The Fairmont Empress, Victoria, British Columbia

This property may also be known as "The Fairmont Empress"

During the summer months, The Fairmont Empress in Victoria, British Columbia serves Afternoon Tea to more guests than most hotels in London, England. More than 900 people per day come to enjoy a tradition that has been part of the hotel since it opened in 1908.The Fairmont Empress has long been accustomed to entertaining Hollywood celebrities; Rita Hayworth, Jack Benny, Pat O'Brien, Douglas Fairbanks, Katherine Hepburn, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Tallulah Bankhead and a host of others have passed through its lobby. Shirley Temple arrived accompanied by her parents amid rumours that she had fled from California because of kidnapping threats, a story borne from the presence of two huge bodyguards who took the room opposite hers and always left their door open.In 1965, there was much debate on whether to tear down what was becoming a faded, dowdy hotel, to make room for a more modern, functional high-rise hotel. One local newspaper warned that, "Without this splendid relic of the Edwardian era, literally tens of thousands of tourists will never return. This is the Mecca, this is the heart and soul of the city." The decision was announced on June 10, 1966: The Fairmont Empress would not be demolished. Instead she would embark on a $4 million campaign of renovation and refurbishment, playfully dubbed "Operation Teacup."The walls of the hotel contain stories of unusual guests and employees. In 1987, a woman wrote about her wonderful stay at The Fairmont Empress and asked if other guests had received a similar late night visitor: a little girl who had watched over her bed and then floated across the room.

There are also the stories of an early 20th century maid, who shows up now and again on the sixth floor to help with the cleaning.Throughout its history, The Fairmont Empress has played host to kings, queens, movie stars and many famous people. In 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales, waltzed into the dawn in the Crystal Ballroom - an event considered by Victorians to be of such importance that almost 50 years later, the obituaries of elderly ladies would appear under headlines such as, "Mrs. Thornley-Hall Dies. Prince of Wales Singled Her Out."In 1989, over $45 million was spent in the royal restoration; all the guest rooms were renovated, and a health club and indoor swimming pool were added. With an emphasis on craftsmanship, no attempt was made to give the hotel a new image. Instead, the goal was to restore The Fairmont Empress to its original elegance.The strong emotions The Fairmont Empress evokes in many of her guests and protectors is exemplified in the statement made by an irate gentleman, as workers raised the sign above the front entrance: "Anyone who doesn't know this is The Empress shouldn't be staying here."

Address and contact details

The Fairmont Empress
721 Government Street
Victoria
British Columbia
V8W1W5
Canada

• (250) 384-8111 ( Telephone )work
• 250-381-4334 ( Fax ) fax
• 800-441-1414 ( Tollfree ) work
• Website

Location details / directions

Victoria Intl Airport (YYJ) 27.00 Km S. Vancouver Intl Airport (YVR) 99.00 Km SW.

Starting at ART GALLERY OF VICTORIA 1040 Moss Street Located 30-minute walk

Starting at BC LEGISLATURE BUILDINGS Located a 2-minute walk from the hotel.

Starting at BUTCHART GARDENS Location: 45 minutes from the hotel (21 km-12 miles north of Victoria) Bus Transportation and Tours are readily available from the hotel.

Starting at Christmas Eve Dinner Crystal Ballroom

Starting at MINIATURE WORLD Location: 2 minute walk- 649 Humboldt Street

Starting at New Years Eve Dinner Empress Room

Starting at ROYAL LONDON WAX MUSEUM Location: Just around the inner harbour from the hotel- in front of the parliament buildings

Starting at ROYAL THEATRE The Royal Theatre is about 2 blocks from the hotel and it's about a 5 minute walk.

Starting at Victoria Intl Airport Take Hwy 17 South toward town from the Airport. This turns into Blanshard and Belleville. Turn right onto Government St. Hotel is on the right side.

Near to the following attractions

• Art Gallery Of Victoria
• Bc Legislature Buildings
  • Free tours are offered during the week. Visitors will be walked through the legislature buildings and are given history and details to Canada
  • s legislature. Call for tour times.
• Butchart Gardens
  • Butchart (
  • Boo-Chart
  • ) Gardens is 130 acres of horticulture beauty. The gardens provide entertainment- night illuminations- fireworks (Saturday nights June 30th - September 1st)- gift store- visitor services- and 2 restaurants on site.
• Banff AB
  • 13 hrs
• Calgary AB
  • 14 hrs
• Christmas Day Buffet
  • A la carte and world famous curry buffet - 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch Buffet - 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Dinner Buffet.
• Christmas Day Dinner
  • Crystal Ballroom - Buffet on Christmas Day-An evening of elegance and nostalgia for the whole family. Festive Buffet Dinner.Pianist featured during dinner service. Festive seating- 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - $99.00 per person
• Christmas Eve Dinner
  • Celebrate New Year
  • s Eve with musical entertainment throughout dinner-Big Band to follow with dancing and a balloon drop at midnight! 7:30 p.m. reception- 8:00 p.m. Dinner - $150.00 cdn per person.
• Emily Carr House
  • Come visit the home of the famous Canadian artist and author- Emily Carr. This attraction is wheelchair accessible- but please note there are no wheelchair accessible washrooms.
• Edmonton AB
  • 15
• Golf-Cordova Bay Golf Course
• Golf-Glen Meadows Golf and Country Club
• Golf-Olympic View
• Horticulture Centre Of The Pacific
  • Glendale Gardens offers plant enthusiasts a peaceful- rural environment filled with a wide variety of plant material in a natural setting.
• Jasper AB
  • 11 hrs
• Kamloops BC
  • 4 hrs
• Kelowna BC
  • 8 hrs
• Lake Louise AB
  • 16 hrs
• Miniature World
  • Step into the future as you float through the solar system on your way to the historic battles of yesteryear- across Canadian landscape- through the Big Top and fairgrounds- to downtown and the beautifully decorated doll houses of an era gone by.
• New Years Eve Dinner
  • Intimate 6 Course Dinner. Live entertainment featured throughout dinner. Evening includes a glass of sparkling wine and dancing in the Crystal Ballroom. This is a formal event requiring a jacket and tie for gentlemen. Seating at 7pm.$200.00
• Royal British Columbia Museum
  • Rated one of the best in North America- this facility offers an incredible learning experience of the natural history of B.C.
• Royal London Wax Museum
  • Home to many of the world
  • s most famous faces -- Fairy tale characters- British royalty- politicians- and celebrities and the
  • House of Horrors
  • come to life in this attraction. This attraction is wheelchair accessible
• Royal Theatre
• Seattle WA
  • 2.5 hrs
• Spa-The Willow Stream Spa
  • Willow Stream Spa offers complete esthetics and spa treatments including manicures, pedicures,facials, body wraps and scrubs, etc. Massages include Swedish, Relaxation, Sports, Shiatsu and La Stone therapy. Hours: Su-W 8:30am-7pm, Th-Sa 8:30am-9pm
• Sydney BC
  • 20 mins
• Vancouver BC
  • 3 hrs
• Vancouver WA
  • 2 hrs
• Whistler BC
  • 3 hrs
• Restaurants