghi Pizzas!
8. The hotel boasts four different event spaces, The Study, The Library, The Executive Boardroom, and the David Foster Foundation Theatre. All 4 spaces feature beautiful natural light, and one even has ocean views.
9. In 1977, conservationists rescued a critically injured baby orca (named “Miracle”) and asked for permission from the Federal Government to use the Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s saltwater pool to rehabilitate it. The young orca, against all odds, made a ‘miracle’ recovery over the course of 6 long months in the hotel’s pool. To this day, Miracle remains one of the Hotel’s most notable VIPs, and was the inspiration behind the mosaic at the bottom of the current hotel’s mineral pools, and the name of the Boathouse Spa’s duo massage room.
10. On the edge of the Pacific Ocean you will find Victoria’s only licensed pool deck and heated seaside mineral pools, where guests can enjoy a selection of cocktails, wine, beer and small bites year round from The Boathouse Kitchen & Bar. 
11. The hotel is dog-friendly! Choose from one of their designated dog-friendly room types and find a water bowl, food dish, doggie bed and treats ready in your room upon arrival.
12. The Hotel has 100 elegant and spacious guest rooms and suites, thoughtfully designed as the perfect place to rest after a day of exploring the surrounding Oak Bay community or to settle in to watch a wild west coast storm in the winter. Every room also has either a kitchen or kitchenettes, with bathrooms that are spa-inspired and featured heated floors.
13. In 2012, the Hotel began a partnership with the David Foster Foundation (DFF) – a charitable organization that funds the non-medical expenses of Canadian families with children undergoing lifesaving organ transplants. They officially opened the David Foster Foundation Theatre on May 15th, 2013, and through the Hotel’s ongoing partnership have committed to donating a portion of the proceeds from every event that takes place in the hotel’s Theatre to the Foundation.
14. The heated seaside mineral pools are open and heated year-round, with the temperatures adjusted to reflect each season.
15. The Boathouse Spa works with a variety of local companies and suppliers, including Beauty Through Balance who brings the profound healing power of precious indigenous ingredients from around the world and utilizes them as a foundation for their natural, sophisticated formulas. One of their more notable treatments is the Ocean Elements Body Ritual, which uses BC harvested Pacific Seaweed, Marine Clay and Glacial Water which, through a unique layering and massage technique, helps to reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and target inflammation.

CONTEST 

For a chance to WIN a one-night stay at Oak Bay Beach Hotel, dinner for two at either FARO or The Snug and a $100 spa credit to their Boathouse Spa, complete one or more of the following:

1. LIKE Oak Bay Beach Hotel on Facebook and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
2. FOLLOW Oak Bay Beach Hotel brand NEW Instagram account and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)
3. SHARE this post on Facebook and/or Twitter and leave a comment below telling us once you have. (1 entry)

Contest entries will be accepted from the time and date of publishing until 11:59 pm on November 19th, 2021. One winner will be chosen at random and contacted through the platform they used to enter.

Booking is subject to availability and can be used January 5, 2022 – November 1, 2022 (blackout dates of May 15, 2022 – September 1, 2022). Cannot be used on statutory holidays or long weekends. Dining and spa credits must be redeemed during stay. Subject to availability, blackout dates apply

Contest Guidelines

Oak Bay Beach Hotel

• Where: 1175 Beach Drive
• Reservations: Can be booked online or at 800.668.7758