Three newly constructed luxury hotels in Vancouver are pushing deadlines to the limit in readiness for the Winter Olympics next month.

The Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, near Canada Place, seems an unlikely starter, given the frantic construction still tacking place on site. But its manager, Randy Zupanski, insists the 377-room property will be up and running by the end of January. It has to be - because every room is fully booked for the Games!

Hotel features include a lobby lounge with a custom-designed, $225,000 Fazioli piano, a 15,000-square-ft spa/fitness centre, 42-inch LCD TVs in every room and 37 suites - including a 3,000-square-ft "presidential suite" on the 22nd floor.

Zupanski said he has managed this kind of intense deadline pressure before and is convinced the new hotel will deliver superb service to the Olympic sponsors and dignitaries scheduled to stay there.

"Every hotel opening is the same, says "Zupanski. "Things get pushed right to the wire."

The Fairmont Pacific Rim is one of three brand new hotels scurrying to put the finishing touches on their properties in time to meet their Olympic commitments. The 220-room Coast Coal Harbour Hotel opens at 1180 West Hastings on Jan. 15, the same opening date as the 105-room Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier near Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.

And, if all goes to plan, all three will be bursting at the seams with Games visitors next month.