Calgary Hotels

MBO Calgary :: Calgary Hotels

he Fairmont Palliser, set in central Calgary, combines a little slice of glamour with good ol’ small town warmth. Opening in 1914, the hotel is officially a historical landmark. Ice water, along with hot and cold running water, was available to the 350 guest rooms. The eight floors were then enlarged in 1929, with another $30 million in renovations and restorations made within the past few years.

The hotel has 405 rooms now, and yes, they all have running hot and cold water. A one bedroom King will run you $299 a night, while a Jr. Suite will cost $359. If you’re in the mood for pampering, the Fairmont Gold Room is like a completely different hotel within the Fairmont. This suite offers a private check-in on the 8th floor to accommodate guests who are obviously too good to mingle with the commoners.

The Royal Suite was home to Queen Elizabeth II during her trip to Calgary in 1990. This suite has a huge bedroom, living room, 2 bathrooms and a twelve seat dining room. You’ll even have the chance to sleep in the same bed as Queen Elizabeth, since they haven’t changed the sheets yet. Just kidding...but is it weird that I think they should have covered the bed in plastic and sold it on eBay?

The Palliser was built during the Edwardian Commercial era, which means the hotel features clean, geometric lines representing prairie grain elevators. The Tudor-style Rimrock Restaurant offers spectacular décor; a 38-foot mural was installed in 1962 by Charles Beil, a Banff artist.

If you’re in the mood for some R&R, look no further. The hotel offers health club, spa and salon services in The Boulevard Club.

Women looking for a better fix than a massage are also in luck. Every Monday evening, The Rimrock presents “Death by Chocolate;” a sweet chocolate buffet offered around dinnertime. Beware, ladies. There will be a chocolate fountain, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate pizza...maybe I should stop. You’re probably already hyperventilating and I know that because I just drooled all over my keyboard.

The Fairmont Palliser is sure to impress even the most distracted businesspeople. Take a few minutes to enjoy the luxuriousness of this hotel, no matter how busy you are. The Palliser even connects by a Skywalk to the Telus Convention Centre, the Calgary Tower and the Glenbow Museum. If this doesn’t impress you, then go ahead and stick your head under the chocolate fountain, Willy Wonka. -S.B.