Panda Pod Hotel, located at the corner of No. 3 Road and Granville Avenue, offers a distinctive option of hospitality unlike any others.

“It's the only capsule hotel in the entire greater Vancouver area, making it a truly distinct lodging option,” says Jennifer Mutiara, marketing manager of Panda Pod Hotel.

It was founded in Richmond by Sharon Cheung in 2019 and is proudly Canadian owned even to this day. The hotel features unique, capsule-like rooms at an affordable price. It strives to bring comfort and convenience to its guests without breaking the bank.

“Panda Pod Hotel has managed to find its footing in the competitive hospitality market of greater Vancouver, despite the challenges of being a pioneer in its field,” says Mutiara.

It is worth noting that the hotel has stood its ground during the worst of the COVID-19 times, when nearly 40 per cent of the hotels in the area were forced to close down. However, it was the spirit of resilience and fast adaptability that kept the young business alive, even in the most challenging times.

“As a small yet resilient start-up, (Panda Pod Hotel’s) achievements highlight the importance of perseverance and adaptability in a constantly changing landscape,” says Mutiara.

Why Panda? When asked the reasons behind the theme of the hotel, the panda icon came out on top due to its symbolism with inclusivity and unity across all cultures.

“It represents the hotel's commitment to embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment for all its guests,” says Mutiara.

At the core of inclusivity and diversity is love. Panda Pod Hotel wishes to bring warmth and care through their exceptional level of services and caterings supports. 

“The Panda Pod Hotel wishes to share the love and warmth that the panda embodies with each of its visitors,” says Mutiara.

Another driving factor that fueled the start to Panda Pod Hotel is Cheung’s passion for people and travel. She feels that there are still gaps yet to be filled in the hospitality industry that caters to the younger generation as well as, other spirited travellers. She aims to bridge the gap by offering a unique hotel that resonates with travellers from around the world.

“This realization ignited a desire within me to create a space that caters to these modern adventurers, providing them with an experience tailored to their preferences and lifestyles,” says Mutiara.

Unlike other longstanding businesses, Panda Pod Hotel is still at the infant stage of the development. Therefore, its primary goal is to increase the number of guests and making the name brand known.

“The hotel, with its loving panda-inspired theme, hopes to become a beloved fixture in the community,” says Mutiara.

Panda Pod Hotel has four pillars of characteristics that attributes to the goals of compact design, affordable rates and efficient lodging.

The first pillar is space utilization. Panda Pod Hotel’s capsule-style space allows them to fit more beds in a given area compared to other hotels, inns, and motels. This allows more guests to be accommodated without wasting the luxury of space.

The second pillar is affordability. One of the ways that Panda Pod Hotel chooses to give back to its guests is through their attractive pricing. When compared to other accommodation options, it is hard to beat the price that the capsule hotel has to offer. Not to mention the fact that it is the most ideal option for budget conscious travellers.

The third pillar is privacy. Despite the relatively small capacity, the facility does not compromise the guests’ personal space by sacrificing privacy. 

The last pillar is amenities. Don’t let the economical rate fool you into thinking that the hotel is going to cheap out on amenities. Aside from the communal sleeping area, Panda Pod Hotel also offers Wi-Fi, charging stations, vending machines, washer and dryer machines, a massage chair, and more.

“Panda Pod Hotel caters to the changing preferences of modern travelers who seek convenience and minimalistic spaces without compromising on comfort,” says Mutiara.

To be able to keep the business running for nearly half a decade, the hotel is not shy when it comes to attributing the success to its fabulous and hardworking staff and employees. It is truly a collective effort when it comes to providing exceptional customer service while putting the guests’ needs as the number one priority.

“Each team member brings their unique talents and unwavering commitment to the table, working tirelessly to make the hotel the best it can be,” says Mutiara.

However, it was not all smooth sailing for the business as there were ups and downs in their journey thus far. As a pioneer of introducing the capsule-like hotels to Canada, public awareness is easily the biggest challenge as the general public are clueless to the out-of-the-ordinary style accommodation; let alone competing with other big-brand, local hotels and inns.

“The hotel's biggest challenge lies in competing with larger corporations when it comes to advertising budgets and online visibility,” says Mutiara.

Adding salt to the wound, COVID-19 has put a hefty financial load of debt on the back of the hotel. Despite the huge financial loss, the hotel still prioritized the public safety and health over profit, by voluntarily closing their doors temporarily well before the announcements from the federal government. 

“While this decision was made in the best interest of guests and the community, it inevitably resulted in more debts than anticipated,” says Mutiara.

As part of the everchanging industry, the Panda Pod Hotel is in discussion to introduce pods for couples. It aims to appeal to a wider range of guests with added emphasis on inclusivity.

Additionally, the hotel is exploring of the possibilities of implementing artificial intelligence (A.I.) technologies to streamline the check-in and check-out protocol. 

“By automating these tasks, the front desk staff can dedicate their full attention to addressing guests' needs and providing exceptional service,” says Mutiara.

The idea of establishing connections with the community has always been one of the hotel’s missions. Through forging links with the local business partners, the Panda Pod Hotel wishes to provide top-of-the-line services to its guests.

“This collaborative approach aims to ensure that no matter what their guests are seeking, they can find the resources and services they need,” says Mutiara.

Speaking of guests, the Panda Pod Hotel shares its insight for retaining customers. Through placing the needs, safety, and concerns of the guests as the top priority, the hotel ensures that its guests are receiving the best services possible.

“Ensuring that guests feel truly cared for and understood is essential to fostering lasting relationships with them,” says Mutiara.

Aside from having happy customers, keeping the staff’s best interest is equally important. The business shares four tips for keeping its employees in check.

Open communication between the staff and the guests provide a transparent bridge of communication. Expressing the appreciation for the staff’s efforts and contributions are some of the best ways to reward its team members.

Paving a bright, well-lit career path as well as offering competitive wages encourages the staff to stay with the business. It provides them the opportunity to grow while celebrating their contribution.  

Lastly, the interview concludes with Cheung sharing her piece of advice for future entrepreneurs. 

“Embarking on an entrepreneurial journey is not for the faint of heart. It demands constant attention, risk-taking, and perseverance through hardships and steep learning curves,” says Cheung. “There's always the possibility of losing everything due to inexperience. However, with passion and dedication, one can make a significant impact.”